Copolymerization of carbon dioxide and N‐phenylethylenimine

Abstract

AbstractCopolymerizations of carbon dioxide and N‐phenylethylenimine were carried out with the use of various catalysts and solvents. The infrared spectrum of the polymer produced showed the characteristic absorption peak at 1730–1735 cm−1 based on the urethane linkage.The content of the urethane linkage decreased in the following order: Mn(acac)2 ≈ MnCl24H2O > Al(OBu)3 > Ti(OBu)4 > ZnCl2 ≫ BF3OEt2 = VCl3 = Mn(acac)3 = FeCl3 = CrCl3 · 6H2O = 0. The manganase (bivalent) catalyst in combination with n‐hexane solvent was found to be the best system for the copolymerization, and this system received detailed study. Generally speaking, both the polymer yield and the content of the urethane linkage increased with increasing content of carbon dioxide in the feed as well as with increasing polymerization temperature. From the fractionation of polymer in methanol, it was found that the produced polymer is composed of both homopolymer of N‐phenylethylenimine and copolymer of N‐phenylethylenimine and carbon dioxide. The content of the urethane linkage of the copolymer thus fractionated was as high as about 80%.