Bisguanidinato and bisamidinato Tin(IV) diolates applicable in ring-opening polymerization

•Polymerization of ε-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate was studied.•Bisamidinato and bisguanidinato tin(IV) diolates were used as initiators.•Polymerization reactions were co-initiated by residual water or added alcohol.

Series of bisamidinato and bisguanidinato tin(IV) diolates prepared from 1,2-diones (3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone, 3,4,5,6-tetrachloro-1,2-benzoquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenedione, acenaphthenequinone, 1,2-diphenylethanedione) and {Cy-NC(n-Bu)N-Cy}2Sn or {pTol-NC[N(SiMe3)2]N-pTol}2Sn, respectively, were used as efficient initiators for ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Moderate to good efficiency of selected compounds in trimethylene carbonate polymerization was also observed.

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