Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Highly enantioselective catalytic system for asymmetric copolymerization of carbon dioxide and cyclohexene oxide
Yuan-Zhao Hua1, Liu-Jie Lu, Pei-Jin Huang
1College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Zhengzhou University, 75, Daxue Street, Zhengzhou City, 450052 (P.R. China), Fax: (+86) 371-67767895.
Abstract:
A new ligand can be easily prepared, and its intramolecular dinuclear zinc complexes act as a high performance catalyst for the asymmetric alternating copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO2 under very mild conditions (1 atm CO2 , room temperature), affording completely alternating polycarbonates with up to 93.8 % enantiomeric excess (ee) and 98 % yield. A high Mn value of 28 600 and a relatively narrow polydispersity (Mw /Mn ratio) of 1.43 were also achieved.
Related Concept Videos
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction

