Yttrium complexes supported by linked bis(amide) ligand: synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity in the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters

Inorg Chem. 2009 May 4;48(9):4258-66. doi: 10.1021/ic802427f.

Abstract

A series of new yttrium complexes supported by the bulky enediamido dianionic ligand DAB(2-) (DAB(2-) = (2,6-C(6)H(3)iPr(2))NC(Me)=C(Me)N(2,6-C(6)H(3)iPr(2))(2-)), that is, {DAB}Y(THF)(2)(mu-Cl)(2)Li(THF)(2) (1), {DAB}Y(OtBu)(THF)(DME) (2), and {{DAB}Y(BH(4))(2)}{Li(DME)(3)} (3), was synthesized by salt metathesis. The complexes were isolated after recrystallization in 73, 66, and 52% yield, respectively, and characterized in solution by NMR and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. In complex 1, the DAB(2-) ligand is bonded to the metal center via two covalent YN bonds, while in complexes 2 and 3 additional eta(2)-coordination of the C=C bond to the metal atom is observed, both in solution and in the solid state. The tert-butoxide and borohydride complexes 2 and 3 act as monoinitiators for the room temperature ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide and beta-butyrolactone, providing atactic polymers with controlled molecular weights and relatively narrow polydispersities (M(w)/M(n) = 1.15-1.82). Effectively immortal ROP of lactide with as many as 50 equiv of isopropanol per metal center was performed using complex 2 as the catalyst.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / chemical synthesis
  • 4-Butyrolactone / chemistry
  • Amides / chemical synthesis
  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Butadienes / chemical synthesis
  • Butadienes / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dioxanes / chemical synthesis*
  • Dioxanes / chemistry
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Yttrium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Amides
  • Butadienes
  • Dioxanes
  • Ligands
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Polymers
  • beta-butyrolactone
  • Yttrium
  • dilactide
  • 1,3-butadiene
  • 4-Butyrolactone