Phosphasalen Indium Complexes Showing High Rates and Isoselectivities in rac-Lactide Polymerizations

High performance benzoimidazolyl-based aminophenolate zinc complexes for isoselective polymerization of rac-lactide

Zinc complexes supported by achiral benzoimidazolyl-based aminophenolate ligands exhibit high catalytic activities and excellent isoselectivities toward the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide under mild conditions.

Highly efficient metal(iii) porphyrin and salen complexes for the polymerization of rac-lactide under ambient conditions

Metal(iii) complexes supported by porphyrin and salen ligands were highly efficient for rac-lactide polymerization at room temperature giving isotactic-enriched PLA.

Recent progress in the application of group 1, 2 & 13 metal complexes as catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

This review focuses on recent developments concerned with the use of well-defined main group complexes as (pre-)catalysts for the ROP of cyclic esters to give aliphatic polyesters; factors influencing catalytic activity, selectivity and polymer properties are all discussed.

Highly active rare-earth metal catalysts for heteroselective ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide

Rare-earth metal complexes usually exhibit high activities in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide, yet only a few scandium complexes have shown satisfactory activity. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of chiral anilido-oxazoline-supported scandium and yttrium complexes that exhibit high activity in the ROP of racemic lactide (rac-LA). Complexes La-f-Ln(CH2SiMe3)2THF (La-f = 2-(2,6-R2PhN)-phenyl-4-(S)-R'-oxazoline; for 1a-f: L = La-f, Ln = Sc; for 2a-d: L = La-d, Ln = Y) were synthesized via the convenient one-pot reaction of Ln(CH2SiMe3)3(THF)2 (Ln = Sc, Y) with the corresponding proligands. The crystal structures of 1a, 1d, 1e, and 1f were isostructural, adopting a distorted trigonal bipyramidal configuration. Sc complexes 1 showed outstanding activity in the ROP of rac-LA with heteroselectivity. TOFs of up to 720 h-1 and 2910 h-1 were obtained in THF at room temperature and toluene at 60 °C, respectively. To our knowledge, these are the highest activities reported for Sc systems. Y complexes 2 showed higher activity and heteroselectivity than the Sc complexes, with TOFs of up to 1176 h-1 in THF at room temperature. Compared with the ortho-substituent on the anilido moiety, the bulky substituent at the chiral center of the oxazoline ring had a greater effect on controlling the heteroselectivity.

Synthesis of Lewis Acidic, Aromatic Aminotroponiminate Zinc Complexes for the Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters

Three novel aminotroponiminate (ATI) zinc complexes I-III (I = [(Ph₂)ATI]Zn-N(SiMe₃)₂, II = [(C₆H₃-2,6-C₂H₅/Ph)ATI]Zn-N(SiMe₃)₂, and III = [(C₆H₃-2,6-CH(CH₃)₂/Ph)ATI]Zn-N(SiMe₃)₂) were synthesized and tested in the ring-opening polymerization of the lactones β- rac-butyrolactone (BBL) and rac-lactide (LA). The ligands, with two of them literature unknown, were readily obtained via a three-step synthesis from tropolone. Forming a five-membered metallacycle with zinc, the complexes were further structurally examined via single-crystal X-ray analysis and compared with that of the established, 6-ringed β-diiminate (BDI) complex IV ([CH(CMeNPh)₂]Zn-N(SiMe₃)₂). The influence of the varying metallacycle ring size on the polymerization was evaluated. In situ IR measurements indicate a higher catalytic activity of the novel ATI complexes I-III for BBL compared with the BDI system IV. The activity and degree of control were further improved by an in situ generated alkoxy initiating group generated after the addition of 2-propanol. An enhanced initiator efficiency allowed the synthesis of polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities. Furthermore, II and III exhibited a high activity in the ring-opening polymerization of rac-LA. Hereby, reaction time and initiator efficiency could also be optimized at a higher temperature or by the addition of 2-propanol.

