A Review on Exploration and Reactivity of Catalysts towards Catalytic Copolymerization of Sulphur dioxide with Epoxides

Abstract

The main center of attention of this review is multicomponent reactions that use metal complex or salt or ionic liquids or ligands system to catalyze the copolymerization of Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) with epoxides which is still very little known to audience. The following discussion summed up the tuning of metal catalysts and counter substrates to selectively catalyze their various reaction sites. In order to create sulfur-containing polymers and address environmental concerns, it is crucial to use sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) to produce high-value materials. One effective method for achieving this goal is the copolymerization of SO 2 with epoxides. However, a variety of obstacles, including those involving mixed polymer segments (polysulphide versus polyether), cyclic by-products, unpredictable molecular weights, and unclear stereochemistry, have significantly limited the development of this reaction. A binary system was created using polyethylene glycol (PEG, proton donor) and PEG-functionalized base with the proper basicity to accomplish SO 2 gas desulfurization (GDS), another environmental concern. The direct conversion of absorbed SO 2 into chemicals with added value under mild conditions presents another difficult task. In addition to enabling absorbent recycling, this removes the energy penalty for SO 2 desorption. Therefore, as a value-added process, the SO 2 capture and utilization (SCU) method offers an alternative way to enable the conversion of SO 2 from flue gas into useful chemicals. This is the first review article where briefly describes of the catalytic copolymerization and utilization of hazardous gaseous molecule of SO 2 towards epoxides by different types of catalysts.