Synthesis of a polyester macromonomer via the cobalt‐catalyzed alternating copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon monoxide

Abstract

Abstract The alternating copolymerization of propylene oxide and carbon monoxide was investigated with cobalt complexes. The NaCo(CO) 4 /amine catalyst system selectively yielded oligo(3‐hydroxybutyrate)s bearing a polymerizable crotonate end group, whereas the use of Co 2 (CO) 8 as a cobalt source resulted in a smaller concentration of the crotonate end group and a high degree of polymerization. The high selectivity for the oligoesters with the crotonate end group with the NaCo(CO) 4 /amine system was attributed to its more basic reaction condition. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4666–4670, 2004