Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactides and Lactones by Multimetallic Titanium Complexes Derived from the Acids Ph2C(X)CO2H (X = OH, NH2)

Zhang, Xin; Prior, Timothy J.; Chen, Kai; Santoro, Orlando; Redshaw, Carl

Abstract

The reactions of the titanium alkoxide [Ti(OR)4] (R = Me, nPr, iPr, tBu) with the acids 2,2’-Ph2C(X)(CO2H), where X = OH and NH2, i.e., benzilic acid (2,2’-diphenylglycolic acid, L1H2), and 2,2’-diphenylglycine (L2H3), have been investigated. The variation of the reaction stoichiometry allows for the isolation of mono-, bi-, tri or tetra-metallic products, the structures of which have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The ability of the resulting complexes to act as catalysts for the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and r-lactide (r-LA) has been investigated. In the case of ε-CL, all catalysts except that derived from [Ti(OnPr)4] and L2H3, i.e., 7, exhibited an induction period of between 60 and 285 min, with 7 exhibiting the best performance (>99% conversion within 6 min). The PCL products are moderate- to high-molecular weight polymers. For r-LA, systems 1, 3, 4 and 7 afforded conversions of ca. 90% or more, with 4 exhibiting the fastest kinetics. The molecular weights for the PLA are somewhat higher than those of the PCL, with both cyclic and linear PLA products (end groups of OR/OH) identified. Comparative studies versus the [Ti(OR)4] starting materials were conducted, and although high conversions were achieved, the control was poor.

Citation

Zhang, X., Prior, T. J., Chen, K., Santoro, O., & Redshaw, C. (2022). Ring Opening Polymerization of Lactides and Lactones by Multimetallic Titanium Complexes Derived from the Acids Ph2C(X)CO2H (X = OH, NH2). Catalysts, 12(9), Article 935. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12090935

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 19, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Aug 24, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Deposit Date: Sep 6, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 8, 2022
• Journal: Catalysts
• Print ISSN: 2073-4344
• Electronic ISSN: 2073-4344
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 9
• Article Number: 935
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12090935
• Keywords: Titanium complexes; Benzilic acid; 2,2′-diphenylglycine; Molecular structures; Ring opening polymerization; ε-CL; r-LA
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4067665