Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of synthesizing a polymer comprising contacting a first monomer and an organolithium initiator in a nonpolar solvent and adding a promoter to the nonpolar solvent to polymerize the first monomer. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe a method of synthesizing a polymer comprising contacting a first monomer and an organolithium initiator in a nonpolar solvent, adding a promoter to the nonpolar solvent to polymerize the first monomer, and adding a second monomer to the nonpolar solvent to polymerize the second monomer.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of making a polycarbonate, comprising contacting one or more cyclic monomers and carbon dioxide in the presence of one or more of a Lewis acid catalyst, an initiator, and an ionic liquid; and agitating, sufficient to copolymerize the one or more cyclic monomers and carbon dioxide to create a polycarbonate. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe a method of controlling a polymer composition, comprising contacting one or more cyclic monomers and carbon dioxide; adjusting an amount of one or more of a Lewis acid catalyst, an ionic liquid, and an initiator in the presence of the one or more cyclic monomers and carbon dioxide, sufficient to selectively modify a resulting polycarbonate; and agitating, sufficient to copolymerize the one or more cyclic monomers and carbon dioxide to create the polycarbonate.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of removing an end group from a polymer comprising contacting a polymer having a thiocarbonylthio end group, or a solution containing such a polymer, with an excess of a borane compound in the presence of oxygen. Embodiments of the present disclosure further describe a method of polymerization comprising contacting one or more monomers with an initiator and a chain transfer agent to form a polymer having a thiocarbonylthio end group in a reaction solution and contacting the polymer with a borane compound in the presence of oxygen to remove the thiocarbonylthio end group from the polymer.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a method of making a polyester compound comprising adding an initiator to a reaction medium, charging the reaction medium with an amount of carbon dioxide, and adding a cyclic ester compound to the reaction medium.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe polymerization systems for the synthesis of polycarbonate polyols, methods of synthesizing polycarbonate polyols using the polymerization systems, methods of recovering initiators and/or activators for use or re-use in the synthesis of polycarbonate polyol, and the like. The polymerization systems can comprise an initiator including a mono- or multi-functional carboxylate or carbonate salt having an organic cation as a counter-ion; an optional co-initiator including a mono- or multi- functional protic compound selected from acids, alcohols, water, and combinations thereof; and an activator including a borane compound selected from alkyl boranes and aryl boranes; wherein the activator and one or more of the initiator and co-initiator associate to form an ate complex.
Abstract:
Methods of recovering and/or reusing activators and/or initiators following polycarbonate synthesis may include: contacting an amine compound with a carboxylic acid compound to form a first ammonium salt including a first ammonium cation associated with a carboxylate group; mixing the first ammonium salt with a reaction solution to obtain a first solution comprising a protonated polycarbonate, an activator adduct, and a second ammonium salt in which the second ammonium cation is associated with the carboxylate group from the first ammonium salt; contacting the first solution to precipitate the polycarbonate out of solution; separating the activator adduct from the precipitated polycarbonate and the second ammonium salt to obtain a second solution; separating the precipitated polycarbonate from the second ammonium salt to recover the second ammonium salt; and separating the activator adduct from the second solution to recover an activator capable of being reused for synthesizing additional polycarbonates.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe polymerization systems for the synthesis of polycarbonate polyols, methods of synthesizing polycarbonate polyols using the polymerization systems, methods of recovering initiators and/or activators for use or re-use in the synthesis of polycarbonate polyol, and the like. The polymerization systems can comprise an initiator including a mono- or multi-functional carboxylate or carbonate salt having an organic cation as a counter-ion; an optional co-initiator including a mono- or multi- functional protic compound selected from acids, alcohols, water, and combinations thereof; and an activator including a borane compound selected from alkyl boranes and aryl boranes; wherein the activator and one or more of the initiator and co-initiator associate to form an ate complex.
Abstract:
A process for living ring-opening polymerization can include exposing an N- carboxyanhydride monomer to an initiator that includes a first primary amine covalently linked to a first electron donor by a first linking group to form a polyamide polymer. The initiator can include a second primary amine, optionally a second electron donor, and optionally a third electron donor.
Abstract:
The present disclosure features materials and methods for synthesizing polycarbamates via chain-growth copolymerization in the presence of a Lewis acid of a first reactant having a oxirane or thiirane moiety and at least one heteroallene reactant, wherein a first heteroallene reactant is an isocyanate or an isothiocyanate. Also featured are polycarbamate copolymers and terpolymers according to formula (I): (I), wherein An is a halogen atom or a carboxylate or alkoxide moiety; each X and X' is independently an oxygen or a sulfur atom; each R1 and R2 is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group including linear, branched, saturated, unsaturated, aromatic, cyclic alkyl groups, and heteroatom-containing alkyl groups, R3 is an electron deficient group, m and o are independently selected from integers ≥ 1 and n is 0 or an integer ≥ 1. Both X and X' can be the same or X and X' can be different.
Abstract:
Embodiments include degradable polyethers comprising ester units from a cyclic ester or carbonate units from carbon dioxide incorporated into a poly(ethylene oxide) backbone or a multifunctional core of a degradable polyether star. Embodiments include methods of forming a degradable polyether comprising contacting an ethylene oxide monomer with a lactide monomer or carbon dioxide in the presence of an alkyl borane and an initiator. Embodiments include methods of forming degradable polyether stars comprising contacting a diepoxide monomer with carbon dioxide and/or a cyclic ester in the presence of an initiator and a first amount of an alkyl borane to form a multifunctional core comprising degradable carbonate linkages and/or degradable ester linkages, and contacting the multifunctional core with an ethylene oxide monomer in the presence of a second amount of an alkyl borane to form arms of a polyether attached to the degradable multifunctional core.