Synthesis of Polycarbonates by Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide and Cyclohexene Oxide Using Schiff Base Complex as Catalyst

Abstract

A novel Schiff base complex BCED–Zn has been found to be an effective catalyst for copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide to afford alternating copolymer poly(cyclohexenylene carbonate) (PCHC), and the turnover number was up to 421.1 at 110°C and 4 MPa CO2 pressure for 24 h. The influence of the reaction conditions such as reaction time, reaction temperature and CO2 pressure was discussed and optimized. The thermal stability of PCHC was measured by thermogravimetric analysis, indicating that the 5 % weight loss temperature was about 232 °C and the maximum weight loss temperature was around 256 °C.