Ring-opening polymerisation epoxide polymers

Characteristic of these models of active sites is the appearance of the OZn O Zn(0)Et species. Considering the structural properties of the discussed catalysts as well as the polymer chain microstructure and the structure of the end groups of poly(propylene oxide) obtained with the PhOZnOCeHi ( -Bu)OZnEt catalyst, a concerted mechanism of epoxide ring-opening polymerisation with catalysts containing multinuclear species, including those with condensed zinc atoms, has been postulated [65,74] ... 

PTMC synthesis is realised either by copolymerisation of epoxides with carbon dioxide or by the ring-opening polymerisation (ROP) of cyclic carbonate monomers. It is also possible to obtain aliphatic carbonates via polycondensation of dialkyl or diphenyl carbonate or chlorophormates and aliphatic diols. However, polycondensation usually leads to polymers with rather low molar masses (Hyon et al., 1997). Besides, side reactions often occur during polycondensation (Jerome and Lecomte, 2008). 

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