What is the role of triethylborane (TEB) in the copolymerization of epoxides and anhydrides?

Label:chem

Topic
Triethylborane (TEB) is used as a Lewis acid in the anionic ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides, such as ethylene oxide (EO), with anhydrides to manipulate the reactivity ratios and control the distribution of ester functions along the polyether chain.
Answer
TEB forms an ate complex with the growing anionic species, preventing side reactions and activating the epoxides, particularly ethylene oxide, to enable statistical copolymerization with anhydrides. This allows for the synthesis of polyethers with degradable ester functions and tunable reactivity ratios.
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