Polycarbonate polyol compositions and methods

1. A polymerization system for the copolymerization of CO 2 and epoxides, the system comprising:

a metal complex including a permanent ligand set and at least one ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and

a chain transfer agent having one or more sites capable of initiating copolymerization of epoxides and CO 2 , wherein the chain transfer agent contains one or more masked hydroxyl groups,

wherein the chain transfer agent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, t-butanol, allyl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol.

2. A polymerization system for the copolymerization of CO 2 and epoxides, the system comprising:

a metal complex including a permanent ligand set and at least one ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and

a chain transfer agent having one or more sites capable of initiating copolymerization of epoxides CO 2 , wherein the chain transfer agent contains a masked hydroxyl group, wherein the chain transfer agent is a hydroxy acid, wherein any hydroxyl group of the hydroxy acid capable of initiating copolymerization of epoxides and CO 2 is protected.

3. The polymerization system of claim 2 ,

wherein the hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of:

where each R PG is independently a hydroxyl protecting group.

4. The polymerization system of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the metal complex has the formula L p -M-(L I ) n , where L p is a permanent ligand set, M is a metal atom, L I is a ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and n is an integer between 0 and 2, inclusive, representing the number of initiating ligands present; and

wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, V, Fe, Co, Mo, W, Ru, Al, and Ni.

5. The polymerization system of claim 4 , wherein the L p -M moiety of the metal complex has a formula selected from the group consisting of:

wherein,

Q, at each occurrence is independently O or S;

R 1 and R 1′ are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H, optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; and R 21 ;

R 2 and R 2′ are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; R 14 ; R 20 ; and R 21 ;

R 3 and R 3′ are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle, and R 21 ;

R c at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14 membered heterocycle; R 20 ; and R 21 , where two or more R c groups may be taken together with intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings and, when two R c groups are attached to the same carbon atom, they may be taken together along with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a moiety selected from the group consisting of: an optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered spirocyclic ring, a carbonyl, an oxime, a hydrazone, and an imine;

R d at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; R 20 ; and R 21 , where two or more R d groups may be taken together with intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings; and

represents an optionally substituted moiety covalently linking two nitrogen atoms,

where any of [R 2′ and R 3′ ], [R 2 and R 3 ], [R 1 and R 2 ], and [R 1′ and R 2′ ] may optionally be taken together with intervening atoms to form one or more rings which may in turn be substituted with one or more groups selected from R 14 ; R 20 ; and R 21 ; and where

R 14 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: a (Z) p group; halogen; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; —OR 10 ; —OC(O)R 13 ; —OC(O)OR 13 ; —OC(O)NR 11 R 12 ; —CN; —CNO; —C(R 13 ) z H (3-z) ; —C(O)R 13 ; —C(O)OR 13 ; —C(O)NR 11 R 12 ; —NR 11 R 12 ; —NR 11 C(O) R 13 ; —NR 11 C(O) 13 ; —NR 11 SO 2 R 13 ; —N + R 11 R 12 R 13 X − ; —P + (R 11 ) 3 X − ; —P(R 11 ) 3 ═N + ═P(R 11 ) 3 X − ; —As + R 11 R 12 R 13 X − ; —NCO; —N 3 ; —NO 2 ; —S(O) x R 13 ; and —SO 2 NR 11 R 12 ;

R 20 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: a (Z) p group; halogen; —OR 10 ; —OC(O)R 13 ; —OC(O)OR 13 ; —N + (R 11 ) 3 X − ; —P + (R 11 ) 3 X − ; —P(R 11 ) 3 ═N + ═P(R 11 ) 3 X − ; —As + R 11 R 12 R 13 X − ; —OC(O)NR 11 R 12 ; —CN; —CNO; —C(O)R 13 ; —C(O)OR 13 ; —C(O)NR 11 R 12 ; —C(R 13 ) z H (3-z) ; —NR 11 R 12 ; —NR 11 C(O)R 13 ; —NR 11 C(O)OR 13 ; —NCO; —NR 11 SO 2 R 13 ; —S(O) x R 13 ; —S(O) 2 NR 11 R 12 ; —NO 2 ; —N 3 ; and —Si(R 13 ) (3-z) [(CH 2 ) k R 14 ] z ;

R 21 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: a (Z) p group; —(CH 2 ) k R 20 ; —(CH 2 ) k —Z—(CH 2 ) k R 20 ; —C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ; —(CH 2 ) k C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ; —(CH 2 ) m —Z—(CH 2 ) m C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ; —(CH 2 ) k —Z—R 16 ;

X − is any anion;

Z is a divalent linker selected from the group consisting of —(CH═CH) a —; —(CH≡CH) a —; —C(O)—; —C(═NOR 11 )—; —C(═NNR 11 R 12 )—; —O—; —OC(O)—; —C(O)O—; —OC(O)O—; —N(R 11 )—; —N(C(O)R 13 )—; —C(O)NR 13 —; —N(C(O)R 13 )O—; —NR 13 C(O)R 13 N—; —S(O) x —; a polyether; and a polyamine;

