Catalyst screening for the melt polymerization of isosorbide-based polycarbonate

Green Synthesis of UV-Reactive Polycarbonates from Levoglucosenone and 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural

This study focuses on the synthesis of fully renewable polycarbonates (PCs) starting from cellulose-based platform molecules levoglucosenone (LGO) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF). These unique bio-based PCs are obtained through the reaction of a citronellol-containing triol (Triol-citro) derived from LGO, with a dimethyl carbonate derivative of BHMF (BHMF-DC). Solvent-free polymerizations are targeted to minimize waste generation and promote an eco-friendly approach with a favorable environmental factor (E-factor). The choice of metal catalyst during polymerization significantly influences the polymer properties, resulting in high molecular weight (up to 755 kDa) when Na2 CO3 is employed as an inexpensive catalyst. Characterization using nuclear magnetic resonance confirms the successful incorporation of the furan ring and the retention of the terminal double bond of the citronellol pendant chain. Furthermore, under UV irradiation, the presence of both citronellol and furanic moieties induces singular structural changes, triggering the formation of three distinct structures within the polymer network, a phenomenon herein occurs for the first time in this type of polymer. These findings pave the way to new functional materials prepared from renewable monomers with tunable properties.

En Route to CO2-Based (a)Cyclic Carbonates and Polycarbonates from Alcohols Substrates by Direct and Indirect Approaches

This review is dedicated to the state-of-the art routes used for the synthesis of CO2-based (a)cyclic carbonates and polycarbonates from alcohol substrates, with an emphasis on their respective main advantages and limitations. The first section reviews the synthesis of organic carbonates such as dialkyl carbonates or cyclic carbonates from the carbonation of alcohols. Many different synthetic strategies have been reported (dehydrative condensation, the alkylation route, the “leaving group” strategy, the carbodiimide route, the protected alcohols route, etc.) with various substrates (mono-alcohols, diols, allyl alcohols, halohydrins, propargylic alcohols, etc.). The second section reviews the formation of polycarbonates via the direct copolymerization of CO2 with diols, as well as the ring-opening polymerization route. Finally, polycondensation processes involving CO2-based dimethyl and diphenyl carbonates with aliphatic and aromatic diols are described.

Acylamido-based anion-functionalized ionic liquids for efficient synthesis of poly(isosorbide carbonate)

A catalytic system containing an acylamido-based anion was developed for the synthesis of bio-based polycarbonate by efficient activation of monomers.

One-step bulk fabrication of a CaO/carbon heterogeneous catalyst from calcium citrate for rapid synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) by transesterification of ethylene carbonate (EC)

Providing a simpler, more economical and more innovative method for rapid preparation of carbon-based inorganic nanoparticles.

High Thermal Stability, High Tensile Strength, and Good Water Barrier Property of Terpolyester Containing Biobased Monomer for Next-Generation Smart Film Application: Synthesis and Characterization

This research synthesizes novel copolyester (PCITN) containing biobased isosorbide, 1,4-cyclohexandimethanol, terephthalic acid, and 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid and characterize its properties. The PCITN copolyester was extruded into film, and its performance properties including: tensile strength, Young's modulus, thermal, dimensional stability, barrier (water barrier), and optical (birefringence and transmittance) were analyzed after uniaxial stretching. The films have higher T_g, T_m, dimensional stability, and mechanical properties than other polyester-type polymers, and these performance properties are significantly increased with increasing stretching. This is due to the increased orientation of molecular chains inside the films, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and birefringence results. Good water barrier (0.54%) and lower birefringence (△n: 0.09) of PCITN film compared to poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate) (PEN), and polyimide (PI) films, used as conventional substrate materials for optical devices, make it an ideal candidate as performance material for next-generation flexible devices.

Balancing the transesterification reactivity of isosorbide with diphenyl carbonate: preferential activation of exo-OH

Exo-OH on ISB has long been asserted as a highly reactive moiety compared with endo-OH. Herein, we report that the nucleophilic attack surmounts steric hindrance in rendering endo-OH more reactive than exo-OH in case of transesterification with DPC.

Transesterification of Isosorbide with Dimethyl Carbonate Catalyzed by Task-Specific Ionic Liquids

Green synthesis of high-molecular-weight isosorbide-based polycarbonate (PIC) with excellent properties is a tremendous challenge and is profoundly influenced by the precursor. Herein, an ecofriendly catalyst was employed to obtain the more reactive PIC precursor dicarboxymethyl isosorbide (DC) with 99.0 % selectivity through the transesterification reaction of isosorbide with dimethyl carbonate. This is the indispensable stage of a one-pot green synthesis of PIC, playing a critical role in giving an insight into the polymerization mechanism of polymer synthesis through the melt transesterification reaction. To this end, a series of 4-substituted phenolate ionic liquids (ILs) were developed as a new type of high-efficiency catalyst for this reaction. These homogeneous ILs exhibited outstanding catalytic performances. The DC selectivity increased gradually with decreasing IL basicity; among the ILs studied, trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium 4-iodophenolate ([P₆₆₆₁₄ ][4-I-Phen]) showed the highest catalytic activity. Additionally, according to the experimental results and DFT calculations, a plausible nucleophilic activation mechanism was proposed, which confirmed that the reaction is activated through the formation of H-bonds and electrostatic interactions with the IL catalyst. This strategy of tunable basicity and structure of anions in ILs affords an opportunity to develop other ILs for the transesterification reaction, thereby conveniently providing a variety of polymers through a green synthetic pathway.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Product and By-Products from Transesterification between Phenol and Dimethyl Carbonate

By-products (phenyl salicylate, phenyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, and xanthone) from transesterification between phenol and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) were qualitatively analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and a gas chromatographic method with directed injection for simultaneous quantitative analysis of the product (DPC) and by-products of the transesterification has been established. Based on the results of qualitative and quantitative analyses, the mechanism of the by-products generation was preliminarily deduced. The sample for quantitative analysis was directly diluted in acetone, and related compounds were separated on an HP-5 capillary column and detected by a hydrogen flame ionization detector (FID). The product and by-products were well separated, the correlation coefficients (r) within the concentration range of 1.0 μg/mL-100 μg/mL were ≥0.9997, the relative standard deviations were between 0.5% and 4.4%, spiked recoveries were between 91.5% and 105.6%, and detection limits were between 0.11 and 0.18 μg/mL. The established method is simple, rapid, accurate, sensitive, and highly specific. It is suitable for simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analyses of the product and by-products of transesterification between phenol and DMC.

