Heterogeneous Palladium-Cobalt Bimetal Catalyst for the Oxidative Carbonylation of Bisphenol A to Polycarbonate

Polycarbonates (PCs) were prepared by the oxidative carbonylation of bisphenol A and carbon monoxide with a hydrotalcite-supported Pd-Co complex, a Pd-Co-poly(4-vinylpyridine) complex [Pd-Co-(p-4vpy)], a Pd-Co-polystyrene-supported triphenylphosphine complex (Pd-Co-PS-TPP), or a Pd-Co-polyvinylpyrrolidone complex (Pd-Co-pvp) as a heterogeneous Pd-Co bimetal catalyst to separate the PC solution and the Pd-Co bimetal catalyst after the reaction. Propylene carbonate was used as a halogen-free solvent. Pd-Co-(p-4vpy) and Pd-Co-PS-TPP showed recycling potential, whereas Pd-Co-pvp, though not having recycling potential, yielded a high turnover number with a maximum of 1462. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 2226-2234, 2009