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Anionic Copolymerization of Carbonyl Sulfide with Epoxides via Alkali Metal Alkoxides
Author(s) -
Zhang ChengJian,
Yang JiaLiang,
Hu LanFang,
Zhang XingHong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chinese journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1614-7065
pISSN - 1001-604X
DOI - 10.1002/cjoc.201700810
Subject(s) - chemistry , carbonyl sulfide , copolymer , monomer , catalysis , polymer chemistry , alkali metal , sulfide , sulfur , solvent , propylene oxide , polymer , propylene carbonate , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , ethylene oxide , electrode , electrochemistry
Carbonyl sulfide (COS), an analogue of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), can be converted to CO 2 via the carbonic anhydride enzymes widely existing in nature. COS is an ideal monomer for making poly(monothiocarbonate)s, which are difficult to synthesize by traditional methods. Herein, for the first time, we describe an anionic copolymerization of COS with epoxides using alkali metal alkoxides as the catalysts (initiators), affording poly(monothiocarbonate)s with 100% alternating degree, >99% tail‐to‐head (T‐H) content, high number‐average molecular weights ( M n s, up to 90.3 kg/mol) with narrow molecular weight distributions ( Đ = M w / M n , 1.05—1.31 for COS/propylene oxide copolymers) under solvent‐free and mild conditions. Oxygen‐sulfur exchange reaction (O/S ER), which can result in the production of contaminated dithiocarbonate and carbonate units in the main chain, was nearly completely depressed at 0 o C. In addition, in contrast to previously reported salen chromium (iron) complexes that required multiple synthetic steps, this work provides simple, low‐cost, and effective catalysts for making colorless sulfur‐containing polymers.