Homo- and heteroleptic zinc aminophenolates as initiators for lactide polymerization

Abstract

The reaction of ZnEt₂ with one or two equivalents of aminophenolate ligand N-[methyl(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)]-N-methyl-N-cyclohexylamine gives hetero- and homoleptic molecular compounds [(μ,η²-L²)ZnEt]₂ and [Zn(η²-L²)₂]. The later is most probably a mixture of diastereoisomers that in solution shows an interesting dynamic behaviour. Both complexes as well as the BnOH derivative of the latter, [(η²-L²)Zn(μ-BnO)]₂, proved excellent initiators for lactide polymerization.