Lithium complexes supported by amine bis-phenolate ligands as efficient catalysts for ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide.

Lithium complexes bearing dianionic amine bis(phenolate) ligands are described. Reactions of ligand precursors H(2)O(2)NN(Me), H(2)O(2)NN(Py) or H(2)O(2)NO(Me) [H(2)O(2)NN(Me)=Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N-(CH(2)-2-HO-3,5-C(6)H(2)((t)Bu)(2))(2); H(2)O(2)NN(Py)=(2-C(5)H(4)N)CH(2)N-(CH(2)-2-HO-3,5-C(6)H(2)((t)Bu)(2))(2); H(2)O(2)NO(Me)=MeOCH(2)CH(2)N-(CH(2)-2-HO-3,5-C(6)H(2)((t)Bu)(2))(2)] with 2.2 molar equivalents of (n)BuLi in diethylether afford (Li(2)O(2)NN(Me))(2) (1), (Li(2)O(2)NN(Py))(2) (2) and (Li(2)O(2)NO(Me))(2) (3) as tetra-nuclear lithium complexes. The crystalline solids of partially hydrolyzed product, (LiO(HO)NN(Py)) (4), were obtained from recrystallization of 2 in diethylether solution for three months. The synthesis of (LiO(HO)NO(Me))(2) (5) was carried out at ambient temperature by carefully layering a solution of water in hexane on top of a solution of 3 in Et(2)O. Crystalline solids of were obtained after two months. Molecular structures are reported for compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5. Compounds 1-3 show excellent catalytic activities toward the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of benzyl alcohol.