Zinc complexes containing asymmetrical N,N,O-tridentate ligands and their application in lactide polymerization

• DOI: 10.1039/c3dt52016a
• Publication Date: 2013-09-03T10:01:25Z
• Authors: Bo Gao; Ranlong Duan; Xuan Pang; Xiang Li; Zhi Qu; Huili Shao; Xianhong Wang; Xuesi Chen
• Keywords: Lactide; Molar mass distribution

A series of zinc complexes based on asymmetrical N,N,O-tridentate ligands were prepared via binaphthyl diamine derivatives. These characterized and employed as catalysts in lactide polymerization. The X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that molecular structures 1b 2b mononuclear with atoms distorted octahedral geometries. Upon co-catalysis isopropanol, complex 2a showed the highest activity among these for ring-opening polymerization L-lactide, 3a exhibited stereoselectivity rac-lactide affording substantially isotactic polylactide (PLA) a Pm 0.62. kinetics using catalyst was studied detail. results rates first-order both monomer catalyst, there linear relationship between L-LA conversion number-average weight PLA narrow distribution (1.07–1.17). activation energy (31.49 kJ mol−1) deduced according to Arrhenius equation.