Catalysts for CO₂/epoxide copolymerisation

Abstract

The article reviews recent developments (mostly since 2004 until June 2010) in catalysts for CO(2)/epoxide copolymerisation and in the properties of the polycarbonates.

Zinc Complexes of Piperazinyl‐Derived Aminephenolate Ligands: Synthesis, Characterization and Ring–Opening Polymerization Activity

“…[29,30,[52][53][54][55] Therefore, studies were performed using 6 and 7/ROH in combination with DMAP and Bu 4 NBr as cocatalysts, Table 4, towards the reaction of CO 2 with cyclohexene oxide. A control reaction was performed using Bu 4 NBr alone, as ionic salts such as this are known to catalyze the formation of cyclic carbonates (Table 4, entry 1).…”

“…In this article, we also describe our initial studies towards the reactivity of these complexes with carbon dioxide, as many Zn phenolate and alkoxide complexes have shown good activity towards either copolymerization of CO 2 with epoxides or the formation of cyclic carbonates, [29,30] …”

Sustainable conversion of carbon dioxide: the advent of organocatalysis

“…As such, contemporary chemists are facing a huge challenge to develop more sustainable alternatives for chemical production. Carbon dioxide is a waste product from all combustion processes and represents a potential and alternative carbon feed stock 1,2 for the preparation of a variety of useful chemicals including MeOH, 3,4 urea, 5 lactones, 6 various heterocycles, [7][8][9][10][11] biodegradable polymers, [12][13][14][15][16] and carboxylated structures [17][18][19][20][21] among others. [22][23][24] In particular, direct CO 2 utilisation for the preparation of polycarbonates, poly(ether)carbonates and polyurethanes is a viable technology to access novel tailor-made CO 2 -based materials.…”

Aluminium coordination complexes in copolymerization reactions of carbon dioxide and epoxides

“…[1][2][3][4] In particular, interest in metal-catalysed copolymerization reactions of epoxides with carbon dioxide has grown tremendously over the past decade. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Recently, there has been significant interest in using main group complexes for this and related reactions, as such compounds contain earth-abundant metals and are often biocompatible. For example, copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide (CHO) with carbon dioxide (1 atm) in toluene has been performed successfully using n-Bu 2 Mg in the presence of bis-(α,α-diarylprolinol) ligands and butanol as an additive.…”