High-activity, single-site catalysts for the alternating copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja028071g

Despite recent advances regarding catalysts for CO₂/epoxide copolymerization, the development of high-activity catalysts for alternating polymerization of CO₂ and commodity epoxides, such as propylene oxide, remains a challenge. A new class of unsymmetrically substituted β-diiminate zinc complexes is reported that exhibits unprecedented activity for CO₂/propylene oxide copolymerization. The polymers formed are of high molecular weight (M_n ≈ 35 kg/mol) and have narrow polydispersities (PDI ≈ 1.1), consistent with a living polymerization. Copyright