Lithium Complexes Derived of Benzylphosphines: Synthesis, Characterization and Evaluation in the ROP of rac-Lactide and ε-Caprolactone

Lithium anthraquinoids as catalysts in the ROP of lactide and caprolactone into cyclic polymers

New lithium anthraquinoids 2b–d active in the synthesis of cyclic PLA and cyclic PCL have been synthesized and fully characterized.

Bi- and tridentate stannylphosphines and their coordination to low-valent platinum

Semirigid bifunctional tin-substituted o-tolylphosphines of general formulae [Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄CH₂)SnR₃] (R = Ph, 1; R = Me, 2) and [{Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄CH₂)}₂SnPh₂] (3) were synthesized and isolated in good yields. The new compounds were fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and multinuclear solution NMR spectroscopic techniques. The observed J(¹¹⁹Sn,³¹P) values in solution NMR spectroscopy as well as the PSn distances in the solid state and DFT calculations (B3LYP) on compounds 1 and 3 do not support the existence of intramolecular P → Sn bond interactions in either of the three compounds. 1 and 2 reacted with stoichiometric amounts of tristriphenylphosphine platinum(0) [Pt(PPh₃)₃] under toluene refluxing conditions leading to formation of Pt(ii) distorted square-planar complexes [Ph₂P(o-C₆H₄CH₂)Pt(SnR₃)(PPh₃)], (R = Ph, 4; R = Me, 5), each bearing a five-membered carbometallated ring resulting from Pt coordination to P and the benzylic C sp³ atom of the ligand architecture rather than from activation of the terminal Sn-C carbon bonds of the phenyl or methyl substituents which would have rendered six-membered rings. Additionally, the fragment SnR₃ also binds to the metal centre disposing cis to the cyclometalated carbon atom and to the single remaining PPh₃. This carbometallation takes place affecting the integrity of the ligand skeleton. NBO calculations show the Sn fragment coordinates to the metal as X-type stannyl, SnR₃. The analogous reaction of [Pt(PPh₃)₃] towards the stannyldiphosphine 3 leads to the quantitative formation of complex [(Ph₂P-o-C₆H₄CH₂)Pt(Ph₂P-o-C₆H₄CH₂SnPh₃)], 6, which exhibits five- and six-membered metallacycles at the expense of the ligand frame. All compounds were characterized exhaustively by solution spectroscopic measurements and by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. DFT computations corroborate the higher stability of the observed products over those resulting from preservation of the ligand backbone.

Recent progress in the application of group 1, 2 & 13 metal complexes as catalysts for the ring opening polymerization of cyclic esters

This review focuses on recent developments concerned with the use of well-defined main group complexes as (pre-)catalysts for the ROP of cyclic esters to give aliphatic polyesters; factors influencing catalytic activity, selectivity and polymer properties are all discussed.

Alkali metal complex-mediated ring-opening polymerization of rac-LA, ε-caprolactone, and δ-valerolactone

Catalytic ring opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide, ε-caprolactone, and δ-valerolactone using alkali metal (Li, Na, K) complexes as competent catalysts are reported.