CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF FE(ACAC)(3) AND CU(ACAC)(2) IN THE FORMATION OF URETHANE FROM A DIISOCYANATE DERIVATIVE AND ETOH

The catalytic performance of metal-beta-diketone complexes Fe(acac)(3) and Cu(acac)(2) is described for urethane formation reactions from he xamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and ethanol. This is a model reaction f or the synthesis of polyurethane resin that takes place during the app lication of reactive paint. The best results are obtained for the reac tion between HDI and EtOH catalysed by the Fe(acac)(3) complex. The di urethane adduct selectivity is 90% with a turnover rate of 74 h(-1). S imilar experiments conducted with a commercial catalyst, dibutyltin di laurate (DBTDL), show that for the same reaction conditions no diureth ane adduct is formed and that the turnover rate is lower (29 h(-1)). ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.