Bis(phenyl-?-diketonato)titanium(IV) ethoxide complexes: Ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide by solvent-free microwave irradiation

A range of functionalized bis(phenyl-?-diketonato)titanium(IV) ethoxide complexes the type [Ti(L)2(OEt)2], containing two asymmetric or symmetric phenyl-?-diketonate ligands (L), have been synthesized and fully characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction has used to confirm that all structures crystallize with ancillary in a cis arrangement NMR spectra show characteristic ligand rearrangement solution. The screened as catalysts ring-opening polymerization (ROP) l-lactide (L-LA) yield polylactide (PLA), by using microwave (MW) conventional heating. resulting polymers high molecular weights but polydispersity index (PDI) which is suggestive transesterification. However, unlike heating methods, MW reaction leads retention stereochemistry polymer significantly shorter time periods.