Highly cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles were prepared via novel one-step synthesis by copolymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and the ionic liquid, 1-vinyl-3-(2-methoxy-2-oxyl ethyl) imidazolium chloride ([VMIm]Cl). The results indicated that nanoparticles with the average size of about 350 nm could be obtained conveniently through the cross-linking copolymerization. The nanoparticles were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform Infrared, thermo gravimetric analysis, element analysis, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Moreover, the cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles were highly active and selective catalysts for the cycloaddition reaction of carbon dioxide to epoxides. The influences of reaction time, reaction temperature, CO 2 pressure, and amount of catalyst on yield of the products were investigated. The results revealed that cyclic carbonates with high yield (98.4%) and selectivity (100%) could be produced on the condition of 0.1 g catalyst, 5 MPa CO 2 , 160 C and 12 h. In addition, the nanocatalysts could be easily recovered by filtration, and reused several times with only slight loss of catalytic activity.
Polymer-supported quaternary phosphonium salt (PS-QPS) was explored as effective catalyst for the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide with epoxides. The results indicated that cyclic carbonates with high yields (98.6%) and excellent selectivity (100%) could be prepared at the conditions of 5 MPa CO2, 150°C, and 6 h without the addition of organic solvents or cocatalysts. The effects of various reaction conditions on the catalytic performance were investigated in detail. The catalyst is applicable to a variety of epoxides, producing the corresponding cyclic carbonates in good yields. Furthermore, the catalyst could be recovered easily and reused for five times without loss of catalytic activity obviously. A proposed mechanism for synthesis of cyclic carbonate in the presence of PS-QPS was discussed. The catalyst was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum. It is believed that PS-QPS is of great potential for CO2fixation applications due to its unusual advantages, such as easy preparation, high activity and selectivity, stability, low cost, and reusability.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.