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Related Concept Videos

Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides02:24

Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Epoxides that are three-membered ring systems are more reactive than other cyclic and acyclic ethers. The high reactivity of epoxides originates from the strain present in the ring. This ring strain acts as a driving force for epoxides to undergo ring-opening reactions either with halogen acids or weak nucleophiles in the presence of mild acid. The acid catalyst converts the epoxide oxygen, a poor leaving group, into an oxonium ion, a better leaving group, making the reaction feasible. The...
Preparation of Epoxides03:00

Preparation of Epoxides

Overview
Epoxides result from alkene oxidation, which can be achieved by a) air, b) peroxy acids, c) hypochlorous acids, and d) halohydrin cyclization.
Epoxidation with Peroxy Acids
Epoxidation of alkenes via oxidation with peroxy acids involves the conversion of a carbon–carbon double bond to an epoxide using the oxidizing agent meta-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, commonly known as MCPBA. Since the O–O bond of peroxy acids is very weak, the addition of electrophilic oxygen of peroxy acids to...
Base-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides02:26

Base-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Due to their highly strained structures, epoxides can readily undergo ring-opening reactions through nucleophilic substitution, either in the presence of an acid or a base. The nucleophilic substitution reactions in the presence of acid are called acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions, and nucleophilic substitution reactions in the presence of a base are called base-catalyzed ring-opening reactions. Epoxides undergo base-catalyzed ring-opening reactions in the presence of a strong nucleophile...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Sharpless Epoxidation02:57

Sharpless Epoxidation

The conversion of allylic alcohols into epoxides using the chiral catalyst was discovered by K. Barry Sharpless and is known as Sharpless epoxidation. The use of a chiral catalyst enables the formation of one enantiomer of the product in excess. This chiral catalyst is mainly a chiral complex of titanium tetraisopropoxide and tartrate ester (specific stereoisomer). The stereoisomer used in the chiral catalyst dictates the formation of the enantiomer of the product. In other words, the use of...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids02:04

Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids

Diols are compounds with two hydroxyl groups. In addition to syn dihydroxylation, diols can also be synthesized through the process of anti dihydroxylation. The process involves treating an alkene with a peroxycarboxylic acid to form an epoxide. Epoxides are highly strained three-membered rings with oxygen and two carbons occupying the corners of an equilateral triangle. This step is followed by ring-opening of the epoxide in the presence of an aqueous acid to give a trans diol.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
05:48

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes

Published on: November 21, 2017

Catalysts for CO2/epoxide copolymerisation.

Michael R Kember1, Antoine Buchard, Charlotte K Williams

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|October 14, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review covers catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO2) and epoxide copolymerization and the resulting polycarbonate properties, focusing on developments since 2004.

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A Simple and Efficient Protocol for the Catalytic Insertion Polymerization of Functional Norbornenes

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Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
05:48

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Published on: November 21, 2017

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A Simple and Efficient Protocol for the Catalytic Insertion Polymerization of Functional Norbornenes

Published on: February 27, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Green Chemistry

Background:

  • Growing interest in utilizing carbon dioxide (CO2) as a C1 feedstock.
  • Need for efficient catalysts to produce valuable polymers from CO2.
  • Polycarbonates offer tunable properties for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in catalysts for CO2/epoxide copolymerization.
  • To discuss the properties of the resulting polycarbonates.
  • To highlight key developments between 2004 and June 2010.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications.
  • Analysis of catalyst performance in CO2/epoxide copolymerization.
  • Examination of polycarbonate material properties.

Main Results:

  • Overview of various catalyst systems, including metal complexes and organocatalysts.
  • Discussion on factors influencing catalyst activity and selectivity.
  • Summary of polycarbonate properties, such as thermal stability and mechanical strength.

Conclusions:

  • Significant progress in catalyst design for CO2 utilization.
  • Polycarbonates derived from CO2 offer a sustainable alternative.
  • Further research needed to optimize catalysts for industrial applications.