Catalytic production of monomers for sustainable polymers from carbon dioxide and diols

聚合物，更好地称为塑料，在现代社会中广泛使用，因为它们重量轻，强度高，价格便宜。他们的需求正在急剧增加，2013年，全球生产了299兆吨塑料，比2002年增加了46.5%（来源：plasticseeurope）。然而，聚合物被认为是不可持续的，因为它们具有环境持久性，其生产依赖于有限的化石资源。2013年，99.5%的塑料仍然来自石油（来源：EuropeanBioplastics）。此外，2014年，全球有323亿吨二氧化碳（CO2）被排放到大气中（来源：国际能源署）。因此，由廉价和可再生资源如CO2制成的聚合物是非常理想的产品。该提案的目的是利用CO2作为合成环状碳酸酯单体的原材料，环状碳酸酯单体是聚碳酸酯聚合物的结构单元。此外，聚碳酸酯是用于许多应用的有前景的材料，包括作为热塑性塑料、用于光致发光的粘合剂、聚合物电解质、粘合剂、组织工程支架和药物递送载体。用二氧化碳取代光气是一项令人兴奋的科学挑战，有可能改变经济并影响环境。基于我们已发表的初步结果，并使用实验和计算方法，该项目将开发用于直接从CO2和二醇合成环状碳酸酯单体的催化剂，这些分子丰富，可来自自然界。这些催化剂最终将用于将生物质和食物垃圾中的碳水化合物转化为使用传统光气试剂无法获得的新单体。这一过程将为二氧化碳的价值化和将碳水化合物等可再生原料衍生为新型可持续材料迈出重要一步，这些材料可以在英国产生大量财富。

Polymers, better known as plastics, are widespread in modern society as they are light, strong, and cheap. Their demand is dramatically increasing and in 2013, 299 megatonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, a 46.5% increase compared to 2002 (source: plasticseurope). However, polymers are regarded as unsustainable as they are environmentally persistent and their production is dependent on finite fossil-based resources. In 2013, 99.5% of plastics were still produced from oil (source: europeanbioplastics). There is therefore an urgent need for further research into the production of sustainable plastics.Additionally, in 2014, 32.3 gigatonnes of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) were released into the atmosphere (source: International Energy Agency). Therefore, polymers made from a cheap and renewable resource like CO2 are highly desirable products. The aim of this proposal is to utilise CO2 as a raw material in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers, which are the building blocks of polycarbonate polymers. Polycarbonates are furthermore promising materials for numerous applications, including as thermoplastics, binders for photovoltaics, polymer electrolytes, adhesives, tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery carriers.The current method used to produce cyclic carbonate monomers employs phosgene, a toxic and energy intensive reagent. Replacing phosgene by CO2 is an exciting scientific challenge that has the potential to transform the economy and impact the environment. Building on our published preliminary results and using an experimental and computational approach, this project will develop catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate monomers directly from CO2 and diols, abundant molecules that can be sourced from nature. These catalysts will ultimately be used to transform carbohydrates from biomass and food waste into new monomers that cannot be accessed using traditional phosgene reagents. This process will provide a vital step towards the valorisation of CO2 and the derivatisation of renewable feedstock like carbohydrates into novel sustainable materials that could generate significant wealth within the UK.