Organometallic Chemistry of Carbon Dioxide: Copolymerization of CO2 and Epoxides

这一无机化学、生物无机化学和金属有机化学项目的奖项支持由德克萨斯农工大学化学系的唐纳德·达伦斯堡教授研究开发用于从二氧化碳和环氧化物中生产聚碳酸酯的底物/催化剂系统。以前开发的以环己烯为底物的酚锌催化剂的详细作用机理将被确定，并用于设计新的催化剂。这项研究的目标是开发新的和有效的催化剂，可以从二氧化碳和容易获得的乙烯和环氧丙烷中制备聚碳酸酯，这是一种商业上重要的聚合物类别。这些催化剂将允许直接利用温室气体二氧化碳以及取代目前以光气为基础的技术。光气是剧毒的，这一过程将更加环保。许多不同的学生，包括研究生和本科生，将接受广泛的工业和学术职业培训。

This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports research on the development of substrate/catalyst systems for the production of polycarbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides, by Professor Donald Darensbourg of the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. The detailed mechanism of action of previously-developed zinc phenoxide catalysts using cyclohexene oxide as the substrate will be determined and used to design new catalysts. The use of double metal cyanides of zinc and cobalt or iron will be emphasized.The goal of this research is to develop new and effective catalysts which can produce polycarbonates, a commercially important class of polymers, from carbon dioxide and readily available ethylene and propylene oxides. These catalysts will permit the direct utilization of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as well as replacement of the current phosgene-based technology. Phosgene is highly toxic, and this process will be more environmentally friendly. A number of diverse students, both graduate and undergraduate, will receive broad training for both industrial and academic careers.