R 10 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1-12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle —S(O) 2 R 13 ; —Si(R 15 ) 3 ; —C(O)R 13 ; and a hydroxyl protecting group;

R 11 and R 12 at each occurrence are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; where two or more R 11 or R 12 groups can optionally be taken together with intervening atoms to form an optionally substituted 3- to 10-membered ring;

R 13 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; and optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle, where two or more R 13 groups on the same molecule may optionally be taken together to form ring;

R 15 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: optionally substituted C 1-12 aliphatic, an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; and an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle;

R 16 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: optionally substituted C 1 -C 12 aliphatic, an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; and —C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ;

R 17 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; and optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle;

each (Z) p group comprises a covalent linker “ ” containing one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of C, O, N, S, and Si; “Z” is an activating functional group having co-catalytic activity in epoxide CO 2 copolymerization, and p is an integer from 1 to 4 indicating the number of individual activating functional groups Z present on a given (Z) p group;

a is 1, 2, 3, or 4;

k is independently at each occurrence an integer from 1 to 8, inclusive;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 8, inclusive;

x is 0, 1, or 2; and

z is 1, 2, or 3.

6. The polymerization system of claim 4 , wherein L p -M-(L I ) n has a formula selected from the group consisting of:

wherein:

R 4a , R 4a′ , R 5a , R 5a′ , R 6a , R 6a′ , R 7a , and R 7a′ are each independently hydrogen, a (Z) p group, halogen, —NO 2 , —CN, —SR 13 , —S(O)R 13 , —S(O) 2 R 13 , —NR 11 C(O)R 13 , —OC(O)R 13 , —CO 2 R 13 , —NCO, —N 3 , —OR 10 , —OC(O)NR 11 R 12 , —Si(R 13 ) 3 , —NR 11 R 12 , —NR 11 C(O)R 13 , and —NR 11 C(O)OR 13 ; or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic; C 1-20 heteroaliphatic; 6- to 10-membered aryl; 5- to 10-membered heteroaryl; and 3- to 7-membered heterocyclic, where [R 1a and R 4a ], [R 1a′ and R 4A′ ] and any two adjacent R 4a , R 4a′ , R 5a , R 5a′ , R 6a , R 6a′ , R 7a , and R 7a′ groups can be taken together with intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings optionally containing one or more heteroatoms;

R 1a and R 1a′ are hydrogen when not taken together with R 4a and R 4a′ ;

R c at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14 membered heterocycle; R 20 ; and R 21 , where two or more R c groups may be taken together with intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings and, when two R c groups are attached to the same carbon atom, they may be taken together along with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form a moiety selected from the group consisting of: an optionally substituted 3- to 8-membered spirocyclic ring, a carbonyl, an oxime, a hydrazone, and an imine;

R 10 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1-12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle S(O) 2 R 13 ; —Si(R 15 ) 3 ; —C(O)R 13 ; and a hydroxyl protecting group;

R 11 and R 12 at each occurrence are independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; where two or more R 11 or R 12 groups can optionally be taken together with intervening atoms to form an optionally substituted 3- to 10-membered ring;

R 13 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; and optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle, where two or more R 13 groups on the same molecule may optionally be taken together to form ring;

R 14 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: a (Z) p group; halogen; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; —OR 10 ; —OC(O)R 13 ; —OC(O)OR 13 ; —OC(O) NR 11 R 12 ; —CN; —CNO; —C(R 13 ) z H (3-z) ; —C(O)R 13 ; —C(O)OR 13 ; —C(O) NR 11 R 12 ; NR 11 R 12 ; —NR 11 C(O)R 13 ; NR 11 C(O)OR 13 ; —NR 11 SO 2 R 13 ; —N + R 11 R 12 R 13 X − ; —P + (R 11 ) 3 X − ; —P(R 11 ) 3 ═N + ═P(R 11 ) 3 X − ; —As + R 11 R 12 R 13 X − ; —NCO; —N 3 ; —NO 2 ; —S(O) x R 13 ; and —SO 2 NR 11 R 12 ;

R 15 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: optionally substituted C 1-12 aliphatic, an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; and an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle;

R 16 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: optionally substituted C 1 -C 12 aliphatic, an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; and —C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ;

R 17 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: —H; optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; an optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; and optionally substituted 3-to 14-membered heterocycle;

R 20 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: a (Z) p group; halogen; —OR 10 ; —OC(O)R 13 ; —OC(O)OR 13 ; —N + (R 11 ) 3 X − ; —P + (R 11 ) 3 X − ; —P(R 11 ) 3 ═N + ═P(R 11 ) 3 X − ; —As + R 11 R 12 R 13 X − ; —OC(O)NR 11 R 12 ; —CN; —CNO; —C(O)R 13 ; —C(O)OR 13 ; —C(O)NR 11 R 12 ; —C(R 13 ) z H (3-z) ; —NR 11 R 12 ; —NR 11 C(O)R 13 ; —NR 11 C(O)OR 13 ; —NCO; —NR 11 SO 2 R 13 ; —S(O) x R 13 ; —S(O) 2 NR 11 R 12 ; —NO 2 ; —N 3 ; and —Si(R 13 ) (3-z) [(CH 2 ) k R 14 ] z ;

