Trimethylene carbonate

Trimethylene carbonate

Names
IUPAC name 1,3-Dioxan-2-one
Identifiers
CAS Number	2453-03-4
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	110377
ECHA InfoCard	100.114.239
PubChem	123834
UNII	4316AQ174Q Y
InChI InChI=1S/C4H6O3/c5-4-6-2-1-3-7-4/h1-3H2 Key: YFHICDDUDORKJB-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1/C4H6O3/c5-4-6-2-1-3-7-4/h1-3H2 Key: YFHICDDUDORKJB-UHFFFAOYAZ
SMILES O=C1OCCCO1
Properties
Chemical formula	C4H6O3
Molar mass	102.09 g·mol−1
Appearance	white solid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Trimethylene carbonate or 1,3-propylene carbonate is a 6-membered cyclic carbonate ester. It is a colourless solid that upon heating converts to the polytrimethyl carbonate. Such polymers are of interest for biomedical applications. An isomeric derivative is propylene carbonate, a colourless liquid that does not spontaneously polymerize.

This compound may be prepared from 1,3-propanediol and ethyl chloroformate (a phosgene substitute), or from oxetane and carbon dioxide with an appropriate catalyst:

This cyclic carbonate undergoes ring-opening polymerization to give poly(trimethylene carbonate), abbreviated PTC. The polymer PTC is of commercial interest as a biodegradable polymer with biomedical applications.