Zinc Complexes of Sequential Tetradentate Monoanionic Ligands in the Isoselective Polymerization of rac-Lactide

摘要

Zinc complexes of {ONNN}-type sequential tetradentate monoanionic ligands reacted with diethylzinc to give the mononuclear ethylzinc complexes. The benzyloxy complexes were formed readily and were found to be highly active as well as living/immortal catalysts for ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactic acid with a clear isospecific inclination. Chiral gas chromatography analysis revealed a mild preference for a given lactide enantiomer by the chiral catalysts.