R 21 at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of: a (Z) p group; —(CH 2 ) k R 20 ; —(CH 2 ) k —Z—(CH 2 ) k R 20 ; —C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ; —(CH 2 ) k C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ; —(CH 2 ) m —Z—(CH 2 ) m C(R 17 ) z H (3-z) ; —(CH 2 ) k —Z—R 16 ;

X − is any anion;

Z is a divalent linker selected from the group consisting of —(CH═CH) a —; —(CH≡CH) a —; —C(O)—; —C(═NOR 11 )—; —C(═NNR 11 R 12 )—; —O—; —OC(O)—; —C(O)O—; —OC(O)O—; —N(R 11 )—; —N(C(O)R 13 )—; —C(O)NR 13 —; —N(C(O)R 13 )O—; —NR 13 C(O)R 13 N—; —S(O) x —; a polyether; and a polyamine;

each (Z) p group comprises a covalent linker “ ” containing one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of C, O, N, S, and Si; “Z” is an activating functional group having co-catalytic activity in epoxide CO 2 copolymerization, and p is an integer from 1 to 4 indicating the number of individual activating functional groups Z present on a given (Z) p group;

a is 1, 2, 3, or 4;

k is independently at each occurrence an integer from 1 to 8 inclusive;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 8 inclusive;

x is 0, 1, or 2;

z is 1, 2, or 3;

R′ is R d or a (Z) p group, where two or more adjacent R′ groups can be taken together to form an optionally substituted saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic 3- to 12-membered ring containing 0 to 4 heteroatoms; and

R d is selected from the group consisting of: optionally substituted C 1 to C 12 aliphatic; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered carbocycle; optionally substituted 3- to 14-membered heterocycle; R 20 ; and R 21 .

7. The polymerization system of claim 6 , wherein -M- is cobalt.

8. The polymerization system of claim 1 , wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of at least 100:1 relative to the metal complex,

or

wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of at least 1000:1 relative to the metal complex,

or

wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of between about 10:1 and about 10000:1 relative to the metal complex,

or

wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of between about 50:1 and about 5000:1 relative to the metal complex,

or

wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of between about 50:1 and about 1000:1 relative to the metal complex,

or

wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of between about 20:1 and about 500:1 relative to the metal complex,

or

wherein the chain transfer agent is present in a molar ratio of between about 100:1 and about 250:1 relative to the metal complex.

9. The polymerization system of claim 1 , wherein the chain transfer agent comprises a benzylic alcohol functionality.

10. A polycarbonate polyol composition comprising an epoxide CO 2 copolymer characterized in that the copolymer has:

an Mn between about 400 and about 20,000,

greater than 90% carbonate linkages,

at least 90% of the end groups are hydroxyl groups;

wherein substantially all polycarbonate chains having hydroxyl end groups have no embedded chain transfer agent.

11. A polyurethane composition formed by reaction of one or more isocyanates with one or more polycarbonate polyols of claim 10 .

12. An article of manufacture comprising the polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 10 .

13. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 10 , comprising greater than 92% carbonate linkages.

14. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 13 , comprising greater than 98% carbonate linkages.

15. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 14 , comprising greater than 99% carbonate linkages.

16. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 10 , having an Mn between 500 and 15,000 g/mol.

17. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 10 , having an Mn between 800 and 5,000 g/mol.

18. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 10 , having an Mn between 1,000 and 3,000 g/mol.

19. The polycarbonate polyol composition of claim 10 , wherein the polycarbonate polyol is of the formula:

where each of R 23 and R 24 is independently selected from the group consisting of —H and methyl.

20. The polycarbonate polyol of claim 10 , wherein at least 98% of the end groups are hydroxyl groups.

21. The polycarbonate polyol of claim 10 , wherein at least 99% of the end groups are hydroxyl groups.

22. The polymerization system of claim 6 , wherein L p -M-(L I ) n has a formula selected from the group consisting of:

23. The polymerization system of claim 22 , wherein -M- is cobalt.

24. The polymerization system of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxy acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid.

25. The polymerization system of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of: glycolic acid, DL-lactic acid, D-lactic acid, L-lactic, citric acid and mandelic acid.

26. The polymerization system of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxy acid is a beta-hydroxy acid.

27. The polymerization system of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of: 3-hydroxypropionic acid, DL-3-hydroxybutryic acid, D-3 hydroxybutryic acid, L-3-hydroxybutyric acid, DL-3-hydroxy valeric acid, D-3-hydroxy valeric acid, L-3-hydroxy valeric acid, salicylic acid, and derivatives of salicylic acid.

28. The polymerization system of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxy acid is a α-ω hydroxy acid.

29. The polymerization system of claim 2 , wherein the hydroxy acid is selected from the group consisting of: of optionally substituted C 3-20 aliphatic α-ω hydroxy acids and polyester oligomeric esters.