Efficient fixation of carbon dioxide into poly(glycidyl methaerylate) containing pendant crown ether

The copolymers (CP1-CP4) of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methacrylate derivatives bearing 15-crown-5-ether (1-4) with M-n of 9100-12 300 were prepared under radical conditions, and they were employed for the fixation Of CO2 using NaI as a catalyst in nitromethane. The conversion of oxirane groups to carbonate by fixation Of CO2 increased remarkably compared to the homopolymer of GMA. In the case of CP1, the reaction proceeded readily even in a dilute reaction system. Poly-GMA could convert into the corresponding polymer containing a carbonate moiety by the introduction of crown ether into the polymer backbone.