Neodymium and yttrium amide complexes supported by ansa-bis(amidinate) ligands: synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity in rac-lactide and ε-caprolactone polymerization
摘要
A series of bis(amidinate) amide complexes [C6H4-1,2-{NC(But)N(2,6-R2C6H3)}2]-LnN(SiMe3)2(L) (Ln = Nd, R = Me, L = DME (1); Ln = Y, R = Me, L = THF (2); Ln = Nd, R = Pri, L = THF (3); Ln = Y, R = Pri, L = THF (4)) were synthesized by the reaction of ansa-bis(amidines) C6H4-1,2-{NC(But)N(2,6-R2C6H3)H}2 (R = Me (L1H), Pri (L2H)) with Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = Nd, Y). The X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the bis(amidinate) ligand bearing 2,6-dimethylphenyl substituents at the nitrogen atoms (L1) in complexes 1 and 2 is coordinated to the metal atoms in a ϰ4-N,N-chelating fashion, whereas the ligand bearing 2,6-diisopropylphenyl substituents (L2) in complexes 3 and 4 is coordinated to the metal centers in a ϰ3-N,N-fashion. Complexes 1–4 initiate ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide and provide the quantitative monomer-to-polymer conversion ([Monomer]/[Ln] = 100–500) at room temperature within 10 min, giving polylactides characterized by an atactic microstructure, high molecular weights (Mn = 16100–80700), and a narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.34–1.63). In the case of ε-caprolactone, the quantitative monomer-to-polymer conversion is achieved within 1 min, and the synthesized poly-ε-caprolactones have high Mn (25400–135000) and a relatively broad molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.60–4.79). Complexes 1–4 can initiate immortal polymerization of rac-lactide and ε-caprolactone in the presence of 1–5 equiv. of isopropyl alcohol as a chain transfer agent.