CAREER: Catalytic Reactions Involving C1 Feedstocks: Development of High Activity Catalysts for the Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide and Epoxides

无机、生物无机和有机金属化学项目的CAREER奖支持康奈尔大学化学系Geoffrey W. Coates博士在聚合物合成方面的研究和教育。本研究的目的是为二氧化碳和环氧化物的可控共聚开发新的催化剂。过渡金属配合物，特别是锌二亚胺和手性恶唑啉，将被用作主链上有杂环基团的聚合物的引发剂。通过对这些基团进行改性，有望得到可生物降解的聚合物。将研究反应的机理，以及潜在的合成应用。高分子化学将成为面向K-12学生的拓展课程、重新设计本科有机化学实验室的一部分以及面向研究生的工业互动的基础。康奈尔材料研究中心将是许多此类活动的重点。

This CAREER award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program supports research and education on polymer synthesis by Dr. Geoffrey W. Coates in the Chemistry Department, Cornell University. The goal of the research is to develop new catalysts for the controlled copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides. Transition metal complexes, specifically zinc diimines and chiral oxazolines, will be used as initiators for polymers that have heterocyclic groups in the main chain. By modification of these groups, polymers that are biodegradable are expected to result. The mechanism of the reaction will be investigated, as will potential synthetic applications. Polymer chemistry will be the basis of outreach programs to K-12 students, redesign of a portion of the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory, and industrial interactions for graduate students. The Cornell Center for Materials Research will be the focus for many of these activities.