Ring-Opening Polymerization of rac-Lactide with Aluminum Chiral Anilido-Oxazolinate Complexes

Organometallics. 2014 May 27;33(10):2489-2495. doi: 10.1021/om401226j. Epub 2014 May 9.

Abstract

A series of dimethylaluminum complexes (L1a-i )AlMe2 (2a-i, where HL1a-i = 2-(2'-ArNH)phenyl-4-R1-oxazoline) bearing chiral, bidentate anilido-oxazolinate ligands have been prepared and characterized. Six of the complexes, in the presence of an alcohol cocatalyst, are shown to be active initiators for the stereoselective ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide in toluene solution and under bulk conditions, yielding polylactides with a range of tacticity from slightly isotactic to moderately heterotactic. The reactivity and selectivity of these catalysts are discussed on the basis of the effect of their substituents.

Grants and funding

National Institutes of Health, United States