Synthesis of BDIE•[Zn-(O-iPr)2] catalyst and copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide

A novel alpha-diimine Zn catalyst for copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide was synthesized with 2, 6-diisopropylaniline, glyoxal, diethylzinc and isopropanol. The precursor N, N'-bi (2, 6-diisopropylphenyl)ethyldiimine (BDIE) was characterized by H-1-NMR and proved to be an alpha-diimine. The copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide was investigated by changing feeding processes with two catalysts including alpha-diimine and beta-diimine zinc compounds. Catalytic efficiency for the copolymerization was enhanced up to 1.17 x 10(5) gpovmer/mol cat by application of batch polymenzations in which monomers were fed in batch.