3 years ago
Phosphasalen Indium Complexes Showing High Rates and Isoselectivities in rac-Lactide Polymerizations

Craig M. Forsyth, Mark Bown, Andrew J. P. White, Dominic Myers, Charlotte K. Williams
Polylactide (PLA) is the leading bioderived polymer produced commercially by the metal-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of lactide. Control over tacticity to produce stereoblock PLA, from rac-lactide improves thermal properties but is an outstanding challenge. Here, phosphasalen indium catalysts feature high rates (30±3 m−1 min−1, THF, 298 K), high control, low loadings (0.2 mol %), and isoselectivity (Pi=0.92, THF, 258 K). Furthermore, the phosphasalen indium catalysts do not require any chiral additives.
New on the block: Phosphasalen indium complexes are fast and stereoselective catalysts allowing production of stereoblock polylactide from racemic lactide (rac-LA; Pi=0.92). The catalysts do not feature any chiral additives and operate by chain-end control mechanisms.
Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201701745
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