High-activity, single-site catalysts for the alternating copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide.
Despite recent advances regarding catalysts for CO2/epoxide copolymerization, the development of high-activity catalysts for alternating polymerization of CO2 and commodity epoxides, such as propylene oxide, remains a challenge. A new class of unsymmetrically substituted beta-diiminate zinc complexes is reported that exhibits unprecedented activity for CO2/propylene oxide copolymerization. The polymers formed are of high molecular weight (Mn approximately 35 kg/mol) and have narrow polydispersities (PDI approximately 1.1), consistent with a living polymerization.
Allen
Scott D
SD
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Baker Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Moore
David R
DR
Lobkovsky
Emil B
EB
Coates
Geoffrey W
GW