Copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide using a BDIE•[Zn-Al] catalyst

A novel catalyst for the copolymerization, of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide was prepared by using zinc acetate anhydrous, aluminum isopropoxide and precursor N, N'-bis (2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,4-ethyldiimine (BDIE). Comparing with other. similar catalytic systems prepared with diethyl zinc, it is of low cost and easy to handle. The resulted copolymers were characterized by IR and NMR. Effects of reaction conditions such as reaction time and temperature, CO2 pressure, and catalyst concentration on copolymerization were. investigated. A highest catalytic efficiency of 31.6 g Copolymer/g Cat was obtained at 80 degrees C with catalyst concentration of 0.1 g/mL, BDIE:[Zn-Al] = 1:2 and CO2 pressure of 2 MPa in a 24 h period of reaction.