POLYMERS DERIVED FROM CARBON-DIOXIDE AND CARBONATES

This article reviews a few novel polymer preparation processes operating directly from carbon dioxide or carbonates, which have been developed in the author's laboratory. Carbon dioxide was condensed with aryl diamines and gave polyureas under mild conditions by use of diphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensation agents. Synthesis of carbonates from carbon dioxide and alkyl alcohols in the presence of tin catalysts is discussed. Dialkyl carbonates afforded polycarbonates with glycols, and diphenyl carbonate with phenol using the same tin catalyst. Diphenyl carbonate yielded selectively biscarbamates with diamines, followed by formation of polyurethanes with glycols. Polyureas were also prepared by the reaction of diphenyl carbonate and diamines in the presence of magnesium chloride. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.