Cubane‐Type Polynuclear Zinc Complexes Containing Tridentate Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis,Characterization, and Ring‐Opening Polymerization Studies of rac‐Lactide and ε‐Caprolactone

New polynuclear zinc complexes containing tridentate Schiff base ligands were successfully synthesized and fully characterized. The solid‐state structure of the complexes was determined using single crystal X‐ray diffraction. The complexes display a tetranuclear cubane‐like core structure [Zn₄O₄] and sowed good catalytic activity towards the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP ) of rac‐lactide (rac‐LA ) and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL ) under solvent‐free conditions. The polylactic acid (PLA ) obtained from rac‐LA showed isotactic enrichment, as proved by homonuclear decoupled ¹H‐NMR analysis. These complexes also showed good activity and superior control towards the ROP of rac‐LA and ε‐CL in the presence of benzyl alcohol as a co‐initiator. Furthermore, kinetic studies demonstrated that the ROP of rac‐LA and ε‐CL has a first order dependence on both monomer (rac‐LA and ε‐CL ) and catalyst concentration.     

Aluminum salen and salan complexes in the ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters: Controlled immortal and copolymerization of rac‐β‐butyrolactone and rac‐lactide

Aluminum‐based salen and salan complexes mediate the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of rac‐β‐butyrolactone (β‐BL), rac‐lactide, and ε‐caprolactone. Al‐salen and Al‐salan complexes exhibit excellent control over the ROP of rac‐β‐butyrolactone, yielding atactic poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with narrow PDIs of <1.15 for Al‐salen and <1.05 for Al‐salan. Kinetic studies reveal pseudo‐first‐order polymerization kinetics and a linear relationship between molecular weight and percent conversion. These complexes also mediate the immortal ROP of rac‐β‐BL and rac‐lactide, through the addition of excess benzyl alcohol of up to 50 mol eq., with excellent control observed. A novel methyl/adamantyl‐substituted Al‐salen system further improves control over the ROP of rac‐lactide and rac‐β‐BL, yielding atactic PHB and highly isotactic poly(lactic acid) (P_m = 0.88). Control over the copolymerization of rac‐lactide and rac‐β‐BL was also achieved, yielding poly(lactic acid)‐co‐poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) with narrow PDIs of <1.10. ¹H NMR spectra of the copolymers indicate a strong bias for the insertion of rac‐lactide over rac‐β‐BL. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Isoselective Ring‐Opening Polymerization of rac‐Lactide Catalyzed by Sodium/potassium Tetradentate Aminobisphenolate Ion‐paired Complexes

Two sodium/potassium tetradentate aminobisphenolate ion‐paired complexes were synthesized and structurally characterized. These ion‐paired complexes are efficient catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide (rac‐LA) in the presence of 5 equivalents BnOH as an initiator and the side reaction of epimerization can be suppressed well at low temperatures. The polymerizations are controllable, affording polylactides with desirable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions; the highest molecular weight can reach 50.1 kg mol^?1 in this system, and a best isoselectivity of P_m=0.82 was achieved. Such polymerizations have rarely been reported for isoselective sodium/potassium complexes without crown ether as an auxiliary ligand. The solid structures suggest that BnOH can be activated by an interaction with the anion of sodium/potassium complex via a hydrogen bond and that the monomer is activated by coordination to sodium/potassium ion.     

Ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters promoted by phosphido‐diphosphine pincer group 3 complexes

