Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of sodium ketminiate complexes toward the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide

Studies of the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide (LA) using Na complexes with Schiff base ligands as catalysts have revealed high catalytic activity but poor controllability of the polymer molecular weight. In this study, Na complexes bearing ketiminate ligands instead of Schiff base ligands were synthesized and their application in LA polymerization was tested. The polymerization results revealed that the catalytic activity of Na complexes bearing ketiminate ligands was higher than that of Na complexes bearing Schiff base ligands, but the poor controllability of polymer molecular weight was still a drawback. However, the poor controllability could be improved by means of using a high concentration of initiators in the polymerization system at 0 °C for 1 min. LPy–Na revealed the excellent controllability of polymer molecular weight depending on the ratio of [LA]/[initiator] (the molar averages of the number from 4500 to 35 000) with narrow polydispersity indexes, ranging from 1.29 to 1.35.