Highly active, binary catalyst systems for the alternating copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides under mild conditions

Abstract

Excellent activity and selectivity in the copolymerization of CO 2 with epoxides at extremely mild temperature and pressure are observed in the presence of binary nucleophile-electrophile catalyst systems based on chiral [(salcy)CoIIIX] complexes and quaternary ammonium salts (see scheme). Completely alternating copolymers are obtained with > 95% head-to-tail linkages.