Method for producing formaldehyde-alkyl carbonate-copolymers

This application is a National Phase application to PCT/EP2014/076707, filed Dec. 5, 2014 and European Application No.: 13196346.4 filed Dec. 10, 2013.

The present invention, relates to a method for producing formaldehyde-alkylene carbonate copolymers comprising the step of reacting trimeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric formaldehyde with an alkylene carbonate in the presence of a catalyst. Said invention further relates to copolymers obtainable by this method and the reaction products thereof with polyisocyanates.

Formaldehyde-alkylene carbonate copolymers are therefore of interest in particular because incorporation of carbon dioxide units into the polymer chain allows freely available and otherwise climate-damaging starting materials to be employed. The objective of the developments in this field is the development of an economic production process achieving the highest possible carbon dioxide content in the polymer.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,012,990 discloses a co-polymerization of cyclic ethylene carbonate (CO 2 -source) with 1,3,5-trioxane (formaldehyde source) in the presence of boron trifluoride catalysts.

Militskova et al. (Plasticheskie Massy, 1973, 3, 9, Polymerization and copolymerization of formaldehyde in the presence of alkylene carbonates) describe the BF 3 etherate-catalyzed copolymerization of trioxane in cyclic propylene carbonate. However at elevated temperatures (80° C. to 90° C.) and elevated catalyst concentrations the CO 2 escapes from the propylene carbonate so that the copolymer product no longer contains carbonate. This is evidenced by the absence of corresponding signals in the IR spectrum.

DE 2055045 A1 relates to a method for producing high molecular weight copolymers of trioxane with ethylene oxide derivatives. A characteristic feature of the method described therein is that the copolymerization is carried out in the presence of alkylene carbonates, in particular an ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an improved method for producing formaldehyde-alkylene carbonate copolymers where a high proportion of CO 2 is incorporated into the copolymer.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a method for producing formaldehyde-alkylene carbonate copolymers comprising the step of reacting trimeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric formaldehyde with an alkylene carbonate in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reaction is carried out under pressurization with CO 2 .

It has now been found that, surprisingly, the method according to the invention makes it possible to obtain copolymers whose reflection in the IR spectrum is reduced in a region characteristic of carbonyl bands (1735 cm −1 ±5 cm −1 ). This can be attributed to a high proportion of incorporated CO 2 .

Pressurization with CO 2 which in the method according to the invention is to be understood as meaning a CO 2 partial pressure of >1 bar may be effected in continuous or batchwise fashion. Thus, after establishment of the intended pressure an autoclave reactor for example may be operated with an open or closed CO 2 bottle or else with controlled CO 2 addition by means of a mass flow controller.

The formaldehyde source may be trimeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric formaldehyde. The reaction with the alkylene carbonate takes place in the presence of the catalyst. The alkylene carbonate is preferably a cyclic alkylene carbonate. Alkylene carbonates may formally be derived from the reaction of alkylene oxides with CO 2 . Examples thereof are ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.

The molar ratios of the employed formaldehyde to the alkylene carbonate are preferably in a range from 1:10 to 10:1, more preferably 1:6 to 6:1 and particularly preferably 1:4 to 4:1.

The amount of the catalyst based on alkylene carbonate is preferably 0.01 mol % to 10 mol %, more preferably 0.05 mol % to 5 mol % and particularly preferably 0.1 mol % to 2 mol %.

The present invention will now be described in connection with further aspects and embodiments. Said aspects and embodiments may be combined with one another as desired unless the opposite is clear from the context.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention the CO 2 partial pressure is ≥15 bar, preferably ≥20 bar and more preferably ≥25 bar. It is possible for the CO 2 partial pressure to be ≥15 bar to ≤100 bar. This partial pressure is favorably ≥20 bar to ≤85 bar and more preferably ≥20 bar bis ≤75 bar. It is preferable when the CO 2 partial pressure corresponds to the overall pressure in the gas phase of the reaction space or the proportion of the overall pressure attributable to the CO 2 partial pressure is 90% or more. This may be the case when low-boiling or gas-eliminating reaction components are employed. It is also possible to use a gas mixture to establish a higher overall pressure in the gas phase of the reaction space provided that the CO 2 partial pressure is not below the inventive lower limit.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention the catalyst comprises a metal M in an oxidation state of ≥III, wherein M is selected from the group of B, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf and/or a lanthanide; and/or the catalyst comprises tin in an oxidation state of ≥II. “Lanthanides” in the context of the present invention are the metals lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention 1,3,5-trioxane is employed.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention the alkylene carbonate conforms to the following formula:

wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently of one another selected from the group of hydrogen, linear C 1 - to C 16 -alkyl, C 3 - to C 16 -cycloalkyl, C 2 - to C 16 -alkenyl and/or aryl.

