Combining NHC bis-Phenolate Ligands with Oxophilic Metal Centers: A Powerful Approach for the Development of Robust and Highly Effective Organometallic Catalysts

Authors

  • Stéphane Bellemin-Laponnaz IPCMS (Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg), CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 23 rue du Loess BP 43, F-67034 Strasbourg, France; University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), 5 allée du Général Rouvillois, F-67083 Strasbourg, France. bellemin@unistra.fr
  • Samuel Dagorne Institut de chimie de Strasbourg, CNRS-Université de Strasbourg, 1 rue Blaise Pascal, F-67000 Strasbourg, France. dagorne@unistra.fr
  • Ralf Dümpelmann Clariant International AG, Polymer Additives, MUT 904-242, Rothausstrasse 61, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland; Inolytix AG, Bahnhofstrasse 35, 4334 Sisseln, Switzerland
  • Pascal Steffanut Clariant International AG, Polymer Additives, MUT 904-242, Rothausstrasse 61, 4132 Muttenz, Switzerland. Pascal.Steffanut@clariant.com

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2014.500

Keywords:

N-heterocyclic carbene, Organometallic catalysis, Ring-opening polymerization, Transition metal complexes

Abstract

The present paper describes an overview of a novel family of tridentate NHC pincer ligand in which two phenoxide moieties are directly connected to the nitrogen atoms of a central N-heterocyclic carbene. It was envisioned that such a structure might be suitable for coordination to a variety of metal centers across the periodic table, including oxophilic metals. Various metal complexes bearing such ligand are indeed readily accessible in high yields via straightforward routes. Interestingly, a robust zirconium–NHC complex was found to polymerize rac-lactide in a highly controlled, living and stereoselective manner to afford heterotactic PLA.

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Published

2014-08-27