The complementary structural studies of the double metal cyanide type catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of the oxiranes

The extensive complementary experimental studies of the double metal catalysts (DMC) with two kinds of the organic ligands were performed. The chemical justification of the observed TG/DSC (thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry) steps was proposed. Several organic ligand complexing states were found in both types of catalysts. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis established that only Zn atoms are the active metallic centers in DMC catalyst regardless the used ligand. Cl atoms were detected near some of Zn atoms. Contrary to the common suppositions no significant amount of oxygen atoms was detected in the closest coordination spheres of Zn.