N-Heterocyclic carbene-catalysed synthesis of polyurethanes

Abstract

A free N-heterocyclic carbene has been efficiently used for the organocatalysed step-growth polymerisation between aliphatic diisocyanates and diols. Both the nature of the diisocyanate monomer and the order of addition of reactants are critical parameters for the successful synthesis of soluble linear polyurethanes. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.