Abstract: A composition, comprising: a metal carbonyl anion; and a cation ionically bonded to the metal carbonyl anion. The cation includes a ligand and a metal centered compound. The ligand includes two residues of 3,5-substituted salicylaldehydes connected by an hydrocarbyl-diimine bridge that includes a nitrogen atom contacted with a carbon of an aldehyde residue at each of the two residues of the 3,5-substituted salicylaldehydes. Each of the residues of the 3,5-substituted salicylaldehydes are independently substituted at one or both of a 3 position and a 5 position by a hydrocarbyl group containing at least 5 carbons. The metal coordinated with the ligand at each hydroxyl residue the two residues of the 3,5-substituted salicylaldehydes at a 2 position and at each of the nitrogen atoms of the hydrocarbyl-diimine bridge. The composition includes two polar ligands coordinated with the metal.

Abstract: Methods of producing one or more trisubstituted lactone(s) comprising contacting a reaction mixture comprising one or more 2,2,3-trisubstituted epoxide(s) and one or more catalyst(s) with carbon monoxide. A catalyst may comprise a cationic Lewis acid and an anionic metal carbonyl. Methods may be regioselective and/or stereoselective. Trisubstituted lactones, which may be 3,3,4-trisubstituted ?-lactones. Compositions comprising trisubstituted lactone(s). Polymers formed from trisubstituted lactone(s).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compounds and methods useful as carbonylation catalysts that improve steric properties so that reaction with epoxide is improved, reaction with lactones is avoided, and polymer bonds to the metal centers are weakened, which facilitates faster ring closure, that improve stability of the carbonylation catalyst by not being susceptible to hydrolysis, which reduces side products and improves recovery yields of the carbonylation catalyst after using to make lactones, and that have improved steric and electron properties so that release time of a lactone product is minimized, which reduces side reactions.

Abstract: Poly(dialkyl beta-lactone) (PDABL) compositions, methods of making same, and uses thereof. In various examples, the PDABL compositions are homopolymers or copolymers. The PDABL compositions comprise a plurality of dialkyl P-lactone (DABL) repeat units. The (PDABL) compositions can be formed by ring-opening polymerization of dialkyl-P-lactone(s). PDABL composition(s) can be used to form various articles of manufacture, such as, for example, packaging articles, single-use articles, sports articles, bio-medical articles, agricultural articles, automotive articles, electronic articles, and the like. In various examples, the PDABL composition or an article of manufacture is biodegradable.

Abstract: Hydrocarbonbackbone polymers with pendant quaternary ammonium groups and methods of making and using same. A polymer can be made by a ring-opening polymerization of quaternary ammonium bearing monomer(s), and, optionally, non-quaternary ammonium bearing monomer(s). A film including a polymer can be used as an anion exchange membrane in a device, such as, for example, a battery, a fuel cell, or the like.

Abstract: Methods for regioselective ring-opening polymerization of unsymmetrical cyclic diester monomers, polymers, which may be made by the methods, and uses of same. Monomers may include cyclic hydroxy-acid dimers, such as, for example, 3-methyl glycolide and the like. Polymerization initiators may include chiral metal alkoxide initiators, such as, for example, (SalBinam)Al-01Pr initiators and the like. Polymers may include polyesters, such as, for example, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and the like, with 90% or greater regioselectivity for alternating ester units (e.g., glycolic unit-lactic unit (G—L) linkages). Polymers may be utilized for substained or targeted drug delivery vehicles, scaffolding for tissue engineering, bioabsorbable sutures, or the like.

Abstract: Poly(cyclic acetal)s, methods of making same, and uses of same. The poly(cyclic acetal)s may have a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 10 to 3000 kiloDaltons (kDa) and over 50% of the chain ends may exclude hydroxyl groups. The poly(cyclic acetal) may be a homopolymer or copolymer(s) of poly(1,3-dioxolane) (PDXL). The poly(cyclic acetal)s may have one or more or all of: a thermal stability (Td,5%) of 337° C. to 392° C.; a thermal stability of (Td.50%) of 377° C. to 462° C.; or an Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) of 85.0 kJ/mol with 2 mol % of strong acid (e.g., pKa less than or equal to 4). Methods of polymerizing poly(cyclic acetal)s may comprise reacting cyclic acetal monomers with either Lewis acid catalysts and haloalkyl ether initiators or organic cation salt catalyst(s) and proton traps. Methods of chemically recycling poly(cyclic acetal)s into cyclic acetals may react poly(cyclic acetal)s with strong acids.

Abstract: Provided are methods of producing carbonyl compounds (e.g., carbonyl containing compounds) and catalysts for producing carbonyl compounds. Also provided are methods of making polymers from carbonyl compounds and polymers formed from carbonyl compounds. A method may produce carbonyl compounds, such as, for example ?,?-disubstituted carbonyl compounds (e.g., ?,?-disubstituted ?-lactones). The polymers may be produced from ?,?-disubstituted ?-lactones, which may be produced by a method described herein.

