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Updated: May 12, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Structurally well-defined group 4 metal complexes as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide
Andreas Sauer1, Andreas Kapelski, Christophe Fliedel
1Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
Abstract:
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.
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