Influence of coordinating groups of organotin compounds on the Fries rearrangement of diphenyl carbonate

In this paper, the Fries rearrangement of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) catalyzed by organotin compounds with different coordination groups was studied for the first time. The electronic effect and steric hindrance of the coordinating groups were discussed with respect to the reactivity of DPC rearrangement. The results showed that both the electronic effect and steric hindrance of the coordinating groups influenced the acidity of the active tin centers and then affected the catalytic performance of organotin as a Lewis acid for the rearrangement of DPC, and the influence of the electronic effect is greater than that of steric hindrance. The catalytic activity is in the order of BuSnO(OH) > Bu₂SnO > Bu₂Sn(OCOC₁₁H₂₃)₂ > BuSnCl₃ > Bu₃SnOSnBu₃ > Bu₃SnCl, and Bu₂SnO showed the best catalytic activity due to its strong electron absorption effect, small steric hindrance, and good stability. Under the optimum reaction conditions, the conversion of DPC was up to 93%, and the yields of phenyl salicylate (PS) and xanthone (XA) were 62% and 28%, respectively. In addition, a reaction mechanism of DPC rearrangement catalyzed by the organotin compounds was speculated. This research can provide vigorous theoretical data support to control the byproducts produced by DPC rearrangement in the process of DPC synthesis. It also provides a new route for the preparation of PS and XA.

In this paper, the Fries rearrangement of diphenyl carbonate (DPC) catalyzed by organotin compounds with different coordination groups was studied for the first time.

A synthetic strategy toward isosorbide polycarbonate with a high molecular weight: the effect of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between isosorbide and metal chlorides

Isosorbide polycarbonate (ISB-PC) was prepared by melt transesterification and polycondensation reaction by employing ISB and diphenyl carbonate (DPC) as monomers.

Advances in the use of CO2 as a renewable feedstock for the synthesis of polymers

Carbon dioxide offers an accessible, cheap and renewable carbon feedstock for synthesis. Current interest in the area of carbon dioxide valorisation aims at new, emerging technologies that are able to provide new opportunities to turn a waste into value. Polymers are among the most widely produced chemicals in the world greatly affecting the quality of life. However, there are growing concerns about the lack of reuse of the majority of the consumer plastics and their after-life disposal resulting in an increasing demand for sustainable alternatives. New monomers and polymers that can address these issues are therefore warranted, and merging polymer synthesis with the recycling of carbon dioxide offers a tangible route to transition towards a circular economy. Here, an overview of the most relevant and recent approaches to CO2-based monomers and polymers are highlighted with particular emphasis on the transformation routes used and their involved manifolds.

Preparation of polycarbonate diols (PCDLs) from dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and diols catalyzed by KNO3/γ-Al2O3

γ-Al2O3 loaded with potassium nitrate (KNO3/Al2O3) catalysts were prepared, characterized and employed as a type of heterogenous solid base catalyst in the synthesis of polycarbonate (1,4-butane carbonate)-diol (PBC-OH) via the transesterification of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and 1,4-butanediol (BD). The relationship between physicochemical properties and catalytic performance for KNO3/Al2O3 in this transesterification reaction was investigated using various techniques. The results demonstrated that the performance of KNO3/Al2O3 catalysts was highly influenced by basic site amount and strength. The medium and strong basic sites were beneficial for this reaction. The catalyst with a KNO3 loading of 35% and a calcination temperature of 700 °C exhibited the best catalytic activity due to its highest basic site amount and appropriate base strength. The highest BD conversion and PBC-OH yield of 80.2% and 68.4% were obtained under optimal reaction conditions. Also, this solid base catalyst was successfully employed in the synthesis of copolycarbonate diols from DMC and two different diols. Different scanning calorimetry results indicated that the thermal properties of the copolycarbonate diols can be adjusted by regulating the average segment lengths, M n and copolymer composition structure.

Structural deformation phenomenon of synthesized poly(isosorbide-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) in hot water

Water induced deformation phenomena of synthesized polyester including isosorbide shares analogous mechanism of solvent induced crystallization. This structural deformation is effected by pH, open-ring ISB and ester hydrolysis.

Isosorbide and dimethyl carbonate: a green match

In this review the reactivity of the bio-based platform compounds D-sorbitol and isosorbide with green reagents and solvent dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is reported. Dehydration of D-sorbitol via DMC in the presence of catalytic amounts of base is an efficient and viable process for the preparation of the industrially relevant anhydro sugar isosorbide. This procedure is "chlorine-free", one-pot, environmental friendly and high yielding. The reactivity of isosorbide with DMC is equally interesting as it can lead to the formation of dicarboxymethyl isosorbide, a potential monomer for isosorbide-based polycarbonate, and dimethyl isosorbide, a high boiling green solvent. The peculiar reactivity of isosorbide and the non-toxic properties of DMC represent indeed a green match leading to several industrial appealing potential applications.