Issue 12, 2014

Versatile metal complexes of 2,5-bis{N-(2,6-di isopropylphenyl)iminomethyl}pyrrole for epoxide–CO2 coupling and ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Abstract

The catalytic activities of metal complexes of 2,5-bis{N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminomethyl}pyrrole 1 for epoxide–CO2 coupling and ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (CL) were explored. The Zn(II) 2, Cd(II) 3,4 and Cu(II) 5 complexes of 1, in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as co-catalyst, effectively catalyzed the epoxide–CO2 coupling reaction at 1 atm of CO2 to produce cyclic carbonates. In addition, the catalytic activities of these complexes (2–5) were investigated for the ROP of CL in the presence and absence of benzyl alcohol (BnOH). All these complexes were active for ROP of CL at mild temperature. In particular, the complexes 2 and 5 exhibited remarkable catalytic activities for ROP of CL at 25 °C in toluene in the presence of BnOH. The ROP of CL catalyzed by 2 and 5 complexes, not only proceeded through living polymerization but also immortal.

Graphical abstract: Versatile metal complexes of 2,5-bis{N-(2,6-di isopropylphenyl)iminomethyl}pyrrole for epoxide–CO2 coupling and ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Sep 2013
Accepted
18 Dec 2013
First published
19 Dec 2013

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 6094-6102

Versatile metal complexes of 2,5-bis{N-(2,6-di isopropylphenyl)iminomethyl}pyrrole for epoxide–CO2 coupling and ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

H. V. Babu and K. Muralidharan, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 6094 DOI: 10.1039/C3RA44988B

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