Synthesis of N,N,O-chelate zinc and aluminum complexes and their catalysis in the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and rac-lactide

Zinc and aluminum complexes supported by N,N,O-chelate ligands were synthesized and characterized. The zinc complexes [Zn(Et){2-{OC(R-1)=CH}-6-(3,5-Me2C3HN2)C5H3N}](2) (R-1 = Ph, 1a; R-1 = Bu-t, 1b) were synthesized by reaction of ligand precursors 2-{(RC)-C-1(O)CH2}-6-(3,5-Me2C3HN2)C5H3N (R-1 = Ph, HL1; R-1 = Bu-t, HL2) with ZnEt2. The aluminum complexes [Al(R)(2){2-{OC(Ph)-CH}-6-(3,5-Me2C3HN2)C5H3N}] (R = Me, 2a; R = Et, 2b) were synthesized by reaction of HL1 with AlMe3 or AlEt3. Similar treatment of the ligand precursor 2-{Ph2C(OH)CH2}-6-(3,5-Me2C3HN2)C5H3N(HL3) with AlMe3 or AlEt3 afforded aluminum complexes [Al(R)(2){2-{OC(Ph)(2)CH2}-6-(3,5-Me2C3HN2)C5H3N}] (R = Me, 3a; R = Et, 3b). The complexes were characterized by H-1 and C-13{H-1} NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and single crystal X-ray diffraction (for 1a, 1b, 2b and 3a). All the complexes are active to catalyze the ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone in the presence of BnOH, leading to polycaprolactone with good molecular weight control and relatively narrow molecular weight distribution. The zinc complexes/BnOH showed good catalytic activity for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide, displaying good molecular weight control and very narrow molecular weight distributions. The PLA catalyzed by complex 1a/BnOH showed somewhat hetero-stereoselectivity with Pr up to 0.73 when the polymerization was performed in THF at 0 degrees C. Complex 1a/BnOH also catalyzed block copolymerization of epsilon-CL and rac-LA with good molecular weight control of the polymer. Kinetic studies of the polymerization reactions were performed.