Phosphido‐diphosphine Group 3 metal complexes 1–4 [(o‐C₆H₄PR₂)₂P‐M(CH₂SiMe₃)₂; R = Ph, 1 : M = Y, 2 : M = Sc; R = iPr, 3 : M = Y, 4 : M = Sc] are very efficient catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters such as ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), L ‐lactide, and δ‐valerolactone under mild polymerization conditions. In the ROP of ε‐CL, complexes 1–4 promote quantitative conversion of high amount of monomer (up to 3000 equiv) with very high turnover frequencies (TOF) (～4 × 10⁴ mol_CL/mol_I h) showing a catalytic activity among the highest reported in the literature. The immortal and living ROP of ε‐CL and L ‐lactide is feasible by combining complexes 1–4 with 5 equiv of 2‐propanol. Polymers with controlled molecular parameters (M_n, end groups) and low polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.05–1.09) are formed as a result of fast alkoxide/alcohol exchange. In the ROP of δ‐valerolactone, complexes 1–4 showed the same activity observed for lactide (L ‐ and D ,L ‐lactide) producing high molecular weight polymers with narrow distribution of molar masses. Complexes 1–4 also promote the ROP of rac‐β butyrolactone affording atactic low molecular weight poly(hydroxybutyrate) bearing unsaturated end groups probably generated by elimination reactions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

New aliphatic poly(ester‐carbonates) based on 5‐methyl‐5‐allyloxycarbonyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one

The synthesis, characterization, and ring‐opening polymerization of a new cyclic carbonate monomer containing an allyl ester moiety, 5‐methyl‐5‐allyloxycarbonyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐2‐one (MAC), was performed for the first time. MAC was synthesized in five steps in good yield beginning from the starting material, 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid. Subsequent polymerization and copolymerizations of the new cyclic carbonate with rac‐lactide (rac‐LA) and ?‐caprolactone (CL) were attempted. Rac‐LA copolymerized well with MAC, but CL copolymerizations produced insoluble products. Oligomeric macroinitiators of MAC and rac‐LA were synthesized from stannous ethoxide, and both macroinitiators were used for the controlled ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐LA. The polymerization kinetics were examined by monitoring the disappearance of the characteristic C? O ring stretch of the monomer at 1240 cm^?1 with real‐time in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Postpolymerization oxidation reactions were conducted to epoxidize the unsaturated bonds of the MAC‐functionalized polymers. Epoxide‐containing polymers may allow further organic transformations with various nucleophiles, such as amines, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. NMR was used for microstructure identification of the polymers, and size exclusion chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry were used to characterize the new functionalized poly(ester‐carbonates). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1978–1991, 2003     

Highly Stereocontrolled Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Racemic Alkyl β‐Malolactonates Mediated by Yttrium [Amino‐alkoxy‐bis(phenolate)] Complexes

Yttrium [amino‐alkoxy‐bis(phenolate)]amido complexes have been used for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of racemic alkyl β‐malolactonates (4‐alkoxycarbonyl‐2‐oxetanones, rac‐MLA^Rs) bearing an allyl (All), benzyl (Bz) or methyl (Me) lateral ester function. The nature of the ortho‐substituent on the phenolate rings in the metal ancillary dictated the stereocontrol of the ROP, and consequently the syndiotactic enrichment of the resulting polyesters. ROP promoted by catalysts with halogen (Cl, Br)‐disubstituted ligands allowed the first reported synthesis of highly syndiotactic PMLA^Rs (P_r ≥ 0.95); conversely, catalysts bearing bulky alkyl and aryl ortho‐substituted ligands proved largely ineffective. All polymers have been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectroscopy, MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometry and DSC analyses. Statistical and thermal analyses enabled the rationalization of the chain‐end control mechanism. Whereas the stereocontrol of the polymerization obeyed a Markov first‐order (Mk1) model for the ROP of rac‐MLA^Bz and rac‐MLA^All, the ROP of rac‐MLA^Me led to a chain end‐control of Markov second‐order type (Mk2). DFT computations suggest that the high stereocontrol ability featured by catalysts bearing Cl‐ and Br‐substituted ligands does not likely originate from halogen bonding between the halogen substituent and the growing polyester chain.     

