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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes
Published on: November 21, 2017
Na- and K-Iminophosphorane-Phosphine Oxide Complexes as Catalysts for ROP of rac-Lactide
Dolores-Judith Caballero-Jiménez1, Omar-Jorge García-de-Jesús2, Nazario Lopez1
1Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Abstract:
Two novel crown-ether complexes of sodium (compound 1) and potassium (compound 2) featuring iminophosphorane-phosphine oxide ligands are reported. The catalytic activity of these compounds toward the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide was evaluated. The analogous Na (compound 3) and K (compound 4) complexes containing only the iminophosphorane-phosphine oxide ligand were also synthesized; however, their poor solubility precluded polymerization activity. In contrast, complexes 1 and 2 exhibited high catalytic activity, achieving >99% monomer conversion within 10 min at room temperature. Notably, polylactides obtained with complex 2 displayed molecular weights up to 31,500 g·mol-1 and moderate stereocontrol (Pm = 0.52-0.71). These results highlight the importance of the crown-ether incorporation for developing efficient catalysts for the polymerization of rac-lactide.
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