Catalytic Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable ...
Catalytic Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable ...
Catalytic Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Chapter 1<br />
for the cyclization <strong>of</strong> EO <strong>and</strong> CO2 to ethylene carbonate (Figure 1.2.6). 24, 25 Lewis bases<br />
orquaternary ammonium salts, including pyridine, MeIm, <strong>and</strong> nBu4NX (X=Cl, Br, I), were<br />
utilized as cocatalysts, enhancing rates by up to a factor <strong>of</strong> five. At 110 o C <strong>and</strong> in scCO2 (ca.<br />
150 atm CO2), a 1:1 mixture <strong>of</strong> 2a/nBu4NBr catalyzed the conversion <strong>of</strong> EO to EC with a<br />
TOF <strong>of</strong> 2220 h -1 . Salen-chromium (2b) <strong>and</strong> -cobalt (2c) analogs also promoted cyclic-species<br />
formation showing rates <strong>of</strong> 2140 <strong>and</strong> 1320 h -1 , respectively. Darensbourg <strong>and</strong> co-workers<br />
have reported AlCl4 - -based complexes that exhibit TOFs up to 50 h -1 for the synthesis <strong>of</strong><br />
propylene carbonate from PO <strong>and</strong> CO2. 26<br />
Figure 1.2.6 Salen catalyst systems (cocatalyst = tetrabutylammonium halide, pyridine, or MeIm)<br />
for the synthesis <strong>of</strong> ethylene carbonate.<br />
Aluminum complexes are indeed active for the copolymerization <strong>of</strong> epoxides <strong>and</strong> CO2;<br />
however, they are plagued by low activities <strong>and</strong> yield polycarbonates with high percentages <strong>of</strong><br />
ether linkages. It appears that without additives, current aluminum catalysts do not cleanly<br />
generate alternating copolymer. Nevertheless, the “immortal” polymerization <strong>of</strong> [(tpp)AlX]<br />
compounds shows promise for the synthesis <strong>of</strong> a wealth <strong>of</strong> unique copolymers with varying<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> carbonate linkages provided the activities can be improved.<br />
1.2.3 Chromium Salen Catalysts<br />
Kruper <strong>and</strong> Dellar discovered that [(tpp)CrX] (Figure 1.2.7) in mixtures with 4–10<br />
equivalents <strong>of</strong> a Lewis-basic amine cocatalyst [such as MeIm or (4-dimethylamino)pyridine<br />
(DMAP)] are moderately active for the cyclization <strong>of</strong> epoxides <strong>and</strong> CO2. 27 A wide range <strong>of</strong><br />
epoxides, including PO, trans-2-butene oxide, epichlorohydrin, CHO, <strong>and</strong> cyclopentene oxide<br />
(CPO), were rapidly converted to the corresponding cyclic carbonates. For instance, one <strong>of</strong><br />
the (tpp)CrX <strong>and</strong> DMAP catalyzed CHC formation at 50 atm CO2 <strong>and</strong> 95 o C, exhibiting<br />
activities <strong>of</strong> 103 h -1 . In this case, PCHC was isolated as the major product. Following<br />
‐ 8 ‐