ɛ‐caprolactone and lactide polymerization promoted by an ionic titanium(IV)/iron(III) polynuclear halo‐alkoxide

The ionic [Ti₃(µ₃‐OPrⁱ)₂(µ‐OPrⁱ)₃(OPrⁱ)₆][FeCl₄] halo‐alkoxide ( A ) was investigated for its activity towards the bulk polymerization of rac‐lactide (rac‐LA) and ?‐caprolactone (?‐CL) in various temperatures, monomer/ A molar proportions, and reaction times. The reactivity of A in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of both monomers is mainly due to the cationic [Ti₃(OPrⁱ)₁₁]⁺ unity and proceeds through the coordination–insertion mechanism. Molecular weights ranging from 6,379 to 13,950 g mol^?1 and PDI values varying from 1.22 to 1.52 were obtained. Results of ROP kinetic studies for both ?‐CL and rac‐LA confirm that the reaction rates are first‐order with respect to monomers. The production of poly(?‐caprolactone) shows a higher sensitivity of the reaction rate to temperature, while the polymerization of rac‐LA is slower and more dependent on the thermal stability of the active species during the propagation step. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2509–2517     

PMLABe Diol Synthesized by Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Racemic Benzyl β‐Malolactonate Initiated by Rare‐Earth Trisborohydride Complexes: An Experimental and DFT Study

Polymer diols are a class of polymeric building blocks of high interest for the synthesis of complex macromolecular edifices. Rare‐earth borohydride complexes are known as efficient initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of cyclic esters, directly affording α,ω‐dihydroxy‐telechelic polyesters. Here, were report the direct synthesis of poly(benzyl β‐malolactonate) (PMLABe) diols, from the ROP of racemic (benzyl β‐malolactonate) (rac‐MLABe), a valuable and renewable monomer, initiated by the homoleptic [Ln(BH₄)₃(thf)₃] (Ln=La, Nd, and Sm) complexes. These initiators enabled the controlled ROP of this β‐lactone, affording well‐defined syndiotactic‐enriched (P_r≈0.83) PMLABes (M_n up to 21 300 g mol^?1, Ð_M≈1.5) as evidenced by size exclusion chromatography, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometry analyses. The first and second insertions of rac‐MLABe, as assessed by DFT calculations, revealed more favorable stationary front‐side than migratory back‐side insertions, the thermodynamically and kinetically competitive ROP on two distinct arms with that on a one arm‐only, and the thermodynamically slightly favored formation of syndiotactic‐enriched PMLABes.     

Titanium complexes based on aminodiol ligands for the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone,rac‐β‐butyrolactone,and trimethylene carbonate

Several titanium complexes based on aminodiol ligands were tested as initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone under solution and bulk conditions. All complexes were found to be efficient under both conditions. For bulk polymerization at 70 °C, high activities were observed (113.3–156.2 g_poly mmol_cat^?1 h^?1) together with controlled molar mass distribution. Kinetic studies revealed controlled polymerization, and the chain propagation was first order with respect to monomer conversion. One complex was also tested for the ROP of rac‐β‐butyrolactone and the end‐group analysis suggested that ring opening occurs through acyl‐oxygen bond cleavage via coordination–insertion mechanism. The microstructure analysis of polymer by ¹³C NMR indicates atactic polymer. Another complex was also found to be efficient initiator for the ROP of trimethylene carbonate under solution and bulk conditions. Again, end‐group analysis suggests coordination–insertion mechanism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Soluble tin(II) macroinitiator adducts for the controlled ring‐opening polymerization of lactones and cyclic carbonates

Polyesters and poly(ester carbonates) were synthesized via ring‐opening polymerization with new tin(II) macroinitiator adducts containing oligomeric L ‐lactide (LLA), rac‐lactide (rac‐LA), and ?‐caprolactone (CL). The novel initiating species were synthesized by the reaction of LLA, rac‐LA, or CL with Sn(OEt)₂ (monomer concentration/initiator concentration ≤20) and then were dissolved in methylene chloride or toluene and stored in a stoppered flask for the subsequent ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters and carbonates. The soluble tin alkoxide macroinitiators yielded predictable and quantitative initiation of polymerization for up to 1 month of storage time at room temperature. The resulting polymers displayed low polydispersity (≤1.5), and a high monomer conversion (>95%) was obtained within relatively short polymerization times (≤2 h). Adjusting the monomer/macroinitiator ratio effectively controlled the molecular weights of the polymers. NMR was used to characterize the initiating species and polymer microstructure, and size exclusion chromatography was used to determine the molecular weight properties of the polymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3434–3442, 2002     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis and characterization of biodegradable block copolyesters based on poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoate)s and poly(D,L‐lactide)