Dinuclear iminophenoxide copper complexes in rac-lactide polymerisation

Dinuclear bis(R'-(R''-iminomethyl)phenoxide) copper complexes L2Cu2(μ-OR)2 were prepared from the reaction of copper methoxide with ROH and LH (ROH = dimethylaminoethanol or pyridylmethanol, R' = H, 4,6-tBu, 1,3-Cl, R'' = benzyl, cyclohexyl, diphenylmethyl and 2,6-dimethylphenyl). Preparation was complicated by formation of homoleptic L2Cu and only 9 of the 24 possible combinations could be prepared. All complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies and crystallized as dinuclear penta-coordinated complexes. Homoleptic complexes L2Cu were inactive in lactide polymerization at room temperature. Most heteroleptic complexes showed modest to good activities with full conversion in less than 6 h at room temperature. Complexes with R' = H showed poor molecular weight control, complexes with R' = Cl were inactive in polymerization. In pyridylmethoxide-containing complexes, only one alkoxide initiated chain growth. All complexes produced atactic polymer.

Indium Catalysts for Low-Pressure CO2/Epoxide Ring-Opening Copolymerization: Evidence for a Mononuclear Mechanism?

The alternating copolymerization of CO₂/epoxides is a useful means to incorporate high levels of carbon dioxide into polymers. The reaction is generally proposed to occur by bimetallic or bicomponent pathways. Here, the first indium catalysts are presented, which are proposed to operate by a distinct mononuclear pathway. The most active and selective catalysts are phosphasalen complexes, which feature ligands comprising two iminophosphoranes linked to sterically hindered ortho-phenolates. The catalysts are active at 1 bar pressure of carbon dioxide and are most effective without any cocatalyst. They show low-pressure activity (1 bar pressure) and yield polymer with high carbonate linkage selectivity (>99%) and isoselectivity ( P_m > 70%). Using these complexes, it is also possible to isolate and characterize key catalytic intermediates, including the propagating indium alkoxide and carbonate complexes that are rarely studied. The catalysts are mononuclear under polymerization conditions, and the key intermediates show different coordination geometries: the alkoxide complex is pentacoordinate, while the carbonate is hexacoordinate. Kinetic analyses reveal a first-order dependence on catalyst concentration and are zero-order in carbon dioxide pressure; these findings together with in situ spectroscopic studies underpin the mononuclear pathway. More generally, this research highlights the future opportunity for other homogeneous catalysts, featuring larger ionic radius metals and new ligands, to operate by mononuclear mechanisms.

Magnesium and zinc complexes bearing NNO-tridentate ketiminate ligands: synthesis, structures and catalysis in the ring-opening polymerization of lactides

Magnesium and zinc complexes bearing pyrazoline-derived ketiminate ligands, [(L^1–3)₂M₂(μ-OBn)₂] and [M(L)₂] proceed through the “coordination–insertion” mechanism in the ROP of lactides.

Steric vs. electronic stereocontrol in syndio- or iso-selective ROP of functional chiral β-lactones mediated by achiral yttrium-bisphenolate complexes

Electronic vs. steric effects of ligand ortho-substituents in (bis)phenolate yttrium-based complexes for preparation of a large scope of stereoregular poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s.

Indium Catalysts for Ring Opening Polymerization: Exploring the Importance of Catalyst Aggregation

Inexorably, the environmental persistence and damage caused by polyolefins have become major drawbacks to their continued long-term use. Global shifts in thinking from fossil-fuel to renewable biobased resources have urged researchers to focus their attention on substituting fossil-fuel based polymers with renewable and biodegradable alternatives on an industrial scale. The recent development of biodegradable polyesters from ring opening polymerization (ROP) of bioderived cyclic ester monomers has emerged as a promising new avenue toward this goal. Ever increasing numbers of metal-based initiators have been reported in the literature for the controlled ROP of cyclic esters, in particular for the polymerization of lactide to produce poly(lactic acid) (PLA). PLA has several material weaknesses, which hinder its use as a replacement for commodity plastics. Despite many advances in developing highly active and controlled catalysts for lactide polymerization, no single catalyst system has emerged to replace industrially used catalysts and provide access to PLA materials with improved properties. We reported the first example of indium(III) for the ring opening polymerization of lactide. Since then, indium(III) has emerged as a useful Lewis acid in initiators for the controlled polymerization of lactide and other cyclic esters. In particular, we have developed a large family of chiral dinuclear indium complexes bearing tridentate diaminophenolate ligands and tetradentate salen and salan ligands. Complexes within our tridentate ligand family are highly active initiators for the moderately isoselective living and immortal polymerization of rac-lactide, as well as other cyclic esters. We have shown that subtle steric effects influence aggregation in these systems, with polymerization typically proceeding through a dinuclear propagating species. In addition, profound effects on polymerization activities have been observed for central tertiary versus secondary amine donors in these and other related systems. In contrast, our well-controlled and highly active chiral indium salen systems are more isoselective than the tridentate analogues and polymerize lactide via a mononuclear propagating species. Again, we have noticed that subtle steric and electronic changes to the ligand can influence both polymerization activity and stereoselectivity via aggregation phenomena. Recently, we have reported a promising new chiral indium catalyst supported by a tetradentate salan ligand. This catalyst is remarkably water and air stable and can be activated by linear and branched alcohols to provide controlled access to multiblock copolymers in air. This catalyst represents an important step forward toward generating new, commercially relevant catalysts for ROP of cyclic esters to produce novel biodegradable polymers, and highlights the unique value of indium-based catalysts in the field.

