Synthesis of polyethercarbonate from carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide by yttrium–metal coordination catalyst

The copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide to generate polyethercarbonate using yttrium–metal coordination catalyst was carried out in this study. After testing several catalyst systems, it was found that the system consisting of Y(CF3CO2)3(I), Zn(Et)2(II),and glycerine(III) in the solvent of 1,3-dioxolane was the most effective catalyst. The IR and 1H NMR spectra indicated that the resulting copolymer was indeed a polyethercarbonate with a carbonate content as high as 100%. The weight-average molecular weights observed in a range between 1.9×104 and 3.3×105 and the dispersity between 3.5 and 12.5. The glass transition temperature of the resulting copolymer was found to locate in a range 105–128°C and the temperature at which 10% weight loss occurred in a range 252–331°C.