Ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide catalyzed by calcium complexes

Dalton Trans. 2013 Feb 14;42(6):2041-51. doi: 10.1039/c2dt32487c.

Abstract

A series of calcium complexes supported by NNO-tridentate ketiminate ligands have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray structural studies indicate that these complexes bear a mononuclear feature with hexa-coordinated calcium centers bonding to two ketiminate ligands. Polymerization of L-lactide catalyzed by these complexes proceeds rapidly and well controlled in the presence of a variety of alcohols. In addition, these complexes reveal good catalytic activity even with the addition of up to 80 equiv. of benzyl alcohol as a transfer agent. Furthermore, kinetic studies show ROP of L-lactide is a first-order dependency on [LA] and a second-order dependency on [BnOH].

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Benzyl Alcohol / chemistry
  • Calcium / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dioxanes / chemistry*
  • Kinetics
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Polymerization

Substances

  • Coordination Complexes
  • Dioxanes
  • dilactide
  • Benzyl Alcohol
  • Calcium