One-Pot Terpolymerization of CO2, Propylene Oxide and Lactide Using Rare-earth Ternary Catalyst

Terpolymerization of CO2 with Epoxides and Cyclic Organic Anhydrides or Cyclic Esters

The synthesis of polymeric materials starting from CO2 as a feedstock is an active task of research. In particular, the copolymerization of CO2 with epoxides via ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) offers a simple, efficient route to synthesize aliphatic polycarbonates (APC). In many cases, APC display poor physical and chemical properties, limiting their range of application. The terpolymerization of CO2 with epoxides and organic anhydrides or cyclic esters offers the possibility, combining the ROCOP with ring-opening polymerization (ROP), to access a wide range of materials containing polycarbonate and polyester segments along the polymer chain, showing enhanced properties with respect to the simple APC. This review will cover the last advancements in the field, evidencing the crucial role of the catalytic system in determining the microstructural features of the final polymer.

Copolymerization of lactide, epoxides and carbon dioxide: a highly efficient heterogeneous ternary catalyst system

The controlled copolymerization of mixed monomers that usually imparts distinct advantages into single polymer chains and requires a single versatile catalyst remains a key challenge in polymer chemistry.

Efficient ternary catalyst system for the copolymerization of lactide, epoxides and CO2: new insights into the cooperative mechanism

Ternary catalyst systems (TCSs) are an emerging type of catalyst for the synthesis of multiblock copolymers of lactide (LA), epoxides and CO₂.

Catalytic Chain Transfer Copolymerization of Propylene Oxide and CO2 using Zinc Glutarate Catalyst

Oligo and poly(propylene ether carbonate)-polyols with molecular weights from 0.8 to over 50 kg/mol and with 60-92 mol % carbonate linkages were synthesized by chain transfer copolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO2) and propylene oxide (PO) mediated by zinc glutarate. Online-monitoring of the polymerization revealed that the CTA controlled copolymerization has an induction time which is resulting from reversible catalyst deactivation by the CTA. Latter is neutralized after the first monomer additions. The outcome of the chain transfer reaction is a function of the carbonate content, i. e. CO2 pressure, most likely on account of differences in mobility (diffusion) of the various polymers. Melt viscosities of poly(ether carbonate)diols with a carbonate content between 60 and 92 mol % are reported as function of the molecular weight, showing that the mobility is higher when the ether content is higher. The procedure of PO/CO2 catalytic chain copolymerization allows tailoring the glass temperature and viscosity.

Preparation and Thermal Properties of Polycarbonates/esters Catalyzed by Using Dinuclear Salph-Al from Ring-Opening Polymerization of Epoxide Monomers

A dinuclear Salph-Al complex/bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride catalyst system was synthesized and employed for cyclohexene oxide (CHO) and CO₂ copolymerization. The catalyst system had an excellent selectivity of 99 % for carbonate linkages and the resultant poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) had a high glass transition temperature (T_g ) of 123.8 °C and a thermal decomposition temperature (5 % weight loss; T_d 5 % ) of 265 °C. Furthermore, this catalyst system was active in the polymerization of phthalic anhydride (PA) and epoxides. Poly(CHO-alt-PA) was completely alternating, and had improved thermal properties (T_g =142.7 and T_d 5 % =295 °C) compared with PCHC. The T_g values of the polyesters could be adjusted by addition of PO to the CHO/PA reaction system. For the CHO/PO/PA terpolymerization, CHO and PO participated concurrently and proportionally in the chain growth and the obtained terpolyesters had tunable T_g values from 62.8 to 142.7 °C depending on the CHO/PO feed ratio.

Zinc glutarate-mediated copolymerization of CO2 and PO – parameter studies using design of experiments

Parameter studies of the PO/CO₂-copolymerization revealed the importance of the surface coverage of a nanoscopic ZnGA catalyst.

Ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP): synthesis and properties of polyesters and polycarbonates

This feature article highlights the opportunities presented by ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) as a controlled route to prepare polyesters and polycarbonates.