Synthesis and structures of tridentate β-diketiminato zinc phenoxides as catalysts for immortal ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide

A series of new tridentate beta-diketiminato zinc phenoxides were obtained by reactions of tridentate beta-diketimine, different phenols and diethylzinc at room temperature, these complexes have been well characterized with H-1 and C-13 NMR, elemental analyses, X-ray crystallography, and electronic structure analysis by density functional theory (DFT). Experimental results show these zinc phenoxides are highly active and excellent catalysts for immortal ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide giving isotactic poly-L-lactide with desirable molecular weights and low molecular weight distributions. Complex 2a, an electronic withdrawing zinc phenoxide complex of LZn(2,6-(CH3)2C(6)H(3)O), wherein HL = 2,6-diisopropyl-N-((2Z, 4E)-4-((pyridin-2-ylmethyl)imino) pent-2-en-2-yl) aniline, can even catalyze ROP of 5000 equivalents of L-lactide under a controlled model. Experiments also revealed steric hindrance and electronic effects have significant affects in the ROP of L-lactide with these zinc phenoxides as catalysts.