Copolymerization of CO 2 and cyclohexene oxide using a novel polymeric diimide catalyst

A catalyst for the copolymerization of CO 2 and cyclohexene oxide was prepared by using acetylacetone and 4,4′‐methylenedianiline. The catalyst was characterized as composed of a novel structure of the polymeric diimide Zn complex. The catalyst tended to produce an alternative copolymer with efficiency as high as 128 g polymer/g of catalyst. The obtained copolymers were characterized by IR and NMR. Effects of reaction conditions such as reaction time and temperature, CO 2 pressure, and catalyst concentration on copolymerization were investigated. Best results were obtained from the reaction at 90°C for 24 h, with catalyst concentration of 0.13 g/mL, and CO 2 pressure of 2–3 MPa. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1123–1128, 2003