Chemically Recyclable Chiral Polyesters Synthesis via Kinetic Resolution Polymerization Strategies
Chiral polyester materials that integrate chemical recyclability with high performance have become a focal point in sustainable polymer research. Their thermal and mechanical properties are intrinsically linked to polymer microstructure, with stereoregular chiral polyesters typically exhibiting superior crystallinity and performance relative to atactic counterparts. Asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization (AKRP) has emerged as a powerful method for synthesizing stereoregular chiral polyesters from racemic monomers, utilizing chiral catalysts to selectively recognize and polymerize one enantiomer while leaving the other unreacted. Recent advances have expanded AKRP scope to include targeted recognition of specific substrate sites based on chiral discrimination. This review summarizes recent progress in AKRP across representative monomer systems, categorized by ring size, highlighting breakthroughs in catalyst design, mechanistic understanding, and material properties. Key metrics such as kinetic resolution coefficient (k_rel) and selectivity factor (s-factor) are discussed as quantitative measures of stereoselective control. The review underscores the potential of AKRP to circumvent costly enantiomer separation, offering a promising route to advanced chiral polyesters with tailored properties for applications ranging from biodegradable plastics to biomedical materials.