Sterically demanding binaphthol-based chiral diboranes for metal-free and isotactic poly(propylene oxide)

Chem Commun (Camb). 2023 Sep 14;59(74):11069-11072. doi: 10.1039/d3cc02889e.

Abstract

Chiral diborane polymerization catalysts with 3,3'-disubstituted binaphthol-backbones are presented. These compounds deliver isotactic poly(propylene oxide) from racemic monomer with isotactoc diad (m) and triad (mm) placements of up to 92% and >80%, respectively. The resulting polyether is well-defined, of high molar mass and semi-crystalline.