The term “alkyl” in the context of this invention encompasses acyclic saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals, each of which may be branched or unbranched and also unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted. It is preferable when “ally” is selected from the group comprising methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, 2-propyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl.

For the purposes of this invention, the term “cycloalkyl” denotes cyclic aliphatic (cycloaliphatic) hydrocarbons, wherein the hydrocarbons may be saturated or unsaturated (but not aromatic), unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted. The bonding of the cycloalkyl to the respective superordinate general structure may be effected via any desired and possible ring member of the cycloalkyl radical. The cycloalkyl radicals may also be fused to further saturated, (partially) unsaturated, (hetero)cyclic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems, i.e. to cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted. The cycloalkyl radicals may furthermore be singly or multiply bridged as, for example, its the case of adamantyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl or bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl. Cycloalkyl is preferably selected from the group comprising cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclononyl, cyclodecyl, adamantyl,

cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclolheptenyl and cyclooctenyl.

Alkenyl substituents are preferably selected from the group comprising ethenyl (vinyl), ethynyl, propenyl (—CH 2 CH═CH 2 , —CH═CH—CH 3 , —C(═CH 2 )—CH 3 ).

In the context of this invention, the term “aryl” denotes aromatic hydrocarbons, inter alia phenyls and naphthyls. Each aryl radical may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted, wherein the aryl substituents may be identical or different and in any desired and possible position on the aryl. The bonding of the aryl to the superordinate general structure may be effected via any desired and possible ring member of the aryl radical. The aryl radicals may also be fused to further saturated, (partially) unsaturated, (hetero)cyclic, aromatic or heteroaromatic ring systems, i.e. to cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl, which in turn may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted. Examples of fused aryl radicals are benzodioxolanyl and benzodioxanyl. Aryl is preferably selected from the group comprising phenyl, 1-naphthyl and 2-naphthyl, each of which may be unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted. A particularly preferred aryl is phenyl, in unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted form.

It is preferable here that the alkylene carbonate is ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and/or butylene carbonate.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention the catalyst is selected front the group of BF 3 .OEt 2 , TiCl 4 , ZrCl 4 , YbCl 3 and/or SnCl 2 .

In a farther embodiment of the method according to the invention, the reaction is carried out at a temperature of ≥80° C. to ≤150° C. The temperature is preferably ≥90° C. to ≤145+ C., more preferably ≥100° C. to ≤140° C.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention said method further comprises the step of reacting the obtained copolymer with an OH-reactive compound. In this way, polymers may be stabilized with obtained end groups for example. This is also referred to as “endcapping”. This procedure also allows incorporation of branching points and further chain extension of the polymer.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention the OH-reactive compound is selected from the group of anhydrides and/or of alkylene oxides. Examples of suitable anhydrides are acetic anhydride, succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride, diphenic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, methyhetrahydrophthalic anhydride, norbornenedioic anhydride and the chlorination products thereof, succinic anhydride, glutaric anhydride, diglycolic anhydride, 1,8-naphthalic anhydride, succinic anhydride, dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, tetradecenylsuccinic anhydride, hexadecenylsuccinic anhydride, octadecenylsuccinic anhydride, 3- and 4-nitrophthalic anhydride, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, tetrabromophthalic anhydride, itaconic anhydride dimethylmaleic anhydride, allylnorbornenedioic anhydride, 3-methylfuran-2,5-dione, 3-methyldihydrofuran-2,5-dione, dihydro-2H-pyran-2,6(3H)-dione, 1,4-dioxane-2,6-dione, 2H-pyran-2,4,6(3H, 5H)-trione, 3-ethyldihydrofuran-2,5-dione, 3-methoxydihydrofuran-2,5-dione, 3-(prop-2-en-1-yl)dihydrofuran-2,5-dione, N-(2,5-dioxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)formamide and 3[(2E)-but-2-en-1-yl]dihydrofuran-2,5-dione. Succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride and phthalic anhydride are particularly preferred.

