New catalytic systems for the fixation of carbon dioxide, 2. Synthesis of high molecular weight epichlorohydrin/carbon dioxide copolymer with rare earth phosphonates/triisobutyl‐aluminium systems

Copolymerization of carbon dioxide with epichlorohydrin to synthesize high molecular weight chlorine‐containing poly(carbonate‐ether) with RE ( P 204 ) 3 Al[CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 ] 3 (with RE = La, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Nd, Er, Yb, Lu, Y; P 204 = (RO) 2 POO, R = CH 3 (CH 2 ) 3 CH(C 2 H 5 )CH 2 ) as a catalyst was carried out for the first time. The most favorable conditions for the copolymerization were: CO 2 aged Y( P 204 ) 3 Al[CH 2 CH(CH 3 ) 2 ] 3 as catalyst; mole ratio Al/Y = 8; reaction time 24 h; temperature 60–70°C; concentration [Y] = 3,31 · 10 −2 mol/L; 1,4‐dioxane as solvent. The highest yield, intrinsic viscosity [η] and CO 2 content of the copolymer obtained reached 3 945 g per mole of rare earth element, [η] = 1,49 dL/g and f (CO 2 ) = 30 mol‐%, respectively. Results from differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetry showed that the copolymer has high thermal stability and decomposes at 320°C.