Alternating copolymerization of epoxides with carbon dioxide or cyclic anhydrides using bimetallic nickel and cobalt catalysts: Preparation of hydrophilic nanofibers from functionalized polyesters

New bimetallic bis(benzotriazole iminophenolate) or bis(benzothiazole iminophenolate) nickel and cobalt complexes were developed for versatile ROCOP of internal epoxides with CO2 or phthalic anhydride (PA). Particularly, di-Co complex 3 was able to copolymerize 4-vinyl-1,2-cyclohexene oxide with PA to afford the vinyl-functionalized polyester, which could be further utilized for the preparation of hydrophilic nanofiber via functional modification and electrospinning.278