Dynamic covalent polymers that inherit the reversibility and robustness of dynamic covalent bonds have attracted considerable attention in terms of self-healing

stimuli-responsiveness

and recyclability. However

most of them require an external stimulus to induce their dynamic properties

which may limit their application. Here

two dynamic covalent polymers based on ditelluride bonds were prepared

which were free of external conditions. First

a novel stable ditelluride-containing compound

di-(1-hydroxypropyl) ditelluride ((HOC

3

H

6

Te)

2

) was synthesized. Then

two ditelluride-containing polymers

polycaprolactone (PCLTe)

2

and poly(1

3-trimethylene carbonate) (PTMCTe)

2

were synthesized

via

the enzymatic ring-opening polymerization using (HOC

3

H

6

Te)

2

as the initiator and Novozym 435 as the catalyst. The structures of (PCLTe)

2

and (PTMCTe)

2

were verified by

1

H-NMR and

125

Te-NMR. The dynamic properties of the ditelluride-containing polymers were investigated using (PCLTe)

2

and (PTMCTe)

2

as the model polymers and confirmed by

1

H-NMR

13

C-NMR and

125

Te-NMR spectra. The results indicated that the ditelluride exchange between (PCLTe)

2

and diphenyl ditelluride ((PhTe)

2

) could occur spontaneously in the dark at room temperature without any external stimuli and the equilibrium of the reaction could be reached immediately. The dynamic exchange between (PCLTe)

2

and (PTMCTe)

2

was confirmed by

125

Te-NMR spectrum and MALDI-TOF mass

which could occur spontaneously without any external stimuli. The results of MALDI-TOF mass showed that a di-block polymer (PTMCTeTePCL) was formed during the exchange process. The tensile test results indicated that the tensile strength and the elongation of PCL/PTMC composite were 3.07 MPa and 38.26%

respectively. However

as for (PCLTe)

2

/(PTMCTe)

2

composite

the tensile strength and the elongation were increased to 5.22 MPa and 80.51%

respectively. The scanning electron microscopy images showed that the compatibility between (PCLTe)

2

and (PTMCTe)

2

was significantly improved comparing with the PCL/PTMC composite. The results indicated that the ditelluride exchange had a great effect on the properties of (PCLTe)

2

/(PTMCTe)

2

composite. This study developed the ditelluride-related dynamic chemistry and promoted the application of dynamic covalent polymers.