Abstract
A series of novel five-coordinate aluminium mono alkoxide complexes supported by R1,R2BPBA (bis-3-R1-5-R2- phenoxymethyl-bisamine) ligands were synthesized to probe the effect of electronic variation in the supporting ligand on the rate of ε-caprolactone polymerization. Substitution on the aromatic position para to the phenoxide donor oxygen by tert-butyl, methoxy and bromo substituents furnished aluminium complexes that catalyzed the polymerization of ε-caprolactone at different rates. We propose that a subtle interplay between complex Lewis acidity and alkoxide nucleophilicity determines the overall rate of polymerization in these systems.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3082-3087 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Dalton Transactions |
Volume | 15 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 7 2003 |