Microwave (MW)‐assisted ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) provides a rapid and straightforward method for engineering a wide array of well‐defined poly(3‐hydroxyalkanoate)‐b‐poly(D,L ‐lactide) (PHA‐b‐PLA) diblock copolymers. On MW irradiation, the bulk ROP of D,L ‐lactide (LA) could be efficiently triggered by a series of monohydroxylated PHA‐based macroinitiators previously produced via acid‐catalyzed methanolysis of corresponding native PHAs, thus affording diblock copolyesters with tunable compositions. The dependence of LA polymerization on temperature, macroinitiator structure, irradiation time, and [LA]₀/[PHA]₀ molar ratio was carefully investigated. It turned out that initiator efficiency values close to 1 associated with conversions ranging from 50 to 85% were obtained only after 5 min at 115 °C. A kinetic investigation of the MW‐assisted ROP of LA gave evidence of its “living”/controlled character under the experimental conditions selected. Structural analyses and thermal properties of biodegradable diblock copolyesters were also performed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Controlled ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate and access to PTMC‐PLA block copolymers mediated by well‐defined N‐heterocyclic carbene zinc alkoxides

Four novel Zinc–NHC alkyl/alkoxide/chloride complexes ( 4 , 5 , 9 and 9′ ) were readily prepared and fully characterized, including X‐ray diffraction crystallography for 5 and 9′ . The reaction of N‐methyl‐N′‐butyl imidazolium chloride ( 3.HCl ) with ZnEt₂ (2 equiv.) afforded the corresponding [(C_NHC)ZnCl(Et)] complex ( 4 ) via a protonolysis reaction, as deduced from NMR data. The alcoholysis of 4 with BnOH led to quantitative formation of the dinuclear Zn(II) alkoxide species [(C_NHC)ZnCl(OBn)]₂ ( 5 ), as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The NMR data are in agreement with species 5 retaining its dimeric structure in solution at room temperature. The protonolysis reaction of N‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐N′‐ethyl methyl ether imidazolium chloride ( 8.HCl ) with ZnEt₂ (2 equiv.) yielded the [(C_NHC)ZnCl(Et)] species 9 . The latter was found to be reactive with CH₂Cl₂ in solution and to cleanly convert to the corresponding Zn(II) dichloride [(C_NHC)ZnCl₂]₂ ( 9′ ), whose molecular structure was also elucidated using X‐ray diffractometry. Unlike Zn(II)–NHC alkoxide species 1 and 2 , which contain a NHC flanked with an additional N‐functional group (i.e. thioether and ether, respectively), the Zn(II) alkoxide species 5 incorporates a monodentate NHC ligand. The Zn(II) complexes 1 , 2 and 5 were tested in the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC). All three species are effective initiators for the controlled ROP of trimethylene carbonate, resulting in the production of narrow disperse PTMC material. Initiator 1 (incorporating a thioether moiety) was found to perform best in the ROP of TMC. Notably, the latter also readily undergoes the sequential ROP of TMC and rac‐LA in the presence of a chain‐transfer agent, leading to well‐defined and high‐molecular‐weight PTMC/PLA block copolymers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A “Mitsubishi emblem” tetrauclear aluminum complex containing two unsymmetric N2O2‐ligands and a symmetric NO3‐ligand as initiator for polymerization of rac‐lactide

