Provided is a diol compound of the following Chemical Formula 1, a polycarbonate comprising the diol compound, and a method of producing the polycarbonate.

##STR00001##

The disclosure pertains to amphiphilic block copolymers comprising an aliphatic polycarbonate chain coupled to a hydrophilic polymer. Such amphiphilic polymers may have the formula A-L-B, where A- is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain having from about 3 to about 500 repeating units, L is a linker moiety and -B is a hydrophilic oligomer having from about 4 to about 200 repeating units. Provided copolymers are useful as surfactants capable of emulsifying aqueous solutions and supercritical carbon dioxide. Provided copolymers also have utility as additives for use in enhanced oil recovery methods.

In one aspect, the present invention encompasses compositions of sustainable polycarbonate polymers, methods of producing such polymers, and methods for evaluating whether certain constituents of a polymer chain are derived from biomass or a fossil carbon source.

The invention relates to a method for producing polyether carbonate polyols, wherein (i) in a first step a polyether carbonate polyol is produced from one or more H-functional starter substances, one or more alkylene oxides, and carbon dioxide in the presence of at least one DMC catalyst, and (ii) in a second step the polyether carbonate polyol is chain-extended with a mixture of at least two different alkylene oxides in the presence of at least one DMC catalyst. The invention further relates to polyether carbonate polyols that contain a terminal mixed block of at least two alkylene oxides and to a method for producing soft polyurethane foams, wherein a polyol component containing a polyether carbonate polyol according to the invention is used.

The present invention encompasses polyurethane compositions comprising aliphatic polycarbonate chains. In one aspect, the present invention encompasses polyurethane foams, thermoplastics and elastomers derived from aliphatic polycarbonate polyols and polyisocyanates wherein the polyol chains contain a primary repeating unit having a structure:

##STR00001##

In another aspect, the invention provides articles comprising the inventive foam and elastomer compositions as well as methods of making such compositions.

A process for preparing a phosphorus-functional polyethercarbonate polyol, comprising reacting a polyethercarbonate polyol having unsaturated groups with a phosphorus-functional compound of formula (Ia): ##STR00001##
wherein X=O or S; and wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from the group consisting of C1-C22 alkyl, C1-C22 alkoxy, C1-C22 alkylsulfanyl, C6-C70 aryl, C6-C70 aryloxy, C6-C70 arylsulfanyl, C7-C70 aralkyl, C7-C70 aralkyloxy, C7-C70 aralkylsulfanyl, C7-C70 alkylaryl, C7-C70 alkylaryloxy, C7-C70 alkylarylsulfanyl, or wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are bridged to one another directly and/or via heteroatoms and are selected from the group consisting of C1-C22 alkylene, oxygen, sulfur, and NR.sup.5, wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen, C1-C22 alkyl, C1-C22 acyl, C7-C22 aralkyl, or C6-C70 aryl radical. A process for preparing a phosphorus-functional polyurethane polymer is disclosed. Phosphorus-functional polyethercarbonate polyol, phosphorus-functional polyurethane polymer, flame-retardant adhesion promoter, filler-activator, flame retardant, flame-retardant coating, foam, sealing compound, thermoplastic, thermoset, rubber, and a moulded body are disclosed.

This present invention relates to drug eluting polymers, including novel biodegradable drug eluting polymers, which are added to the surface of a medical device to treat device associated complications and to deliver drug locally around the device. Methods of making polymers, for example, drug-eluting polymers, polymer compositions, and materials used therewith also are provided. The drug eluting polymers are obtained from the polymerization of macromonomers made of a connecting moiety, a biodegradable moiety and a cross-linkable moiety that are liquids at a temperature of 10° C. to 40° C.

A stimulus-responsive micellar carrier, methods that may be associated with making a stimulus-responsive micellar carrier, and methods that may be associated with using a stimulus-responsive micellar carrier are disclosed. The stimulus-responsive micellar carrier comprises a cargo molecule, and a linear block copolymer having a hydrophilic block connected to a hydrophobic block by a stimulus-responsive junction moiety. The micellar carrier can be supplied to a patient body for therapeutic purposes, such as the treatment of cancerous tissue. A method of preparing or obtaining a stimulus-responsive micellar carrier may include preparing a polyethylene glycol material having an acetal end group and then preparing a block copolymer by forming a reaction mixture including the polyethylene glycol material, a cyclic carbonate monomer, and a base.

The present invention encompasses polyurethane compositions comprising aliphatic polycarbonate chains. In one aspect, the present invention encompasses polyurethane foams, thermoplastics and elastomers derived from aliphatic polycarbonate polyols and polyisocyanates wherein the polyol chains contain a primary repeating unit having a structure: ##STR00001##
In another aspect, the invention provides articles comprising the inventive foam and elastomer compositions as well as methods of making such compositions.

A stimulus-responsive micellar carrier, methods that may be associated with making a stimulus-responsive micellar carrier, and methods that may be associated with using a stimulus-responsive micellar carrier are disclosed. The stimulus-responsive micellar carrier comprises a cargo molecule, and a linear block copolymer having a hydrophilic block connected to a hydrophobic block by a stimulus-responsive junction moiety. The micellar carrier can be supplied to a patient body for therapeutic purposes, such as the treatment of cancerous tissue. A method of preparing or obtaining a stimulus-responsive micellar carrier may include preparing a polyethylene glycol material having an acetal end group and then preparing a block copolymer by forming a reaction mixture including the polyethylene glycol material, a cyclic carbonate monomer, and a base.