Work

Geometry Change in a Series of Zirconium Compounds during Lactide Ring-Opening Polymerization

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: A new series of zirconium compounds, (salfen)Zr(O t Bu) 2 (salfen = N, N ′-bis(2,4-di- tert -butylphenoxy)-1,1′-ferrocenediimine), (salfen)Zr(O i Pr) 2, and (salfen)Zr(O n Pr) 2, was synthesized and characterized, featuring a cis-β coordination geometry for the major isomer found in solution. An isomerization between the trans and cis-β coordination geometry was observed at ca. 100 °C in solution. This isomerization was also observed in the presence of l -lactide (LA) before its ring-opening polymerization could occur. The isolation of a (salfen)Zr(O n Pr) 2 lactide intermediate supports the change to the trans coordination geometry necessary before polymerization.

Source: Organometallics

DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.8b00620

Authors: Ruxi Dai, Amy Lai, Anastassia N. Alexandrova, Paula L. Diaconescu

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, University of California, Los Angeles, Division of Chemistry

Awards: Acquisition of Upgraded NMR Instrumentation for Chemistry Research, Education and Training, G146158550, G2721718583, CAREER: From advancing of theory of chemical bonding to advanced cluster-based materials, Switchable Catalysis as a tool for the Synthesis of Novel Multiblock Copolymers