Abstract: | In quest of new, single‐site catalysts for cyclic ester polymerizations, a series of mononuclear yttrium(III) complexes of N,N′‐bis(trimethylsilyl)benzamidinate (LTMS]−) and hindered N,N′‐bis‐(2,6‐dialkylaryl)toluamidinates (LEt]−, aryl = Et2C6H3, and LiPr]−, aryl = iPr2C6H3) were synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction: LY(μ‐Cl)2Li(TMEDA) ( 1 ), LY(OC6H2tBu2Me) ( 2 ), LY(OC6H3Me2)2Li(THF)4 ( 3 ), LY(μ‐OtBu)2Li(THF) ( 4 ), LiPrYN(SiMe2H)2]2(THF) ( 5 ), LY(THF)(Cl)(μ‐Cl)Li(THF)3 ( 6 ), and LYN(SiMe2H)2] ( 7 ). Coordination numbers ranging from five to seven were observed, and they appeared to be controlled by the steric bulk of the supporting amidinate and alkoxide, phenoxide, or amide coligands. Complexes 2 – 5 and 7 are active catalysts for the polymerization of D,L ‐lactide (e.g., with 2 and added benzyl alcohol, 1000 equiv of D,L ‐lactide were polymerized at room temperature in less than 1 h, with polydispersities less than 1.5). The neutral complexes 2 , 5 , and 7 were more effective than the anionic complexes 3 and 4 . In addition, the presence of the more hindered amidinate ligands LEt]− and LiPr]− on yttrium‐amides slowed the polymerizations ( 7 < 5 < YN(SiMe2H)2]3). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 284–293, 2001 |