Abstract
The mechanism for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide using diethylzinc–benzenedicarboxylic acid and zinc oxide–benzenedicarboxylic acid systems as catalysts was investigated. The aromatic residue originating from the catalyst systems was confirmed to combine with the copolymer chain by gel permeation chromatographic studies. From the molar concentration of the aromatic residue per weight of the copolymer and the number average molecular weight, one aromatic residue was found to be incorporated into each copolymer chain when diethylzinc-based systems were used as catalysts. Thus, the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide is considered to be initiated by the insertion of a monomer into a zinc-carboxylate bond of the catalysts.
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References
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Hino, Y., Yoshida, Y. & Inoue, S. Initiation Mechanism of the Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide and Propylene Oxide with Zinc Carboxylate Catalyst Systems. Polym J 16, 159–163 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.16.159
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.16.159
