Well-Defined Aminophenolate Zinc and Magnesium Complexes as Excellent Inhitiators for the ROP of Lactides

A series of molecular homo and heteroleptic zinc and magnesium compounds with aminophenolate ligands [(µ,η²-L²)ZnEt]₂ ( 1 ), [(η²-L²)Zn(µ-BnO)]₂ ( 2 ), [Zn(η²-L²)₂] ( 3 ), [Zn(η²-L³)₂] ( 4 ), [Mg(η²-L³)₂] ( 5 ) (L²-H = N-[methylene(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)]-N-methyl-N-cyclohexylamine, L³-H = N-[methylene(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)]-N-methyl-N-methyl-1,3-dioxolaneamine) have been prepared and characterized. The homoleptic complexes 3–5 are most probably a mixture of diastereoisomers that in solution show an interesting dynamics which plays an important role in their catalytic behavior. The complexes 2 – 5 are efficient initiators in ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactides to produce polymers with desired molecular weight and narrow polydispersity.