Fe\Zn double metal cyanide catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of propylene oxide: 2. TCharacterization of active structure of double metal cyanide catalysts

Double metal cyanide (DMC) complexes based on Zn3[Fe(CN)6]2 were synthesized using different molar ratios of ZnCl2 to K3[Fe(CN)6] and special complexing agents. IR spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and other analytical techniques were employed to characterize these catalysts. The morphology and structure of these DMC catalysts were attributed to the different complexing agents as well as to the different molar ratios of ZnCl2 to K3[Fe(CN)6]. In addition, the catalytic activity was strongly correlated with the morphology and noncrystalline content of DMC catalysts. High-activity catalysts could be prepared by controlling the structure of DMC catalysts by incorporating complexing agents. The active species of DMC catalysts for ring-opening polymerization are Zn2+, [Fe(CN)6]3–, Cl–, and the compound of their ligands.