Synthesis of polycarbonates using Co2

US6288202A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · US

Inventors

• Joseph M. DeSimone · Monte Sereno, US
• Ramone D. Givens · Durham, US
• Mitsutoshi Jikei · Kawagoe, JP
• Jeffrey D. Cohen · Kennett Square, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 11, 1997
• Grant date: Sep 11, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08G64/42
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process of forming a polycarbonate comprises providing a reaction mixture of at least one polycarbonate-forming monomer and carbon dioxide; and then reacting the polycarbonate-forming monomer and carbon dioxide in the reaction mixture to form the polycarbonate. In one embodiment, the polycarbonate is present in a condensate, and the process further comprises removing carbon dioxide from the reaction mixture; and then collecting the condensate from the reaction mixture. Moreover, uncrystallized polycarbonate may be treated with carbon dioxide to form crystalline polycarbonate. The crystalline polycarbonate is then rendered useful for solid state polymerization.