Electronic and steric effects on catalysts for CO2/epoxide polymerization: subtle modifications resulting in superior activities.

Abstract

CO2 is perhaps the most attractive carbon-based feedstock owing to its abundance and low toxicity. Utilization of this contributor to global warming is a long-standing goal. Reported here are new single-site β-diiminate zinc catalysts that exhibit unprecedented activities for CO2/epoxide polymerization (see scheme).