Processes for making copolymers using macrocyclic oligoesters, and copolymers therefrom

A block copolymer comprising:

• (a) a first block unit comprising, within its polymeric backbone, at least one structural unit of formula:
• wherein A is an alkylene, or a cycloalkylene or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group, and B is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group;
• and
• at least one structural unit of formula:
• —R1—O—C(O)—R2—
• wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently a divalent organic moiety, wherein R1 is not —O-A′- if R2 is —B′—C(O)—, where A′ is an alkylene, a cycloalkylene, or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group and B′ is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group;
• and
• (b) a second block unit comprising, within its polymeric backbone, at least one structural unit of formula:
• -D-
• wherein D is an alkylene, or a cycloalkylene or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group, and wherein one or more of the carbon atoms in D may be replaced with an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, or a sulfur atom, wherein D comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene ether, a polyethylene ether, a polypropylene ether, a polymethylene ether, a polyolefin, a polycaprolactone, a polyperfluoroether, a dimer diol, and a polysiloxane diol.

A blend comprising:

• (a) a block copolymer comprising:
• (i) a first block unit comprising, within its polymeric backbone, at least one structural unit of formula:
• wherein A is an alkylene, or a cycloalkylene or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group, and B is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group;
• and
• (ii) a second block unit comprising, within its polymeric backbone, at least one structural unit of formula:
• -D-
• wherein D is an alkylene, or a cycloalkylene or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group, one or more of the carbon atoms in D may be replaced with an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, or a sulfur atom, wherein D comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyalkylene ether, a polyethylene ether, a polypropylene ether, a polymethylene ether, a polyolefin, a polycaprolactone, a polyperfluoroether, a dimer diol, and a polysiloxane diol;
• and
• (b) at least one of a hydroxyl-functionalized polymer, an oligoether, and a dimerized fatty acid.