A Lewis acid β-diiminato-zinc-complex as all-rounder for co- and terpolymerisation of various epoxides with carbon dioxide

A β-diiminato-zinc-N(SiMe₃)₂ complex (1) was synthesised and fully characterised, including an X-ray diffraction study. The activity of catalyst 1 towards the coupling reaction of CO₂ and various epoxides, including propylene oxide (PO), cyclohexene oxide (CHO), styrene oxide (SO), limonene oxide (LO), octene oxide (OO) and epichlorohydrin (ECH), was investigated. Terpolymerisation of CO₂, PO and LO, as well as CO₂, CHO and PO, was successfully realised, resulting in polymers with adjustable glass transition temperatures and transparencies. Reaction conditions such as temperature, pressure and catalyst concentration were varied to find the optimal reaction values, especially regarding LO/CO₂. In situ IR experiments hinted that at 60 °C and a critical LO concentration, polymerisation and depolymerisation are in an equilibrium (ceiling effect). Pressurising catalyst 1 with carbon dioxide resulted in a dimeric catalyst (2) with a OSiMe₃ group as a new initiator. Homopolymerisation of different epoxides was carried out in order to explain the reactivity concerning copolymerisation reaction of CO₂ and epoxides.