Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide and Epoxide: Functionality of the Copolymer

Carbon dioxide and epoxide copolymerize in the presence of some organometallic catalyst systems under moderate conditions to give aliphatic polycarbonates of high molecular weight. Some metalloporphyrins of aluminum and zinc were found to act as novel catalysts for the polymerization of epoxide and for the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxide, though not alternating. The polymers are characterized by the narrow molecular weight distribution and the unusual stereoregularity. Starting from the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and trimethylsilyl glycidyl ether with diethylzinc-water catalyst system, a readily degradable polycarbonate having hydroxyl group was obtained.