Polyaddition of Bifunctional Cyclic Carbonate with Diamine in Ionic Liquids: In Situ Ion Composite Formation and Simple Separation of Ionic Liquid

Polyaddition of bifunctional cyclic carbonates and diamines in ionic liquids proceeded smoothly to afford polyurethanes having hydroxyl groups in the side chain (i.e., poly(hydroxyurethane)). The reaction mixtures separated into ionic liquids and ionic composites consisting of poly(hydroxyurethane) and ionic liquids. The ionic composites originated from the interactions between hydroxyl groups in the side chains and the ionic liquids, confirmed by IR spectroscopic analysis. When the polyaddition was conducted in the mixed solvent consists of water and N-n-butyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate. After the reaction, the polymer and the ionic liquid could be separated easily. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4629-4635, 2009