A novel hydroxy‐, methoxy‐, and phenoxy‐bridge “Mitsubishi emblem” tetranuclear aluminum complex ( 1 ) is synthesized from an unsymmetric amine‐pyridine‐bis(phenol) N₂O₂‐ligand (H₂L¹) and a symmetric amine‐tris(phenol) NO₃‐ligand (H₂L²). Two same configuration chiral nitrogen atoms are formed in the tetranuclear Al complex upon coordination of the unsymmetric tertiary amine ligand to central Al. Complex 1 initiates controlled ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of rac‐lactide and afford polylactide (PLA) with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.05–1.19). The analysis of ¹H NMR spectra of the oligomer indicates that the methoxy group is the initiating group and the ring‐opening polymerization of lactide follows a coordination‐insertion mechanism. The Homonuclear decoupled ¹H NMR spectroscopy suggests the isotactic‐rich chains is preferentially formed in PLA. The study on kinetics of the ROP of lactide reveals the homopropagation rate is higher than the cross‐propagation rate, which is in agreement with the observed isotactic selectivity in the ROP of rac‐lactide. The stereochemistry of the polymerization was also supported by activation parameters. The introduction of unsymmetric ligand H₂L¹ has an effect on stereoslectivity of polymerization. This result may be of interest for the design of multinuclear metal complex catalysts containing functionalized ligands. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2084–2091     

Metal‐Size Influence in Iso‐Selective Lactide Polymerization

Iso‐selective initiators for the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of rac‐lactide are rare outside of Group 13. We describe the first examples of highly iso‐selective lutetium initiators. The phosphasalen lutetium ethoxide complex shows excellent iso‐selectivity, with a P_i value of 0.81–0.84 at 298 K, excellent rates, and high degrees of polymerization control. Conversely, the corresponding La derivative exhibits moderate heteroselectivity (P_s=0.74, 298 K). Thus, the choice of metal center is shown to be crucial in determining the level and mode of stereocontrol. The relative order of rates for the series of complexes is inversely related to metallic covalent radius: that is, La>Y>Lu.     

Controllable synthesis of bio‐based polylactide diols using an organocatalyst in solvent‐free conditions

Controllable synthesis of bio‐based polylactide (PLA) diols was realized by the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide (LA) in the presence of 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) using 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) as an organocatalyst in solvent‐free conditions. The catalytic activity and conversion of LA could reach ∼1 kg g⁻¹ DBU and >97%, respectively, and the polymerization yielded polymers with narrow polydispersity index (PDI) (1.15–1.29). Interestingly, the number average molecular weight (M_n) of the obtained PLA diol was in excellent linear relation with the molar ratio of LA and BDO, and hence can be precisely controlled. The structure of the diol was clearly confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FTIR, and MALDI‐TOF mass spectra, proving BDO as an initiation‐transfer agent to participate in the polymerization. Kinetic study of the ROP demonstrates a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic model and a controlled “living” nature. Notably, it is found that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the diol significantly depends on the M_n. Furthermore, various chain transfer agents and organocatalysts can also be used to successfully synthesize well‐defined PLA diols. Especially, functional bio‐based dihydric alcohols such as 2,5‐furandimethanol (FDMO)‐initiated ROP in this system could result in fully bio‐based PLA diols with functionality. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 968–976     

Controlled surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization of L‐lactide from risedronate‐anchored hydroxyapatite nanocrystals: Novel synthesis of biodegradable hydroxyapatite/poly(L‐lactide) nanocomposites

