Insights on the polymerization kinetics of non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU) using in situ NMR spectroscopy

An in situ characterization method using liquid Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been developed to aid the preparation of highly reactive non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) from cyclic carbonate aminolysis. Using this methodology, the aminolysis kinetics and the final polymer structure of a model NIPU obtained by reaction of a 5-membered bis-cyclic carbonate (5CC) and 1,4-diaminobutane have been fully investigated, as a function of the type and concentration of the aminolysis catalyst, and the reaction temperature. Several catalysts already reported in NIPUs syntheses, including 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), have been compared. The kinetics of the 5CC hydrolysis side reaction was also studied. With an activation energy of 29.7 kJ mol⁻¹, TBD was clearly the most efficient catalyst used, allowing 5CC conversion ratio of up to 100 % using a concentration of 0.35 eq_5CC. However, under these experiment conditions, TBD concentration also showed to have a non-negligible influence on the hydrolysis rate, representing between 6 and 14 % of the initial 5CC concentrations, at 353 K. Neither the catalyst or the temperature seemed to affect the polymer structure, with secondary hydroxyl-containing isomer proportions of (70 ± 6) %. Finally, this in situ NMR method is paving the way for rapid screening of innovative catalysts for sustainable NIPU synthesis.