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Phosphasalen Indium Complexes Showing High Rates and Isoselectivities in rac ‐Lactide Polymerizations
Author(s) -
Myers Dominic,
White Andrew J. P.,
Forsyth Craig M.,
Bown Mark,
Williams Charlotte K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201701745
Subject(s) - indium , lactide , tacticity , polymerization , catalysis , polymer chemistry , materials science , polymer , ring opening polymerization , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , metallurgy , engineering
Polylactide (PLA) is the leading bioderived polymer produced commercially by the metal‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of lactide. Control over tacticity to produce stereoblock PLA, from rac ‐lactide improves thermal properties but is an outstanding challenge. Here, phosphasalen indium catalysts feature high rates (30±3 m −1 min −1 , THF, 298 K), high control, low loadings (0.2 mol %), and isoselectivity ( P i =0.92, THF, 258 K). Furthermore, the phosphasalen indium catalysts do not require any chiral additives.