title: Salalen aluminium complexes and their exploitation for the ring opening polymerisation of rac-lactide.
abstract: In this paper we report the first use of Al(III) salalen complexes for the ring opening polymerisation of rac-lactide. Polylactides with narrow polydispersities (PDIs range from 1.04-1.65) and moderate degrees of stereoselectivity were formed. Eight salalen Al(III) complexes have been prepared and fully characterised by solution-state NMR spectroscopy and, where appropriate, single crystal X-ray diffraction. With ligand 3H(2) either a monomeric or dimeric Al(III) species was formed, the dimeric species was favoured at low concentrations. The complexes were tested for the ring opening polymerisation of rac-lactide in toluene at 80 or 100 °C. Interestingly, various tacticities of polymer were formed, which were dependent upon the nature of the group bound to the amine nitrogen centre.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, UKBA2 7AY.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Whitelaw
authors.forename: Gaynor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loraine
authors.forename: Mary F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jones