Ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide by organotin(IV)alkoxides,R2Sn(OPr)2: Estimation of the activation parameters

The ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide, l-LA, to give poly-l-lactide by R₂Sn(OPrⁱ)₂ compounds, where R = Buⁿ and p-XC₆H₄ (X = CF₃, F, H, Me and OMe) has been studied in benzene over a temperature range. There is a relatively small variation in ΔH^≠ as a function of R with all the values falling within the range 11 ± 2 kcal mol⁻¹. The entropy of activation, ΔS^≠, is consistently large and negative, −50 ± 5 eu, supporting the view that the ring-opening event, the enchainment step involves a highly ordered transition state. The crystal and molecular structures of the compounds Ph₂Sn(OPrⁱ)₂, (p-FC₆H₄)₂Sn(OPrⁱ)₂ and (p-Me₂NC₆H₄)₃SnOPrⁱ are also reported. While the latter compound is monomeric in the solid state the former are both dimeric with a pair of bridging OPrⁱ ligands.