Polycarbonates from biorenewable diols via carbonate metathesis polymerization

Carbonate metathesis polymerization (CaMP), an application of the carbonate interchange reaction, is developed and applied to form high-molecular-weight polycarbonates (M-n up to 49 400) from renewable diols and dimethyl carbonate. The CaMP methodology can be applied in a stepwise fashion that first isolates bis-carbonates or it can be applied directly to diols. A survey of twenty catalysts is conducted and K2CO3 is identified as competent for the direct method since it catalyzes both carbonate formation from alcohols and carbonate interchange. Diol selection and copolymerization strategies - including the incorporation of aromatic diols - allow for precise tuning of polymeric thermal properties. Furthermore, supplementary information is available at http://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/upload/10.1680gmat.12.00022_SupplementaryInformation.pdf