Risedronate‐anchored hydroxyapatite (HA‐RIS) nanocrystals were prepared with 4.1 wt % RIS and used for controlled surface‐initiated ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L ‐lactide (L ‐LA). The strong adsorption of RIS to HA surface not only led to enhanced dispersion of HA nanocrystals in water as well as in organic solvents but also provided alkanol groups as active initiating species for ROP of L ‐LA. HA‐RIS was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, ¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and X‐ray diffraction. The graft polymerization of L ‐LA onto HA‐RIS took place smoothly in the presence of stannous octoate in toluene at 120 °C, resulting in HA/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites with high yields of 85–90% and high poly(L ‐LA) contents of up to 97.5 wt %. Notably, differential scanning calorimetry measurements revealed that the poly(L ‐LA) in HA/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites exhibited considerably higher melting temperatures (T_m = 173.3?178.1 °C) and higher degrees of crystallinity (X_c = 41.0?43.1%) as compared to poly(L ‐LA) homopolymer (T_m = 168.5 °C, X_c =25.7%). In addition, our initial results showed that these HA/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites could readily be electrospun into porous matrices. This study presented a novel and controlled synthetic strategy to HA/RIS/poly(L ‐LA) nanocomposites that are promising for orthopedic applications as well as for bone tissue engineering. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Ring opening polymerization and copolymerization of L‐lactide and ɛ‐caprolactone by bis‐ligated magnesium complexes

Seven magnesium complexes ( 1–7 ) were synthesized by reaction of new ( L ³ ‐H – L ⁵ ‐H ) and previously reported ketoimine pro‐ligands with dibutyl magnesium and were isolated in 59–70% yields. Complexes 1–7 were characterized fully and consisted of bis‐ligated homoleptic ketoiminates coordinated in distorted octahedral geometry around the magnesium centers. The complexes were investigated for their ability to initiate the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of l ‐lactide (L‐LA) to poly‐lactic acid (PLA) and ?‐caprolactone (?CL) to poly‐caprolactone in the presence of 4‐fluorophenol co‐catalyst. For L‐LA polymerization, complexes containing ligand electron‐donating groups ( 1–5 ) achieved >90% conversion in 2 h at 100 °C, while the presence of CF₃ groups in 6 and 7 slowed or resulted in no PLA detected. With ?CL, ROP initiated with 1–7 resulted in lower percentage conversion with similar electronic effects. Moderate molecular weight PLA polymeric material (14.3–21.3 kDa) with low polydispersity index values (1.23–1.56) was obtained, and ROP appeared to be living in nature. Copolymerization of L‐LA and ?CL yielded block copolymers only from the sequential polymerization of ?CL followed by L‐LA and not the reverse sequence of monomers or the simultaneous presence of both monomers. Polymers and copolymers were characterized with NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 48–59     

Stereoselective polymerization of rac‐lactide with a bulky aluminum/Schiff base complex

An aluminum/Schiff base complex {[2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylenebis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylideneiminato)](isopropanolato)aluminum(III) ( 2 )} based on a bulky ligand and aluminum isopropoxide was prepared and employed for the stereoselective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (rac-LA). The initiator was characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), crystal structure measurements, and elemental analysis. It contained a five-coordinate aluminum atom that was trigonal bipyramidal in the solid state according to the crystal structure measurements. The two conformational stereoisomers of 2 exchanged quickly on the NMR scale. Compound 2 polymerized rac-LA into a crystalline polymer that was characterized with ¹H NMR, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography. The kinetics of the polymerization were first-order in both the monomer and initiator, and there was a linear relationship between the rac-LA conversion and the number-average molecular weight of poly(rac-LA) with a narrow molecular distribution (1.04–1.08). These features showed that the polymerization was well controlled. The high melting temperature (196–201 °C) and isotacticity of poly(rac-LA) indicated that complex 2 was a highly stereoselective initiator for the ROP of rac-LA. The stereoselectivity was as high as 90%, and the stereoblocks of poly(rac-LA) by complex 2 contained an average of 20 units (average block length = 20) of enantiomerically pure lactic acid. The activation energy (23.6 kJ mol⁻¹) was obtained according to an Arrhenius equation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5974–5982, 2004     

Chiral (1,2)‐Diphenylethylene‐Salen Complexes of Triel Metals: Coordination Patterns and Mechanistic Considerations in the Isoselective ROP of Lactide

