Synthesis and properties of carbon dioxide based copolymers

Abstract

The utilization of CO 2 as a raw material to prepare high value-added chemicals has attracted extensive attention because it is an abundant, cheap and renewable C1 source. Currently, two CO 2 copolymers have been proved of industry value. One is CO 2 based plastics (PPC), and the other is CO 2 based polyurethane (CO 2-PU), which are synthesized from copolymerization or telomerization of CO 2 and propylene oxide, respectively. The 20 years' research in Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry witnessed the great progress in synthesis and performance improvement of CO 2 based copolymers. Though challenges still exist, their bright future is predictable.

Deciphering Structure–Functionality Relationship of Polycarbonate-Based Polyelectrolytes by AIE Technology

“…Accordingly, TPE–PVCHC, TPE–PVCHC–COOH, and TPE–PVCHC–COONH 4 were designed and synthesized according to the synthetic routes shown in Figure . The metalloporphyrin complex has been demonstrated as a highly efficient catalyst for copolymerization of CO 2 and epoxides with a quantitative conversion. − We utilized a (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin) aluminum chloride/bis­(triphenylphosphine)­iminium chloride (TPPAlCl/PPNCl) binary catalyst to catalyze the controllable polymerization of CO 2 and epoxide in the presence of an AIE-active chain-transfer agent TPE–OH (Figures S1–S12). VCHO, a derivative of cyclohexane oxide (CHO), was selected as one major monomer because the pendant vinyl group can be converted into a hydrophilic one through the thiol–ene click reaction and it is inert to the catalyst-active center.…”

Terminal Hydrophilicity-Induced Dispersion of Cationic Waterborne Polyurethane from CO2-Based Polyol

“…Three CO 2 -polyols with number-average molecular weight ( M n ) of ca. 2000 g mol –1 were prepared according to the procedure described in the literature , by using the zinc–cobalt double metal cyanide complex (Zn-Co-DMCC) as catalyst in the presence of terephthalic acid as chain transfer agent, whose carbonate unit contents were 36%, 55%, and 65%, respectively (more details in the Supporting Information). All polyols, including poly­(propylene oxide) glycol-2000 (PPG) (AR, Aladdin), poly­(butylene adipate) glycol-2000 (PBA) (AR, Sinopharm), and CO 2 -polyols, were dehydrated in a vacuum at 80 °C for 2 h prior to use.…”

“…In addition to internal emulsifiers, oligomer polyols, which are indispensable raw materials accounting for over 60 wt % of total polyurethanes, are mainly derived from petroleum resources. Recently, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is becoming an attractive renewable C1 resource for chemicals − and also for CO 2 -polyols − and derivative products − by the copolymerization of CO 2 and epoxides in the presence of various catalysts and chain transfer agents, , which have aroused widespread interest in industrial (for example, Covestro has opened a plant to produce up to 5000 t per year of CO 2 -polyols. , ) and academic communities. − Bardow et al pointed out that polyols with 20 wt % CO 2 can reduce greenhouse gas emission of 11–19%, and fossil resources use of 13–16%; further derivative CO 2 -based rubber can reduce the impact of global warming by up to 34% and the consumption of fossil resources by up to 33% . In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of chemical processes, CO 2 -polyols have excellent performance and tunability.…”