Methods for polymer synthesis

1. A method for preparing aliphatic polycarbonate polymers comprising the step of contacting one or more epoxides with a first catalyst capable of catalyzing the hydrolysis of epoxides and a second catalyst capable of catalyzing the copolymerization of epoxides and CO 2 ;

wherein the first catalyst is an oligomeric metal complex; and

the second catalyst comprises a metal-ligand complex.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first catalyst comprises two or more

groups covalently linked together, wherein

M is a metal atom; and

 is a multidentate ligand.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first catalyst is represented by the following structural formula:

wherein

s′ is an integer between 1 and 20;

M is a metal atom;

 is a multidentate ligand; and

 is alkyl, optionally comprising one or more sites of unsaturation, and optionally comprising one or more ether, ester, or amide linkages.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein

is a metallosalenate complex represented by the following structural formula:

wherein:

M is a metal atom;

R 1a and R 1a′ are independently, hydrogen, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, and an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 4b is selected from the group consisting of:

 where

R c at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, —OR, —NR 2 , —SR, —CN, —SO 2 R, —SOR, —SO 2 NR 2 , —CNO, —NRSO 2 R, —NCO, —N 3 , —SiR 3 , —C(O)NR 2 , —OC(O)NR 2 , —NR(CO)OR, —NRC(O)R, —CO 2 R, —OC(O)R, —OC(O)OR, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or

any two adjacent R c groups may be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached and any intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings; or

any two R c groups attached to the same carbon atom may optionally be taken together along with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted moiety selected from the group consisting of: a 3- to 8-membered spirocyclic ring, a carbonyl, an oxime, a hydrazone, and an imine;

R d at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, —OR, —NR 2 , —SR, —CN, —NO 2 , —SO 2 R, —SOR, —SO 2 NR 2 , —CNO, —NRSO 2 R, —NCO, —N 3 , —SiR 3 , —C(O)NR 2 , —OC(O)NR 2 , —NR(CO)OR, —NRC(O)R, —CO 2 R, —OC(O)R, —OC(O)OR, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or

any two adjacent R d groups may be taken together with their intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings optionally containing one or more heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted radical selected the group consisting of acyl, C 1-6 aliphatic, C 1-6 heteroaliphatic, carbamoyl, arylalkyl, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, an oxygen protecting group, and a nitrogen protecting group; or

two R groups on the same nitrogen atom can optionally be taken together to form an optionally substituted 3- to 7-membered ring,

X is an anion;

Y is a divalent linker selected from the group consisting of: —C(R c ) 2 —, —NR—, —N(R)C(O)—, —C(O)NR—, —O—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO 2 —, —SiR 2 —, —C(═S)—, —C(═NR)—, or —N═N—; —CR═CR—, a polyether; a C 3 to C 8 substituted or unsubstituted carbocycle; and a C 1 to C 8 substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 6, inclusive;

m′ is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive;

q is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive; and

x is 1 or 2.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the metallosalenate complex is 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, halogen, —OR, —NR 2 , —SR, —CN, —NO 2 , —SO 2 R, —SOR, —SO 2 NR 2 , —CNO, —NRSO 2 R, —NCO, —N 3 , —SiR 3 , —C(O)NR 2 , —OC(O)NR 2 , —NR(CO)OR, —NRC(O)R, —CO 2 R, —OC(O)R, —OC(O)OR, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, and an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or

any one or more of [R 1a and R 4a ], [R 1a′ and R 4a′ ], [R 4a and R 5a ], [R 5a and R 6a ], [R 6a and R 7a ], [R 4a′ and R 5a′ ], [R 5a′ and R 6′ ], [R 6′ and R 7a′ ] can optionally be taken together with their intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings;

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

p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive; and

X is an anion.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the metallosalenate complex is

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first catalyst comprises:

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first catalyst comprises:

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first catalyst is represented by the following structural formula:

wherein

s′ is an integer between 1 and 20;

M is a metal atom;

 is a multidentate ligand; and

 is alkyl, optionally comprising with one or more sites of unsaturation, and optionally comprising one or more ether, ester, or amide linkages.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein

is a metallosalenate complex represented by the following structural formula:

wherein:

M is a metal atom;

R 1a and R 1a′ are independently, hydrogen, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, and an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 4b is selected from the group consisting of:

 where

R c at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, —OR, —NR 2 , —SR, —CN, —SO 2 R, —SOR, —SO 2 NR 2 , —CNO, —NRSO 2 R, —NCO, —N 3 , —SiR 3 , —C(O)NR 2 , —OC(O)NR 2 , —NR(CO)OR, —NRC(O)R, —CO 2 R, —OC(O)R, —OC(O)OR, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or

any two adjacent R c groups may be taken together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached and any intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings; or

any two R c groups attached to the same carbon atom may optionally be taken together along with the carbon atom to which they are attached to form an optionally substituted moiety selected from the group consisting of: a 3- to 8-membered spirocyclic ring, a carbonyl, an oxime, a hydrazone, and an imine;