The alkylene oxides are preferably alkylene oxides having 2-4 carbon atoms. They may for example be one or more compounds selected from the group of styrene oxide, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, 2,3-butene oxide and/or 2-methyl-1-propene oxide (isobutene oxide). It is further possible that alkylene oxides having more than one epoxy group may be employed.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the OH-reactive compound is selected from the group of polyisocyanates. Polyisocyanates suitable in accordance with the invention include, for example, 1,4-butylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 2,2,4- and/or 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate, the isomeric bis(4,4′-isocyanatocyclohexyl)methanes or mixtures thereof with any desired isomer content, 1,4-cyclohexylene diisocyanate 4-isocyanatomethyl-1,8-octane diisocyanate (nonane triisocyanate), 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,4- and/or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthylene diisocyanate, 2,2′- and/or 2,4′- and/or 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, 1,3- and/or 1,4-bis(2-isocyanatoprop-2-yl)benzene (TMXDI), 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)benzene (XDI), alkyl 2,6-diisocyanatohexanoates (lysine diisocyanates) having alkyl groups having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and mixtures thereof. Uretdione-, isocyanurate-, biuret-, iminooxadiaxinedione- or oxadiazinetrione-structure-containing compounds based on the cited diisocyanates axe also suitable building blocks.

Suitable isocyanate components are especially the industrially readily obtainable polyisocyanates, for example 2,4- and 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate and any desired mixtures of these isomers (“TDI”); polyphenyl polymethylene polyisocyanates as prepared by aniline-formaldehyde condensation and subsequent phosgenation (“crude MDI”), and polyisocyanates having carbodiimide groups, urethane groups, allophanate groups, isocyanurate groups, urea groups or biuret groups (“modified polyisocyanates”), in particular those modified polyisocyanates which derive from 2,4- and/or 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate or from 4,4′- and/or 2,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate. The polyisocyanate is preferably at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2,4- and 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 4,4′- and 2,4′- and 2,2′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and polyphenyl polymethylene polyisocyanate (“polycyclic MDI”).

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention the catalyst is added only once a predetermined temperature has been attained. The advantage of this procedure is that an undesired Lewis acid polymerization of the formaldehyde to afford polyoxymethylene (POM) can be prevented. The catalyst is preferably added just before or upon attainment of the predetermined reaction temperature. Accordingly this may be effected at ≤90%, ≤80% or ≤70% of the predetermined reaction temperature. For example, catalyst addition may be effected on attainment of a temperature of 140° C. or, in the ease of BF 3 , of 120° C.

A further aspect of the present invention is a formaldehyde-alkylene carbonate copolymer obtainable by a method according to the invention and exhibiting a reflection in the infrared spectrum at 1735 cm −1 ±5 cm −1 of ≤86%. This reflection is preferably ≤80% and more preferably ≤75%.

In one embodiment of the copolymer according to the invention said copolymer has a CO 2 content of ≥3.0 wt % to ≤33 wt %. It is particularly preferable when the CO 2 content of the copolymers according to the invention is between ≥3.5 wt % and ≤25 wt %.

The present invention finally also relates to a polyurethane polymer obtainable by the abovementioned method according to the invention.

The invention is more particularly elucidated by reference to the examples which fellow but without any intention to limit the invention thereto.

The following examples describe the production of polymers from cyclic propylene carbonate and 1,3,5-trioxane. The polymers formed was analyzed for CO 2 incorporation by IR spectroscopy (Nicolet Magna FT-IR 550 spectrometer, acquisition software: OMNIC Version 7.3, method as per manufacturer specifications), the signal for the linear carbonate group at ˜1735 cm −1 (reflection) being used as a measure of incorporation.

The CO 2 incorporation was quantified via a reference measurement with a polyether carbonate polyol having a known CO 2 content. This reference polyol had a CO 2 content of 12 wt % determined by NMR spectroscopy. Details are reported inter alia in WO 2012/049162 A1, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.