CO2-based ring-opening copolymerization enables hydroxy-functionalized polycarbonates

Utilising CO2 as a feedstock for polymer production offers a promising pathway to reduce dependence on fossil resources. This study explores the ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of CO2 with epoxides such as benzyl glycidyl ether (BnGE) and cyclohexene oxide (CHO) to produce hydroxy-functionalized polycarbonates. Using catalyst systems like {Salphen}CoCl/PPNCl and BEt3/PPNCl, researchers successfully synthesised copolymers and terpolymers with high selectivity and tunable properties.

The polymers were characterised using advanced techniques including NMR spectroscopy, SEC, TGA, and DSC. Hydrogenolysis of benzyloxy-functional groups yielded hydrophilic polymers with hydroxyl pendant groups, demonstrating significant potential for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and tissue engineering.

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Sustainable materials with recycling potential

The study also highlights the chemical recyclability of these polymers through depolymerisation using organocatalysts, enabling efficient recovery of the original monomers. This sustainable polymer production and recycling approach opens new possibilities for industrial and healthcare applications.

Source: Chaudhary, N., Hashmi, A. S. K., Carpentier, J.-F., & Guillaume, S. M., CO2/epoxides ring-opening copolymerization towards hydroxy-functionalized polycarbonates. Polymer Chemistry, 17, 1005–1018 (2026).

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