Title: SYNTHESIS OF POLYURETHANE POLYMERS VIA COPPER AZIDE-ALKYNE CLICK CHEMISTRY FOR COATINGS, ADHESIVES, SEALANTS AND ELASTOMER APPLICATIONS

 Number/Link: WO2014/122153

Applicant/Assignee: Sika

Publication date: 14-08-2014

“Gist”: Polyurethane prepolymers capped with azides and alkynes are reacted using copper catalysis.

Why it is interesting: Because of safety, health and envriromental issues, isocyanate-free systems have clearly been gaining in importance the last few years.  Especially for coatings, adhesives and OCF applications, alternative curings systems are being developed. In the current invention an isocyanate-free system is based on the reaction between a prepolymer having at least two azide groups and a prepolymer having at least two alkyne groups. The reaction is copper catalyzed such that it can be performed at ambient temperature. The first prepolymer is (pref.)  prepared by reacting an isocyanate ended prepolymer with glycidol (2,3-epoxy-1-propanol) and subsequently with sodium azide. The second prepolymer is similarly prepared by reacting an isocyanate ended prepolymer with propargyl alcohol (2-propyn-1-ol).  The systems are said to be especially useful for roof coatings.

Example of an azide-alkyne reaction resulting in 1,4-disubstituded triazoles.