METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EPOXY-GROUP TERMINATED POLYOXAZOLIDINONES

1 . A process for producing an epoxy-group terminated polyoxazolidinone comprising the copolymerization of a polyisocyanate compound (A) with two or more isocyanate groups with a polyepoxide compound (B) with two or more epoxy groups in the presence of a catalyst (C);

wherein the molar ratio of the epoxy groups of the polyepoxide compound (B) to the isocyanate groups of the polyisocyanate compound (A) is from 2.6:1 and less than 25:1;

wherein the catalyst (C) is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of

Li(I), Rb(I), Cs(I), Ag(I), Au(I),

Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), Ba(II), Dy(II), Yb(II), Cu(II), V(II), Mo(II), Mn(II), Fe(II),

Ni(II), Pd(II), Pt(II), Ge(II), Sn(II),

Sc(III), Y(III), La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Gd(III), Tb(III), Dy(III), Ho(III),

Er(III), Tm(III), Yb(III), Lu(III), Hf(III), Nb(III), Ta(III), Cr(III), Ru(III), Os(III), Rh(III), Ir(III),

Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Tl(III), Ge(III),

Ce(IV), Ti(IV), Zr(IV), Hf(IV), Nb(IV), Mo(IV), W(IV), Ir(IV), Pt(IV), Sn(IV), Pb(IV),

Nb(V), Ta(V), Bi(V),

Mo(VI), W(VI), and

compounds represented by the formula (I)

[M(R1)(R2)(R3)(R4)]+n Yn-  (I)

wherein M is phosphorous or antimony,

wherein (R1), (R2), (R3), (R4) are independently of one another selected from the group consisting of linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 22 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with heteroatoms and/or heteroatom containing substituents, cycloaliphatic groups containing 3 to 22 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with heteroatoms and/or heteroatom containing substituents, C1 to C3 alkyl-bridged cycloaliphatic groups containing 3 to 22 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with heteroatoms and/or heteroatom containing substituents and aryl groups containing 6 to 18 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with one or more alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms and/or heteroatom containing substituents and/or heteroatoms,

wherein Y is a halide, carbonate, nitrate, sulfate or phosphate anion, and

wherein n is an integer of 1, 2 or 3;

and wherein the copolymerization is operated in the absence of an additional solvent, D-1, with a boiling point higher than 170° C. at 1 bar absolute.

2 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the copolymerization is operated in the absence of an additional solvent (D).

3 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of epoxy groups of the polyepoxide compound (B) to the isocyanate groups of the polyisocyanate compound (A) is from 2.6:1 to 7:1.

4 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate compound (A) is an aliphatic polyisocyanate compound (A-1), and/or an aromatic polyisocyanate compound (A-2).

5 . The process according to claim 1 , to wherein the polyepoxide compound (B) is an aliphatic polyepoxide compound (B-1) and/or aromatic polyepoxide compound (B-2).

6 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate compound (A) is an aliphatic polyisocyanate compound (A-1) and the polyepoxide compound (B) is an aliphatic polyepoxide compound (B-1).

7 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate compound (A) is an aliphatic polyisocyanate compound (A-1) and the polyepoxide compound (B) is an aromatic polyepoxide compound (B-2).

8 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate compound (A) is an aromatic polyisocyanate compound (A-2) and the polyepoxide compound (B) is an aliphatic polyepoxide compound (B-1).

9 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the polyisocyanate compound (A) is an aromatic polyisocyanate compound (A-2) and the polyepoxide compound (B) is an aromatic polyepoxide compound (B-2).

10 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst (C) is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of LiCl, LiBr, LiI, MgCl2, MgBr2, MgI2, SmI3, Ph4SbBr, Ph4SbCl, Ph4PBr, Ph4PCl, Ph3(C6H4-OCH3)PBr, Ph3(C6H4-OCH3)PCl, Ph3(C6H4F)PCl, and Ph3(C6H4F)PBr.

11 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst (C) is used in a molar amount of 0.001 to 2.0 mol % based on the polyepoxide compound (B).

12 . The process according to claim 1 comprising the steps:

i) Mixing the polyisocyanate compound (A), the polyepoxide compound (B) and the catalyst (C) forming a mixture (i);

ii) Copolymerizing the mixture (i).

13 . The process according to claim 1 comprising the steps:

alpha) Mixing the polyepoxide compound (B) and at least part of the catalyst (C) forming a mixture (alpha);

beta) Addition of the polyisocyanate compound (A) to the mixture (alpha) at copolymerization conditions.

14 . An epoxy-group terminated polyoxazolidinone obtained by the process according to claim 1 .

15 . An epoxy-group terminated polyoxazolidinone according to claim 14 with an epoxy equivalent weight of from 100 g/eq to 5000 g/eq.

16 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein M is phosphorus

17 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein Y is a halide or carbonate

18 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the copolymerization is operated in the absence of an additional solvent D-1 with a boiling point higher than 150° C. at 1 bar absolute.

19 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein the molar ratio of epoxy groups of the polyepoxide compound (B) to the isocyanate groups of the polyisocyanate compound (A) is from 2.8:1 to 5:1.

20 . The process according to claim 10 , wherein the catalyst (C) is LiCl.