Yttrium phosphasalen initiators for rac -lactide polymerization: Excellent rates and high iso-selectivities

Clare Bakewell, Thi Phuong Anh Cao, Nicholas Long, Xavier F. Le Goff, Audrey Auffrant*, Charlotte K. Williams

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

202 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Highly active yttrium phosphasalen initiators for the stereocontrolled ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide are reported. The initiators are coordinated by a new class of ancillary ligand: an iminophosphorane derivative of the popular "salen" ligand, termed "phosphasalen". Changing the phosphasalen structure enables access to high iso-selectivities (Pi = 0.84) or hetero-selectivities (Ps = 0.87). The initiators also show very high rates, excellent polymerization control, and tolerance to low loadings; furthermore, no chiral auxiliaries/ligands are needed for the stereocontrol. The combination of such high rates with high iso-selectivities is very unusual.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20577-20580
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume134
Issue number51
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Dec 2012

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