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Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Lanthanum complexes containing a bis(phenolate) ligand with a ferrocene-1,1'-diyldithio backbone: synthesis,
Catherine Hermans1, Weifeng Rong1, Thomas P Spaniol1
1Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany. jun.okuda@ac.rwth-aachen.de.
Abstract:
Lanthanum complexes [(L)LaX] (X = N(SiMe3)2, O(i)Pr , BH4) supported by a ferrocene-based (OSSO)-type ligand LH2 were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The structure of was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These complexes were highly active initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide (rac-LA). The activity depended on the initiating group in the order of ≈ > . The activities of and during polymerization were controlled in situ with external redox reagents by reversibly switching the oxidation state of the iron center.
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