Rapid copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide catalyzed by double metal cyanide complexes in an ultrasonic field

Sonochemistry as a clean, efficient and environmentally friendly synthetic method has shown great potential in the chemical synthesis. In this work, poly (propylene carbonate) (PPC) was successfully obtained from carbon dioxide (CO2) and propylene oxide (PO) by using Zn-Co and Zn-Fe double metal cyanides (DMCs) as catalyst with the sonochemistry method. With FTIR, 1H NMR and GPC analysis, PPCs prepared in the ultrasonic field have high yield, high molecular weight and wide polydispersity index (PDI). It is proven to be effective for the copolymerization of CO2 and PO with the sonochemistry method. •PPC was successfully obtained from CO2 and PO with the sonochemistry method.•PPCs prepared in the ultrasonic field have high yield, high molecular weight and wide PDI.•It is effective for the copolymerization of PPC with the sonochemistry method.