Catalyst screening for the melt polymerization of isosorbide-based polycarbonate

Abstract

Isosorbide, a renewable sugar-diol, is used to make isosorbide-based polycarbonates by melt polymerization with diphenyl carbonate. To make high-molecular-weight and optically clear isosorbide-based polycarbonates, several catalysts are selected from well-known promoters of polycondensation, and their catalytic activities are evaluated. Among those chosen, cesium carbonate shows the highest catalytic activity, and its optimum concentration is determined by taking into account the molecular weight, glass transition temperature and discoloration of the resulting polycarbonates. In this study, a small amount of cesium carbonate (0.2ppm) is sufficient to produce a high-molecular-weight (Mw=32,600) isosorbide-based polycarbonate with a high glass transition temperature (164°C) that shows the least discoloration. Furthermore, in the case of melt polymerization, the purities of isosorbide and diphenyl carbonate also play an important role in the discoloration of isosorbide-based polycarbonates.