Dual zinc catalysts for L ‐lactide polymerization and reaction of CO 2 with cyclohexene oxide

A series of zinc complexes, [ L X ZnEt] ( 1–5 ) and [ L X Zn 2 (OAc) 3 ] (6–9) , associated with NNO‐tridentate Schiff base ligands (2‐(((2‐((cyclohexyl[methyl]amino)methyl)phenyl)imino)methyl)phenolate (CAP) derivatives), were synthesized, and their activity toward ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of L ‐lactide (LA) and the reaction of CO 2 with cyclohexene oxide were also investigated. All of [ L X ZnEt] revealed excellent catalytic activity to ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of LA in the presence of benzyl alcohol. Among them, [ L H ZnEt] (1) showed the highest activity with 82% conversation within 45 s. In contrast, [L X Zn 2 (OAc) 3 ] (6–9) were inactive in ROP of L ‐lactide. In addition, all of these Zn complexes demonstrated moderate activity in the reaction of CO 2 with cyclohexene oxide in the presence of Bu 4 NCl.