Polyester stereocomplexes, compositions comprising same, and methods of making and using same

1. A composition comprising:

polymer chains that form one or more stereocomplexes,

wherein the polymer chains comprise i) first enantiomeric polymer chains having a first enantiomeric structure that comprise individual repeat units having the following structure:

and

second enantiomeric polymer chains having a second enantiomeric structure that is the opposite absolute stereochemistry of the first enantiomeric structure that comprise individual repeat units having the following structure:

or

ii) individual repeat units having both Repeat Unit Structure I and Repeat Unit Structure II, and wherein R 1 is selected from —(CH 2 ) x —, wherein x is 2-6, cis or trans —CR 3 ═CR 4 —, wherein R 3 and R 4 are selected from —H, —CH 3 , and —Cl, —CH 2 C(═CH 2 )—, ortho —C 6 H 4 —, —CH 2 OCH 2 —, 1,8-naphthylenediyl, and 3,4-cyclohexene-diyl,

R 2 is selected from —CH 3 , —CF 3 , C 2 to C 8 alkyl group or aryl group, —CH 2 OR 5 , wherein R 5 is a C 2 to C 8 alkyl group or aryl group, and —CH 2 X, wherein X is Cl, Br, I, or F.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein

95% or greater of the stereocenters in the individual repeat units of the first enantiomeric polymer chains have Repeat Unit Structure I,

95% or greater of the stereocenters in the individual repeat units of the second enantiomeric polymer chains have Repeat Unit Structure II,

the ratio of first enantiomeric polymer chains to second enantiomeric polymer is 1:19 to 19:1, the first enantiomeric polymer chains comprise 20 to 5000 individual repeat units of the Repeat Unit Structure I,

and the second enantiomeric polymer chains comprise 20 to 5000 individual repeat units of the Repeat Unit Structure II.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of first enantiomeric polymer chains to second enantiomeric polymer chains ranges from 1:9 to 9:1.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first enantiomeric polymer chain and/or second enantiomeric polymer chain further comprises a small molecule and/or polymer chain covalently bound to the first enantiomeric polymer chain and/or second enantiomeric polymer chain.

5. The composition of claim 4 , wherein one or more of the first enantiomeric polymer chains has the following structure:

wherein x is 0 or 1, y is 10 to 5000, and z is 1 to 100,

and/or

one or more of the second enantiomeric polymer chains has the following structure:

wherein x is 0 or 1, y is 10 to 5000, and z is 1 to 100,

R 6 is a C 2 to C 8 hydroxyalkyl group or hydrogen atom, and

Q is a polymeric chain or a small molecule and is attached to the enantiomeric polymer chain by an ester linkage.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein

the first enantiomeric polymer chains are random copolymers comprising the following structure:

wherein n is 0.20 to 0.99, and

the second enantiomeric polymer chains are random copolymers comprising the following structure:

wherein n 0.20 to 0.99,

the ratio of first enantiomeric polymer chains to second enantiomeric polymer chains is 1:19 to 19:1, and

R 7 is —CO 2 R 8 O—, wherein R 8 is selected from C 2 to C 8 alkyl linker group or aryl linker group, —CO(CH 2 ) x O—, wherein x is 2-5, —COCHR 9 O—, wherein R 9 is a C 2 to C 8 alkyl group or aryl group, or —CH 2 CHR 10 O—, wherein R 10 is —CH 3 , —CF 3 , C 2 to C 8 alkyl group or aryl group, —CH 2 OR 11 , wherein R 11 is a C 2 to C 8 alkyl group or aryl group, and —CH 2 X, wherein X is Cl, Br, I, or F.

7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the ratio of first enantiomeric polymer chains to second enantiomeric polymer chains is 1:9 to 9:1.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the first enantiomeric polymer chains are random copolymers comprising the following structure:

wherein n is 0.60 to 0.99 and the individual n repeat units have a first configuration and the individual 1-n repeat units has a second configuration that is the opposite absolute stereochemistry of the first configuration,

the second enantiomeric polymer chains are random copolymers comprising the following structure:

wherein n is 0.60 to 0.99 of the composition and the individual n repeat units have a first configuration and the individual 1-n repeat units have a second configuration that is the opposite absolute stereochemistry of the first configuration, and

the ratio of first enantiomeric polymer chains to second enantiomeric polymer chains is 1:19 to 19:1.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the ratio of first enantiomeric polymer chains to second enantiomeric polymer chains is 1:9 to 9:1.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the enantiomeric polymer chains are stereoblock copolymers of the following structure:

wherein x is 10 to 1000 and y is 10 to 1000 and z is 1 to 100, the ratio of x and y is 1:19 to 19:1.

11. An article of manufacture comprising the composition of claim 1 .

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11 , wherein the article of manufacture is a packaging material, disposable tableware, an agricultural film, loose-fill packaging, a compost bag, upholstery, or a disposable garment.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 1 , wherein the article of manufacture is a biomedical device, a drug delivery device, an awning, a feminine hygiene product, a diaper, or a component thereof.