EFFECT OF ACID ON GLYCOLYSIS REACTION OF POLYURETHANE CATALYZED BY METAL-COMPLEXES

The effect of organic and inorganic acids as an additive on the glycol ysis reaction of toluene dimethylcarbamate (DMTC) and 4,4'-diphenylmet hane dimethylcarbamate (DMMC), model compounds for polyurethane, has b een investigated. When sulfuric acid/Mn(III), trifluoroacetic acid/Co( III), and trifluoroacetic acid/Ir(III) catalysts were used, the decomp osition rate constants k for DMTC were 6.48, 6.90, and 8.81 x 10(5) s( -1). These k values were 5-14 times that of glycolysis reaction with n o additive. In the glycolysis reaction of DMMC, k value was 5.34 or 4. 65 x 10(5) s(-1) with a sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid/Mn(III) cat alyst, and was 3.86 x 10(5) s(-1) with a trifluoroacetic acid/Co(III) catalyst. These k values were larger than that of the reaction with no additive. These results indicate that the addition of a suitable acid improved the decomposition efficiency.