Copolymerization of CO2 and Cyclohexene Oxide in the Presence of Functional Transfer Agents Provides Telechelic Polycarbonates: Synthesis of CO2-Containing Macromonomers and Macroinitiators

One possible way to store the excess CO₂ present in atmosphere is to use it as a reagent for the synthesis of commodities. In particular, CO₂ and epoxides can be copolymerized to produce a large variety of polycarbonates which appear very promising in various application fields. Further, the addition of an appropriate transfer agent in the reaction mixture promotes the formation of telechelic polycarbonates which can be used where specific functional polymers are necessary. In this work, (hydroxyethyl) methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl-2-bromoisobutyrate species are exploited as transfer agents in the copolymerization of CO₂ and cyclohexene oxide, in the presence of a macrocyclic phenolate dimagnesium catalyst. The effect of the transfer agent concentration on the polycarbonate characteristics is evaluated. Finally, the obtained telechelic polycarbonates are used as macromonomers and macroinitiators in the synthesis of statistical and block copolymers.