Catalytic systems
AssigneeCyclics Corporation
InventorsYi-Feng Wang, Peter D. Phelps
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Abstract
This invention relates to single-component and multi-component catalytic systems using aryl titanates. Aryl titanate compounds are useful as catalysts and co-catalysts in single-component and multi-component catalytic systems (e.g., for the polymerization of macrocyclic oligoesters and the depolymerization of polyesters). Multi-component catalytic systems using aryl titanates allow increased versatility in applications such as liquid molding.
Claims39
A method for polymerizing a macrocyclic oligoester comprising a structural repeat unit of the formula
- where A is an alkylene, a cycloalkylene, or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group;
- and B is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a first compound, wherein the first compound is a first component of a multi-component catalytic system;
- (b) providing a second compound that is an alcohol or an epoxide, and that is a second component of the multi-component catalytic system, wherein the multi-component catalytic system demonstrates increased catalytic activity upon contact of the first compound and the second compound compared to the first compound and the second compound individually;
- and
- (c) contacting the first compound, the second compound, and a macrocyclic oligoester to polymerize the macrocyclic oligoester.
A method for making a co-polyester, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a metal-containing compound;
- (b) providing a diol having a molecular formula
- R(OH)2;
- and
- (c) contacting the metal-containing compound and the diol in the presence of macrocyclic oligoester thereby producing a co-polyester comprising a structural unit of R, wherein the metal-containing compound has the molecular formula
- Ti—(X—Ar)4,
- wherein each X independently is O, S, or N, and each Ar group independently is an organic group and comprises, or two or more Ar groups taken together form an organic group which comprises, an aromatic group directly bonded to at least one X, and wherein the macrocyclic oligoester comprises a structural repeat unit of the formula
- where A is an alkylene, a cycloalkylene, or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group;
- B is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group;
- and R is an organic group.
A method for depolymerizing a polyester, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a polyester;
- (b) providing a depolymerization catalyst comprising a compound having the molecular formula
- Ti—(X—Ar)4,
- wherein each X independently is O, S, or N, and each Ar group independently is an organic group and comprises, or two or more Ar groups taken together form an organic group which comprises, an aromatic group;
- and
- (c) contacting the polyester with the depolymerization catalyst in the presence of a solvent, thereby depolymerizing the polyester.
A method for polymerizing a macrocyclic oligoester, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a macrocyclic oligoester comprising a structural repeat unit of the formula
- where A is an alkylene, a cycloalkylene, or a mono- or polyoxyalkylene group;
- and B is a divalent aromatic or alicyclic group;
- (b) providing a polymerization catalyst comprising a having the molecular formula
- Ti—(X—Ar)4,
- wherein each X independently is O, S, or N, and each Ar group independently is an organic group and comprises, or two or more Ar groups taken together form an organic group which comprises, an aromatic group;
- and
- (c) contacting the macrocyclic oligoester with the polymerization catalyst, thereby polymerizing the macrocyclic oligoester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.