Synthesis, characterization of neodymium chloride complex of amine-bis(phenolate) ligand and its reactivity in the ring-opening polymerization of ɛ-caprolactone

The neodymium chloride complex [Nd(ONN′O)Cl(THF)]2 supported by amine-bis(phenolate) ligand was synthesized by the metathesis reaction of anhydrous NdCl3 with Li2(ONN′O) [H2ONN′O = Me2NCH2CH2N(CH2-3-But2-5-Me-C6H2OH)2] in high yield. X-ray structural determination shows [Nd(ONN′O)Cl(THF)]2 complex consists of two seven-coordinate neodymium centers linked through μ-Cl bridges. And this complex was successfully used to initiate the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ɛ-caprolactone.