Co(III)/Alkali-Metal(I) heterodinuclear catalysts for the ring-opening copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide.
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Published version
Author(s)
Deacy, Arron C
Moreby, Emma
Phanopoulos, Andreas
Williams, Charlotte K
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The ring-opening copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propene oxide is a useful means to valorize waste into commercially attractive poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) polyols. The reaction is limited by low catalytic activities, poor tolerance to a large excess of chain transfer agent, and tendency to form byproducts. Here, a series of new catalysts are reported that comprise heterodinuclear Co(III)/M(I) macrocyclic complexes (where M(I) = Group 1 metal). These catalysts show highly efficient production of PPC polyols, outstanding yields (turnover numbers), quantitative carbon dioxide uptake (>99%), and high selectivity for polyol formation (>95%). The most active, a Co(III)/K(I) complex, shows a turnover frequency of 800 h-1 at low catalyst loading (0.025 mol %, 70 °C, 30 bar CO2). The copolymerizations are well controlled and produce hydroxyl telechelic PPC with predictable molar masses and narrow dispersity (Đ < 1.15). The polymerization kinetics show a second order rate law, first order in both propylene oxide and catalyst concentrations, and zeroth order in CO2 pressure. An Eyring analysis, examining the effect of temperature on the propagation rate coefficient (kp), reveals the transition state barrier for polycarbonate formation: ΔG‡ = +92.6 ± 2.5 kJ mol-1. The Co(III)/K(I) catalyst is also highly active and selective in copolymerizations of other epoxides with carbon dioxide.
Date Issued
2020-11-11
Date Acceptance
2020-10-01
Citation
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2020, 142 (45), pp.19150-19160
ISSN
0002-7863
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
19150
End Page
19160
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Volume
142
Issue
45
Copyright Statement
© 2020 American Chemical Society. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY)
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium,
provided the author and source are cited.
(http://pubs.acs.org/page/policy/authorchoice_ccby_termsofuse.html)
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium,
provided the author and source are cited.
(http://pubs.acs.org/page/policy/authorchoice_ccby_termsofuse.html)
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33108736
Subjects
03 Chemical Sciences
General Chemistry
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2020-10-27