# US 8,785,591 B2 · Polycarbonate block copolymers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,785,591 B2 - Document ID: US8785591B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/040,121 - Filed: 2013-09-27 - Published: 2014-01-30 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-01 - Assignees: Novomer, Inc. - Applicants: Novomer, Inc. - Inventors: Scott D. Allen; Chris A. Simoneau; John M. Salladay; David M. Hatfield; John W. Stevens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785591B2 ## CPC - C09K 8/588: characterised by the use of specific polymers {(polymeric surfactants C09K8/584)} - C08G 64/0208: {saturated} - C08G 64/18: Block or graft polymers - C08G 64/183: {containing polyether sequences} - C08G 65/48: Polymers modified by chemical after-treatment - C08G 81/00: Macromolecular compounds obtained by interreacting polymers in the absence of monomers, e.g. block polymers (involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bond reactions C08F299/00 {; polyester-amides C08G69/44; polyester-imides C08G73/16; polyamides-imides C08G73/14; block- or graft polymers containing polysiloxane sequences C08G77/42}) - C08L 69/00: Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates - C09K 8/594: Compositions used in combination with injected gas {, e.g. CO2 orcarbonated gas}(C09K8/592 takes precedence) - E21B 43/16: Enhanced recovery methods for obtaining hydrocarbons - Y02P 20/54: using solvents, e.g. supercritical solvents or ionic liquids - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The disclosure pertains to amphiphilic block copolymers comprising an aliphatic polycarbonate chain coupled to a hydrophilic polymer. Such amphiphilic polymers may have the formula A-L-B, where A- is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain having from about 3 to about 500 repeating units, L is a linker moiety and -B is a hydrophilic oligomer having from about 4 to about 200 repeating units. Provided copolymers are useful as surfactants capable of emulsifying aqueous solutions and supercritical carbon dioxide. Provided copolymers also have utility as additives for use in enhanced oil recovery methods. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A polymer composition comprising a triblock copolymer having the formula B-A-B, wherein -A- is a polycarbonate chain having from about 3 to about 500 repeating units and each B is independently a hydrophilic oligomer having from about 4 to about 200 repeating units. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein -B is selected from the group consisting of: polyethers, polyolefin bearing hydrophilic functional groups, polypeptides, polysaccharides, and polyamines. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The polymer composition of claim 2, wherein -B is a polyether. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein -A- is polypropylene carbonate). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein -A- is poly(ethylene carbonate). ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The polymer composition of claim 3, wherein the triblock copolymer has a formula: wherein —Z— is an optionally substituted C1-6 aliphatic group, —Y is selected from the group consisting of —H and Rz; each Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd is independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, halogen, —CH2ORz, optionally substituted C1-10 aliphatic, optionally substituted 6- to 14-membered aromatic, optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocyclic, and optionally substituted 5- to 14-membered heteroaryl, and wherein any two or more of Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd may be taken together to form an optionally substituted 3- to 12-membered ring, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms; each L is independently a bond or a polyfunctional moiety, n is an integer between 4 and 100, m is an integer between about 4 and about 500, m′ is, on average approximately equal to m, Rz is selected from the group consisting of R10, —C(O)R10, —SO2R10, —Si(R10)3,—C(O)N(R10)2, and R10is an optionally substituted moiety selected from the group consisting of: C1-20 aliphatic; C1-12 heteroaliphatic; 6- to 14-membered aryl; and 5- to 14-membered heteroaryl. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The polymer composition of claim 6, wherein the triblock copolymer has a formula: ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The polymer composition of claim 7, wherein the copolymer has a formula: wherein R100 is optionally present, and if present is selected from the group consisting of —CH3, —CF3, —CH2CH3, —CH2ORz, —CH2Cl, a C3-30 alkyl group, and mixtures of two or more of these. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The polymer composition of claim 6, wherein Y is —H. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The polymer composition of claim 8, wherein R100 is absent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The polymer composition of claim 8, wherein R100 is methyl. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The polymer composition of claim 6, wherein R100 comprises a random mixture of methyl and one or more C3-30 alkyl groups. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The polymer composition of claim 6, wherein the value of n is selected from the group consisting of: between about 3 and about 50; between about 3 and about 25; between about 10 and about 20; and between about 3 and about 10. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The polymer composition of claim 6, wherein the value of m is selected from the group consisting of: between about 5 and about 200; between about 5 and about 50; between about 5 and about 25; between about 10 and about 20; and between about 5 and about 10. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein the PDI is less than about 2. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The polymer composition of claim 13, wherein the PDI is less than 1.4, less than 1.2 or less than about 1.1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The polymer composition of claim 1, wherein -A- contains greater than about 95% carbonate linkages. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The polymer composition of claim 15, wherein the polycarbonate chain contains greater than about 98% carbonate linkages. ### Claim 19 A polymer composition comprising a triblock copolymer having the formula: wherein n is an integer between 4 and 100, m is an integer between about 4 and about 500, m′ is, on average approximately equal to m; and R100 is optionally present, and if present is selected from the group consisting of —CH3, —CF3, —CH2CH3, —CH2ORz, and —CH2Cl. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The polymer composition of claim 19, wherein R100 is absent. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The polymer composition of claim 19, wherein R100 is methyl. ### Claim 22 A polymer composition comprising a triblock copolymer having the formula: wherein n is an integer between 4 and 100, m is an integer between about 4 and about 500, m′ is, on average approximately equal to m; and R100 is optionally present, and if present is selected from the group consisting of —CH3, —CF3, —CH2CH3, —CH2ORz, and —CH2Cl. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The polymer composition of claim 22, wherein R100 is absent. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The polymer composition of claim 22, wherein R100 is methyl.