Ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate to poly(trimethylene carbonate) diol over a heterogeneous high-temperature calcined CeO₂ catalyst

CeO₂ calcined at 1273 K showed higher activity per surface area than other metal oxides in the ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate under neat conditions without any additives, providing metal-free and additive-free poly(trimethylene carbonate) diols with no ether bonds with high selectivity. It was demonstrated that CeO₂ was a robust and reusable heterogeneous catalyst.