Solid-phase incorporation of gaseous carbon dioxide into oxirane-containing copolymers

Carbon dioxide was incorporated into poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) by a solid-phase reaction, which transformed the pendent oxirane moieties into cyclic carbonate moieties, with quaternary ammonium halide catalysts. The incorporation of carbon dioxide into the copolymer led to soluble carbonate-containing polymers, whereas the incorporation of carbon dioxide into the glycidyl methacrylate homopolymer produced an insoluble product. The copolymer composition, reaction temperature, and catalyst amount affected the incorporation efficiency and the side reaction that caused crosslinking. Effective incorporation was achieved under the following reaction conditions: the glycidyl methacrylate content was less than approximately 50%, the temperature was greater than the glass-transition temperature, and the catalyst concentration was 1.5-6 mol %. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.