Al(iii)-homopiperazine complexes and their exploitation for the production of polyestersCCDC reference numbers 877942-877944. For crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c2nj40300e

• Main Authors: Hancock, Stuart L, Jones, Matthew D, Langridge, Conrad J, Mahon, Mary F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/c2nj40300e

In this paper we report the synthesis and characterisation of a series of Al( iii )-homopiperazine complexes. The ortho substituent has been varied from H, Me, t Bu to investigate the effect this has on the solid-state structures and on the catalytic activity. Aluminium-methyl complexes involving ligands 1H 2 , 3H 2 and 5H 2 have been characterised in the solid-state and the aluminium centres are in pseudo trigonal bipyramidal geometries. The aluminium-methyl complexes were further reacted with benzyl alcohol to generate alkoxide complexes, which have been fully characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The alkoxide complexes were tested in the ring opening polymerisation of rac -lactide, -valerolactone and -caprolactone. Furthermore, triblock polyesters were also prepared with these initiators. A series of Al( iii )-homopiperazine complexes have been prepared for the production of polyesters.