| Abstract: | The reaction of carbon dioxide with aniline using triphenyl phosphite in pyridine is greatly facilitated by the addition of hydrochlorides of tertiary amines such as pyridine and triethylamine, and has been successfully applied to the preparation of polyureas of high molecular weight from carbon dioxide and aromatic diamines. The presence of a catalytic amount of pyridine hydrochloride significantly increased the inherent viscosity of the resulting polymers, the highest value being obtained with about an equivalent of the chloride. Optimal temperatures and pressures varied with diamines used, and were 60–80°C and 40–50 atm of carbon dioxide. The polycondensation reaction was also affected by the solvent compositions of pyridine and N-methylpyrrolidone, its optimum being dependent on diamines used. |
