Reaction between carbon dioxide and propylene oxide catalyzed by cobalt and chromium porphyrin complexes: The effect of reaction conditions on the reaction rate

The effect of the conditions (time, temperature, pressure, and cocatalyst/catalyst ratio) on the rate and selectivity of the reaction between СО₂ and propylene oxide catalyzed by TPPCrCl and TPPCoCl (TPP is 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin) has been studied. The time variation of the reaction rate has been analyzed by measuring the СО₂ uptake during the reaction. The observed dependences of the reaction rate on the temperature and cocatalyst/catalyst ratio are similar for TPPCrCl and TPPCoCl. In the presence of TPPCoCl, the reaction yields a mixture of poly(propylene carbonate) and a cyclic carbonate, while when TPPCrCl is used, only the cyclic carbonate is synthesized.