Hydrogen-bonding organocatalysts for ring-opening polymerization

In the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters and carbonates, hydrogen-bonding organocatalysis offers an interesting alternative to metal-based and enzymatic catalysis to access biocompatible and biodegradable polymers. The design of catalysts, strategies of activation and mechanistic elucidations are highlighted. Recent developments with functionalized monomers for applications in nanomaterials and biomedicine have opened perspectives to broaden the scope of future catalytic systems. In the field of sustainable chemistry, hydrogen-bonding structures devoted to ROP have become a full-fledged class of catalysts.