Stereochemical control in oil-free polymerization using new chiral catalysts for the synthesis of degradable polyesters

Applicant profile

For application send a CV and a motivation letter to Prof. Daniel Taton

Project summary

This postdoctoral offer is part of the “Post-Petroleum Materials” funded by the University of Bordeaux, the aim of which is to develop sustainable materials and chemicals, discarding the traditional model of the linear economy, and thus fostering the transition to a circular economy; see: https://smr.u-bordeaux.fr/programmes-de-recherche/gpr-ppm. In this context, the proposed offer is to develop a new strategy to meet this challenge and reduce the environmental footprint of polymers. This strategy lies in the use of new chiral catalysts, with tunable properties, for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide, a monomer of non-fossil origin. These new catalysts are expected to induce stereochemical control of polymerization, i.e., creating stereocontrolled sequences using lactide in its racemic version. We thus target the design of bio-sourced polymers that are easily degradable and have modulable thermomechanical properties. Particular attention will be paid to rationalizing the effects of catalyst structure on polymerization performance and mode of action.

The candidate recruited will be under both the supervision of Pr. Daniel Taton at the LCPO, University of Bordeaux: https://www.lcpo.fr/people/faculties/daniel-taton, and Dr. Gilles Guichard of the CBMM Laboratory in Bordeaux, located on the IECB premises: https://www.guichard-iecb.fr/gilles-guichard/. The candidate will hold a PhD degree, preferably with expertise in Polymer Synthesis.