Research & Teaching Faculty

Dinucleating Amino-Phenolate Platform for Zinc Catalysts: Impact on Lactide Polymerization

TitleDinucleating Amino-Phenolate Platform for Zinc Catalysts: Impact on Lactide Polymerization
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsSoobrattee, S, Zhai, X, Nyamayaro, K, Diaz, C, Kelley, P, Ebrahimi, T, Mehrkhodavandi, P
JournalINORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Volume59
Pagination5546-5557
Date PublishedAPR 20
ISSN0020-1669
Abstract

We report imine- and amine-based dinucleating ligands bearing a bisphenol backbone and explore their coordination chemistry with zinc to form zinc alkyl, alkoxide, acetate, and amide complexes. Full characterization of the complexes shows that this ligand framework can support dinuclear and trinuclear complexes. We explore the reactivity of the zinc alkyl and alkoxide complexes as catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of lactide and compared this reactivity to analogous mononuclear complexes. We show that 1) The amine-based complexes are more reactive than the imine-based analogues; 2) The trinuclear zinc alkyl species show unusual control and reproducibility for lactide polymerization; and 3) The extent of bimetallic cooperation is hampered by the ability of the ligand framework to form trinuclear clusters.

DOI10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00250