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure aluminium, gallium and indium complexes supported by chiral (R,R)‐(^HHONNO^HH) ( 1 ), (R,R)‐(^MeHONNO^HMe) ( 2 ), (R,R)‐(^tButBuONNO^tButBu) ( 3 ), (R,R)‐(^MeNO2ONNO^MeNO2) ( 4 ), (R,R)‐(^HOMeONNO^HOMe) ( 5 ) and (R,R)‐(^ClClONNO^ClCl) ( 6 ) (1,2)‐diphenylethylene‐salen ligands is described. Several of these complexes have been crystallographically authenticated, which highlights a diversity of coordination patterns. Whereas all Ga complexes form [Ga₂(CH₂SiMe₃)₄(ONNO)] bimetallic species (ONNO= 1 – 3 ), aluminium [AlR(ONNO)] (R=Me, CH₂SiMe₃) and indium [In(CH₂SiMe₃)(ONNO)] derivatives are monometallic for ONNO= 1 , 2 and 4 – 6 , and only form the bimetallic complexes [Al₂R₄(ONNO)] and [In₂(CH₂SiMe₃)₄(ONNO)] for the most sterically crowded ligand 3 . The [AlMe(ONNO)] complexes react with iPrOH to give [AlOiPr(ONNO)] complexes that are robust towards further iPrOH. The [In(CH₂SiMe₃)(ONNO)] congeners are inert towards excess alcohol, whereas the Ga compounds decompose easily. All these alkyl complexes, as well as the [AlOiPr(ONNO)] derivatives, catalyse the ring‐opening polymerisation (ROP) of racemic lactide (rac‐LA). The [AlMe(ONNO)] complexes require additional alcohol to afford controlled reactions, but [AlOiPr(ONNO)] complexes are single‐component catalysts for the isoselective ROP of rac‐LA, with values of P_m in the range 0.80–0.90. Experimental evidence unexpectedly shows that chain‐end control leads to the isoselectivity of these aluminium catalysts; also, the more crowded the coordination sphere, the higher the isoselectivity. The bimetallic Ga complexes do not afford controlled reactions, but the binary [In(ONNO)(CH₂SiMe₃)/(PhCH₂OH)] systems competently mediate non‐stereoselective ROP; evidence is given that an activated monomer mechanism is at work. Kinetic studies show that catalytic activity decreases when electronic density and steric congestion at the metal atom increase.     

Zn(II) and Cu(II) unsymmetrical formamidine complexes as effective initiators for ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic esters

A series of Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes were synthesized using unsymmetrical N,N′‐ diarylformamidine ligands, i.e. N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐N′‐2,6‐dichorophenyl)‐formamidine ( L1 ), N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐N′‐phenyl)‐formamidine ( L2 ), N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐N′‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)‐formamidine ( L3 ) and N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐N′‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐formamidine ( L4 ). The complexes, [Zn₂( L1 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 1) , [Zn₂( L2 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 2 ), [Zn₂( L3 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 3 ), [Zn₂( L4 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 4 ), [Cu₂( L1 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 5 ), [Cu₂( L2 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 6 ), [Cu₂( L3 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 7 ) and [Cu₂( L4 )₂(OAc)₄] ( 8 ), were prepared via a mechanochemical method with excellent yields between 95 ‐ 98% by reacting the metal acetates and corresponding ligands. Structural studies showed that both complexes are dimeric with a paddlewheel core structure in which the separation between the two metal centres are 2.9898 (8) and 2.6653 (7) Å in complexes 3 and 7 , respectively. Complexes 1 – 8 were used in ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) and rac‐lactide (rac‐LA). Zn(II) complexes were more active than Cu(II) complexes, with complex 1 bearing electron withdrawing chloro groups being the most active (k_app = 0.0803 h^‐1). Low molecular weight poly‐(ε‐CL) and poly‐(rac‐LA) ranging from 1720 to 6042 g mol^‐1, with broad molecular weight distribution (PDIs, 1.78 – 1.87) were obtained. Complex 2 gave reaction orders of 0.56 and 1.52 with respect to ε‐CL and rac‐LA, respectively.