Comparing a series of 8-quinolinolato complexes of aluminium, titanium and zinc as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactideElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. CCDC 1043547-1043549. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c5dt00192g

• Main Authors: Bakewell, Clare, Fateh-Iravani, Giovanna, Beh, Daniel W, Myers, Dominic, Tabthong, Sittichoke, Hormnirun, Pimpa, White, Andrew J. P, Long, Nicholas, Williams, Charlotte K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/c5dt00192g

The preparation and characterization of a series of 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands and their complexes with Ti( iv ), Al( iii ) and Zn( ii ) centres is presented. The complexes are characterized using NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and, in some cases, by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The complexes are compared as initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of racemic-lactide; all the complexes show moderate/good rates and high levels of polymerization control. In the case of the titanium or aluminium complexes, moderate iso-selectivity is observed ( P i = 0.75), whereas in the case of the zinc complexes, moderate hetero-selectivity is observed ( P s = 0.70). The preparation, characterization and properties of a series of 8-hydroxy quinolinolate complexes of Ti( iv ), Al( iii ) and Zn( ii ) are presented. The complexes are active initiators for rac-lactide polymerizations: their performances are compared.