Polyurethanes (PUs) is a product of the addition polymerization reaction between diisocyanates and diols. The demand in PUs has continued to increase and it will attain in 2016 a production of 18 million tons (~US$66.4 bln) of which 75% are foam.

The main environmental issue of PU materials concerns the use of isocyanate raw materials. In fact, these compounds are harmful for human and environment. MDI and TDI, the most widely used isocyanates in PU industry, are classified as CMR (Carcinogen, Mutagen and Reprotoxic): Merenyi S. REACH: regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: consolidated version (June 2012) with an introduction and future prospects regarding the area of Chemicals legislation. GRIN Verlag; 2012.

Among all methods of non-isocyanate synthesis of polyurethane, reaction of cyclic carbonate with amine is the most attractive.

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