R d at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, halogen, —OR, —NR 2 , —SR, —CN, —NO 2 , —SO 2 R, —SOR, —SO 2 NR 2 , —CNO, —NRSO 2 R, —NCO, —N 3 , —SiR 3 , —C(O)NR 2 , —OC(O)NR 2 , —NR(CO)OR, —NRC(O)R, —CO 2 R, —OC(O)R, —OC(O)OR, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or

any two adjacent R d groups may be taken together with their intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings optionally containing one or more heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R at each occurrence is independently hydrogen, an optionally substituted radical selected the group consisting of acyl, C 1-6 aliphatic, C 1-6 heteroaliphatic, carbamoyl, arylalkyl, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, an oxygen protecting group, and a nitrogen protecting group; or

two R groups on the same nitrogen atom can optionally be taken together to form an optionally substituted 3- to 7-membered ring,

X is an anion;

Y is a divalent linker selected from the group consisting of: —C(R c ) 2 —, —NR—, —N(R)C(O)—, —C(O)NR—, —O—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO 2 —, —SiR 2 —, —C(═S)—, —C(═NR)—, or —N═N—; —CR═CR—, a polyether; a C 3 to C 8 substituted or unsubstituted carbocycle; and a C 1 to C 8 substituted or unsubstituted heterocycle;

m is 0 or an integer from 1 to 6, inclusive;

m′ is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive;

q is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive; and

x is 1, or 2.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the metallosalenate complex is 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, halogen, —OR, —NR 2 , —SR, —CN, —NO 2 , —SO 2 R, —SOR, —SO 2 NR 2 , —CNO, —NRSO 2 R, —NCO, —N 3 , —SiR 3 , —C(O)NR 2 , —OC(O)NR 2 , —NR(CO)OR, —NRC(O)R, —CO 2 R, —OC(O)R, —OC(O)OR, or an optionally substituted radical selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic, phenyl, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated monocyclic carbocycle, a 7-14 carbon saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic polycyclic carbocycle, a 5- to 6-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3- to 8-membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 6- to 12-membered polycyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocycle having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, and an 8- to 10-membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or

any one or more of [R 1a and R 4a ], [R 1a′ and R 4a′ ], [R 4a and R 5a ], [R 5a and R 6a ], [R 6a and R 7a ], [R 4a′ and R 5a′ ], [R 5a′ and R 6′ ], [R 6a′ and R 7a′ ] can optionally be taken together with heir intervening atoms to form one or more optionally substituted rings;

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

p is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4, inclusive; and

X is an anion.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the metallosalenate complex is

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first catalyst is:

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first catalyst is:

15. The method of claim 1 , characterized in that the second catalyst, when used without the step of contacting the epoxide with the first catalyst exhibits an induction period and that when the second catalyst is used with the step of contacting the epoxide with the first catalyst, this induction period is lessened or eliminated.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more epoxides are contacted with both catalysts in the presence of CO 2 .

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step comprises a first substep comprising epoxide hydrolysis and a second substep comprising epoxide CO 2 copolymerization.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second substeps are performed at different times and the first substep comprises contacting one or more epoxides with the first catalyst prior to adding the second catalyst; and the second substep comprises contacting the one or more epoxides with carbon dioxide in the presence of the second catalyst.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second substeps are performed at different times and the first substep comprises:

a) charging a reaction vessel with one or more epoxides,

b) contacting the one or more epoxides with the first catalyst,

c) allowing a period of time for epoxide hydrolysis, and

the second substep comprises adding the second catalyst to the vessel.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second substeps are performed sequentially and the method comprises:

a) simultaneously contacting one or more epoxides with the first catalyst and the second catalyst;

b) allowing the mixture to react for a period of time in the absence of CO 2 , and

c) contacting the mixture of one or more epoxides, the first catalyst, and the second catalyst with carbon dioxide.

21. A method for the copolymerization of one or more epoxides and CO 2 to produce aliphatic polycarbonate polymers, the method comprising the steps of:

treating an epoxide feedstock comprising one or more epoxides by contacting it with a first catalyst capable of catalyzing epoxide hydrolysis and optionally a second catalyst capable of catalyzing epoxide CO 2 copolymerization; and

feeding the treated epoxide feedstock to an epoxide CO 2 copolymerization reaction where it is contacted with CO 2 in the presence of the second catalyst capable of catalyzing epoxide CO 2 copolymerization;

wherein

the first catalyst comprises an oligomeric metal complex; and

the second catalyst comprises a metal-ligand complex.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein only the first catalyst is present in the first step and the second catalyst is only present at the copolymerization step.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the second catalyst is present during the step of treating the epoxide feedstock.

24. The method of claim 21 , comprising the further step of removing the first catalyst from the treated epoxide feedstock prior to the feeding step.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first catalyst is a solid or solid-supported epoxide hydrolysis catalyst.