Silica/Poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) Hybrid Nanoparticles by “Direct” Surface‐Initiated Polymerization

Summary: Biodegradable poly(1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one) (PDXO) was grown directly from SiOH groups of a silica nanoparticle by surface‐initiated, ring‐opening polymerization (SI‐ROP) of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one (DXO). The direct SI‐ROP of DXO was achieved by heating a mixture of Sn(Oct)2, DXO, and the silica nanoparticles (316 nm in diameter) in anhydrous toluene. The resulting silica/PDXO hybrid nanoparticles were characterized by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy. The procedure for the surface‐initiated, ring‐opening polymerization of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one on silica nanoparticles reported here. image The procedure for the surface‐initiated, ring‐opening polymerization of 1,5‐dioxepan‐2‐one on silica nanoparticles reported here.