Abstract: Provided are strain-hardened polymers. The polymers may include a plurality of polyether units (e.g., isotactic polypropylene oxide units) and one or more crystalline domains. The strain-hardened polymers may have a higher initial engineering yield stress and/or enthalpy of fusion than native polymer (e.g., polypropylene oxide that has not been strain-hardened). The strain-hardened polymers may be made by catalytic methods using bimetallic catalysts. Also provided are uses of the strain-hardened polymers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polymers, copolymers and polymer systems based on polypropiolactones which can be biodegradable and can enhance the recyclability of polymer systems, which can be functionalized to introduce desired functionality into the polymers and/or which may optionally be prepared from renewable raw materials. Disclosed are novel functionalized beta propiolactones. Some of the novel functionalized beta propiolactones have functional groups bound to the ring structure of the lactone that provide improved polymer systems. Disclosed are novel homopolymers of the functionalized beta propiolactones. Disclosed are novel copolymers based on the functionalized beta propiolactones with beta propiolactone or other monomers which copolymerize with the functionalized beta propiolactones.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are polymers, copolymers and polymer systems based on polypropiolactones which can be biodegradable and can enhance the recyclability of polymer systems, which can be functionalized to introduce desired functionality into the polymers and/or which may optionally be prepared from renewable raw materials. Disclosed are novel functionalized beta propiolactones. Some of the novel functionalized beta propiolactones have functional groups bound to the ring structure of the lactone that provide improved polymer systems. Disclosed are novel homopolymers of the functionalized beta propiolactones. Disclosed are novel copolymers based on the functionalized beta propiolactones with beta propiolactone or other monomers which copolymerize with the functionalized beta propiolactones.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the selective functionalization of one or more hydrocarbons ranging from the longest macromolecules to methane as the smallest. Functionalization is achieved through C-H activation of the one or more hydrocarbons and is carried out by the catalytic complex described herein. Also disclosed is the compound of formula (I) and the compound of formula (II).

Abstract: Solid-polymer electrolytes, methods of making solid-polymer electrolytes, and uses of solid-polymer electrolytes. A solid-polymer electrolyte comprises a cross-linked polymer network. A cross-linked polymer network may comprise a plurality of groups, which may be cross-linked groups, such as, for example, cross-linked difunctional polyether groups, cross-linked difunctional ionic groups, non-crosslinked groups, which may be referred to as “dangling” groups, or a combination thereof, and a plurality of cross-linked multifunctional crosslinker groups. A solid polymer electrolyte can be formed by polymerization. A solid polymer electrolyte can be formed in situ in a device. A solid polymer electrolyte can be used in devices such as, for example, batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and the like.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polymerization systems for the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides comprising 1) a catalyst including a metal coordination compound having a permanent ligand set and at least one ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and 2) a chain transfer agent having two or more sites that can initiate polymerization. In a second aspect, the present disclosure encompasses methods for the synthesis of polycarbonate polyols using the inventive polymerization systems. In a third aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polycarbonate polyol compositions characterized in that the polymer chains have a high percentage of —OH end groups and a high percentage of carbonate linkages. The compositions are further characterized in that they contain polymer chains having an embedded polyfunctional moiety linked to a plurality of individual polycarbonate chains.

Abstract: Provided are graft copolymers, methods of making graft copolymers, polymer blends made from graft copolymers, methods of making polymer blends, and articles made from graft copolymers and blends thereof. The graft copolymers may be made from ethylene and isotactic polypropylene. The polymer blends may be made from semi-crystalline polyethylene, polypropylene, and a graft copolymer of the present disclosure.

Abstract: The invention provides: imidazole and imidazolium compounds of formulas (I) and (II): polymers containing a plurality of imidazolium-containing repeating units of formula (III?): and membranes and devices comprising the polymers. Also provided are methods of making the inventive compounds and polymers.

Abstract: Provided are catalysts, methods of making catalysts, methods of using catalysts, and copolymers made utilizing the catalysts. The catalyst has a metal salen complex group, a bridging group, and one or more co-catalyst groups. The metal salen complex group is attached to the bridging group and the bridging group is attached to the co-catalyst group. The copolymers made utilizing the catalysts are polyesters or polycarbonates.

Abstract: The invention provides: imidazole and imidazolium compounds of formulas (I) and (II): polymers containing a plurality of imidazolium-containing repeating units of formula (III?): and membranes and devices comprising the polymers. Also provided are methods of making the inventive compounds and polymers.

Abstract: Provided are methods of carbonylating cyclic substrates to produce carbonylated cyclic products. The cyclic substrates may be 2, 2-di substituted epoxides and the cyclic products may be ?,?-di substituted lactones. The method may be carried out by forming and pressurizing a reaction mixture of the cyclic substrate, a solvent, carbon monoxide, and a [LA+][CO(CO)4?] catalyst, where [LA+] is a Lewis acid capable of coordinating to the cyclic substrate. The method may proceed with a regio selectivity of 90:10 or greater. The resulting carbonylated cyclic products may be converted to ketone aldol products that retain the stereochemistry and enantiomeric ratio of the carbonylated cyclic products.

Abstract: Provided are strain-hardened polymers. The polymers may include a plurality of polyether units (e.g., isotactic polypropylene oxide units) and one or more crystalline domains. The strain-hardened polymers may have a higher initial engineering yield stress and/or enthalpy of fusion than native polymer (e.g., polypropylene oxide that has not been strain-hardened). The strain-hardened polymers may be made by catalytic methods using bimetallic catalysts. Also provided are uses of the strain-hardened polymers.