EAGER: Carbonylative polymerization of aldehydes

技术摘要：化学催化计划支持阿克伦大学李佳教授研究杂环(如氮杂环)和杂烯(C=O和C=N键)在钴催化下的羰基化聚合。这项研究的重点是了解这些过程的机理，并开发有效的合成方法来制备商品和功能聚合物。这一过程可能会导致新类别的脂肪族聚酯，但仍未被探索。实现聚合的关键似乎是酰基钴键的活化。具有亲核性和潜在Lewis酸性的亲核和双功能有机助催化剂将被用来完成金属-碳键的活化。该项目开发的聚合反应是合成用于生物医学材料和环境友好型塑料的定制聚合物的有力工具。非技术摘要：化学催化计划支持阿克伦大学李佳教授对醛和一氧化碳的新型催化共聚(即醛的羰基化聚合)的研究。这项研究的重点是合理设计催化循环，利用来自非石油来源的廉价原料。这种高风险的研究努力可能会导致可降解聚合物的高额回报和商业开发。该反应的产物是脂肪族聚酯，作为特种塑料和商品塑料有广泛的应用。该研究活动培训学生和博士后在有机、无机和聚合物化学的界面。

Technical Abstract: The Chemical Catalysis Program supports the efforts of Professor Li Jia of the University of Akron for the investigation of the cobalt-catalyzed, carbonylative polymerization of heterocycles (e.g., aziridines) and heteroalkenes (C=O and C=N bonds). The research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of these processes and developing efficient synthetic methods for preparing both commodity and functional polymers. The process, which could lead to new classes of aliphatic polyesters, remains unexplored. The key to realizing the polymerization appears to be the activation of the acyl-cobalt bond. Nucleophilic and bifunctional organic co-catalysts with nucleophilicity and latent Lewis acidity will be used to accomplish the metal-carbon bond activation. The polymerization reactions developed in this project are powerful tools for the synthesis of tailor-made polymers for biomedical materials and environmentally friendly plastics.Non-technical Abstract: The Chemical Catalysis Program supports the efforts of Professor Li Jia of the University of Akron for the investigation of novel, catalytic copolymerizations of aldehydes and carbon monoxide (i.e, the carbonylative polymerization of aldehydes). The research focuses on the rational design of catalytic cycles that utilize inexpensive starting materials derived from non-petroleum sources. This high risk research effort may result in the high reward, commercial development of degradable polymers. The products of the reaction, aliphatic polyesters, have a wide range of applications as specialty and commodity plastics. The research activity trains students and postdoctoral associates at the interface of organic, inorganic and polymer chemistry.