Effect of the heteroatom x in the catalytic system ZnR2/o‐ or m‐HXC6H4XH on the copolymerization of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide

A series of new catalytic systems ZnEt2/cocatalyst were prepared and their activity in the alternating copolymerization of carbon dioxide with propylene oxide was studied. The systems ZnEt2/m‐HXC6H4XH (mole ratio 1:1) system (X = NH, S) were chosen to elucidate the influence of the heteroatom on the activity of the catalytic system. The obtained results were discussed in terms of the influence of the basicity of the heteroatom and of its hybridization on the structure and association of the catalyst molecule.