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Structurally well-defined group 4 metal complexes as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide monomers

2013; Royal Society of Chemistry; Volume: 42; Issue: 25 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1039/c3dt00010a

1477-9234

Andreas Sauer, Andreas Kapelski, Christophe Fliedel, Samuel Dagorne, Moshe Kol, Jun Okuda,

Polyoxometalates: Synthesis and Applications

Polylactide (PLA) is an attractive polymeric material due to its origin from annually renewable resources and its biodegradability. The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide initiated by Lewis acidic and oxophilic metal-based catalysts constitutes the method of choice to access PLA in a controlled and stereoselective manner. The design and synthesis of ligand-supported metal complexes to act as effective ROP initiators of lactide monomers have been the subject of numerous investigations over the past decades. In view of their oxophilic nature, well-defined group 4 metal complexes supported by polydentate supporting ligands have appeared as active initiators for lactide ROP. This perspective summarizes various classes of structurally well-defined group 4 metal initiators developed for lactide ROP. It also provides observed trends regarding their catalytic performance. Whenever appropriate and possible, catalyst structure–ROP performance (i.e. activity, control and stereoselectivity) relationships are rationalized.