Zirconium and hafnium complexes bearing pyrrolidine derived salalen-type {ONNO} ligands and their application for ring-opening polymerization of lactides

The reactions of pyrrolidine derived salalen-type {ONNO} ligands (S)-L^1-3-H₂ with 1 equiv. M(OⁱPr)₄(HOⁱPr) (M = Zr or Hf) in diethyl ether yielded complexes [L^1-3M(OⁱPr)₂] (L = L¹, M = Zr (1); L = L², M = Zr (2), Hf (3); L = L³, M = Zr (4), Hf (5)). All of these complexes were well characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and single-crystal X-ray analysis in the case of complexes 1 and 3-5. X-ray structural determination revealed that these complexes were analogous mononuclear species and had a similar structure in which the metal centers were six-coordinated to two oxygen atoms and two nitrogen atoms of one ligand and two oxygen atoms of two isopropoxy groups. All of these complexes efficiently initialized the ring-opening polymerization of lactides to afford polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity. Furthermore, the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide catalyzed by complexes 1-5 afforded isotactic-enriched polymers in solution (P_m = 0.74-0.80) and under melt conditions (P_m = 0.63-0.72).

Highly Syndiotactic or Isotactic Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Ligand-Controlled Yttrium-Catalyzed Stereoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of Functional Racemic β-Lactones

Reported herein is the first stereoselective controlled ROP of a specific family of racemic functional β-lactones, namely 4-alkoxymethylene-β-propiolactones (BPL^OR s). This process is catalyzed by an yttrium complex stabilized by a nonchiral tetradentate amino alkoxy bisphenolate ligand {ONOO^R'2 }^2- , which features both a good activity and a high degree of control over the molar masses of the resulting functional poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate)s. A simple modification of the R' substituents in ortho and para position on the ligand platform allows for a complete reversal from virtually pure syndioselectivity (P_s up to 0.91 with R'=cumyl) to very high isoselectivity (P_i up to 0.93 with R'=Cl), as supported by DFT insights. This is the first example of a highly isoselective ROP of a racemic chiral β-lactone.

Phosphasalen Indium Complexes Showing High Rates and Isoselectivities in rac-Lactide Polymerizations

Polylactide (PLA) is the leading bioderived polymer produced commercially by the metal-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of lactide. Control over tacticity to produce stereoblock PLA, from rac-lactide improves thermal properties but is an outstanding challenge. Here, phosphasalen indium catalysts feature high rates (30±3 m^-1  min^-1 , THF, 298 K), high control, low loadings (0.2 mol %), and isoselectivity (P_i =0.92, THF, 258 K). Furthermore, the phosphasalen indium catalysts do not require any chiral additives.

Mononuclear salen-gallium complexes for iso-selective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide

Mononuclear salen-supported Ga amido and alkoxide complexes, structurally characterized herein, mediate the controlled and iso-selective polymerization ofrac-lactide.

Ring opening polymerization of macrolactones: high conversions and activities using an yttrium catalyst

The ring-opening polymerization of macrolactones (C₁₅–C₂₃) is reported using an yttrium catalyst which shows high rates and conversions in the production of long-chain aliphatic polyesters.