Copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxypropane by using cobalt(II) acetate and acetic acid

The copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxypropane was investigated at 80°C in dioxane by using cobalt(II) acetate as catalyst in the presence of acetic acid. The addition of acetic acid hardly diminishes the copolymer yield, but the number average molecular weight of the copolymer decreases in proportion to the concentration of acetic acid. The 1H NMR spectrum of the copolymer displays a very strong peak due to the methyl protons attached to an ester carbonyl group (OCOCH3). From these results it has been concluded that acetic acid causes a transfer reaction which leads to acetoxy end groups (cf. Eq. (14) below). Some other carboxylic acids, such as C6H5COOH, ClH2CCOOH, Cl2HCCOOH etc., were found to cause similar transfer reactions, too.