Synthesis of high-molecular-weight poly(ε-caprolactone) catalyzed by highly active bis(amidinate) tin(ii) complexes

摘要

A series of bis(amidinate) tin(ii) complexes is synthesized and shown to rapidly polymerize ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) in the presence and absence of benzyl alcohol giving high-molecular-weight poly(ε-CL) (M_n up to 160, 600 Da). Ligands having electron donating groups were found to accelerate the polymerization by making the complex more nucleophilic.