USE OF CHROMIUM (III) CARBOXYLATES AS A CATALYST

摘要

The use of C3-C60, substituted or unsubstituted, straight or branch-chained, alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl carboxylate Cr<+3> salts, preferably chromium +3 octoate, as catalysts for the reaction of ring systems, such as aziridines, oxiranes, oxetanes and thiiranes with carboxylic acids, anhydrides, lactone and carbonate esters are disclosed. The use of chromium (Cr<+3>) salt catalysts for accelerating the reaction of hydroxy compounds with anhydrides, lactones, and carbonate esters are also disclosed. These reactions can occur in single or polymer reactions. The chromium +3 carboxylate catalyst increases the reaction rates by orders of magnitude and selectively reacts the ring systems to form monomers, prepolymers, copolymers, functional end-group monomers, functional end-group prepolymers, and functional end-group polymers rather than forming homopolymers. By varying the catalyst concentration, molar ratios, and reaction temperatures, the reaction time required to form the desired product can be controlled.