Yttrium complex supported by a sterically encumbering N-anchored tris-arylphenoxide ligand: Heteroselective ROP of rac-lactide and CO2/epoxide coupling

•A First Yttrium tris-arylphenolate complex was prepared.•Complex 2 is efficient catalyst for heteroselective ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide.•Cycloaddition of CO2 with cyclohexene oxide catalyzed by 2 was performed with high conversion.

A C3-symmetrical yttrium complex [LY(THF)2] supported by a sterically encumbering N-anchored tris-arylphenoxide ligand was prepared by the reaction of H3L {L = tris(4,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)amine} and Y[N(TMS)2]3 in THF. The experimental results showed that this complex is a good catalyst for the heteroselective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide, yielding polymers with Pr up to 0.73 under melt conditions at 130 °C. In addition, this complex [LY(THF)2] can effectively catalyze the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide with cyclohexene oxide using n-Bu4NCl/n-Bu4NBr/n-Bu4NI as a co-catalyst.

Graphical abstractA C3-symmetrical yttrium complex [LY(THF)2] was prepared and the experimental results showed that this complex is a good catalyst for the heteroselective ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide, yielding polymers with Pr up to 0.73 under melt conditions at 130 °C. In addition, this complex [LY(THF)2] can effectively catalyze the coupling reaction of carbon dioxide with cyclohexene oxide using n-Bu4NCl/n-Bu4NBr/n-Bu4NI as a co-catalyst.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide