Synthesis and Characterization of New Chiral Polyurea‐Polyurethane Nanocomposites Incorporating Cinchona‐Derived Urea Organocatalysts

Abstract

AbstractThe field of asymmetric organocatalysis has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, with chiral urea and thioureas emerging as powerful catalysts. In this study, we aimed to design novel polyurea‐polyurethane nanocomposites functionalized with cinchona urea groups, incorporating organoclay and graphene oxide, to serve as heterogeneous organocatalysts in asymmetric synthesis. The synthesis of these polyurea‐polyurethane nanocomposites was achieved through a two‐component polycondensation reaction. The resulting chiral polyurea‐polyurethanes (PU‐PURs) exhibited favorable yields and demonstrated precise control over stereochemistry, resulting in high enantioselectivity. The incorporation of nanocomposites, such as CU‐MMT and graphene oxide (GO), significantly enhanced the catalytic performance of the PU‐PURs. The CU‐MMT nanocomposites exhibited higher catalytic activity, while the PU‐PURs/GO still exhibited enantioselectivity greater than 99 %. Overall, this study highlights the potential of these novel polyurea‐polyurethane nanocomposites as efficient and versatile heterogeneous organocatalysts in asymmetric synthesis.