CATALYSTS AND METHODS FOR POLYESTER PRODUCTION

摘要

Disclosed are polymerization systems and methods for the formation of polyesters from epoxides and carbon monoxide. The inventive polymerization systems feature the combination of metal carbonyl compounds and polymerization initiators and are characterized in that the molar ratios of metal carbonyl compound, polymerization initiators and provided epoxides are present in certain ratios.

主权项

1. A method for the copolymerization of an epoxide and carbon monoxide comprising the steps of:
a) providing an epoxide; b) contacting the epoxide with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal carbonyl compound and a polymerization initiator wherein the epoxide is provided in a molar excess relative to the polymerization initiator, and the polymerization initiator is provided in a molar excess relative to the metal carbonyl compound; and c) producing a polyester product comprising a polymer of formulawhere E is an optionally substituted ethylene unit derived from the epoxide and n is an integer between about 5 and 5,000.