PolyNewrethanes. CO2 Valorisation for N-Functionalised Polyurethanes: Design and Synthesis of Catalyst Systems for Novel Sustainable Polymers

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Abstract:Global demand for polymeric materials is high and rapidly increasing, with production growing by 40 % over the past decade. It is essential to find alternatives to petrochemical feedstocks; carbon dioxide (CO2) is an ideal substitute as it is cheap, non-toxic, abundant and a waste product ofindustrial processes. The ring-opening copolymerisation (ROCOP) of CO2 and epoxides has enabled access to novel and industrially relevant polycarbonate materials but is largely limited by the epoxide monomer. While the ROCOP of epoxides with CO2 to form polycarbonates is well-established, the use of alternative monomers to form polyurethanes from CO2 remains underexplored and offers apotentially transformative route towards original sustainable materials. This proposal aims to develop catalytic routes towards novel functionalised polyurethanes and polyurethane derivatives, to develop a series of new materials with potential applications as high-performance coatings.This will be delivered through three key work packages, involving:1) Catalyst Screening (to build up mechanistic understanding);2) Catalyst Development (to synthesise the next generation of catalysts);3) Synthesising a Range of Novel Polyurethanes (to create a suite of new polymeric materials with broad-ranging properties).Successful project delivery will generate new methodologies for producing polyurethanes, which avoid the use of diisocyanates (a class of chemicals currently used in the industrial preparation of polyurethanes that are highly toxic and will soon be banned in several EU countries). Thisproject will also provide a new method of upcycling CO2 into value-added products.