Coordination of ε-Caprolactone to a Cationic Niobium(V) Alkoxide Complex: Fundamental Insight into Ring-Opening Polymerization via Coordination-Insertion.

ABSTRACT: We report three niobium-based initiators for the catalytic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone, exhibiting good activity and molecular weight control. In particular, we have prepared on the gram-scale and fully characterized a monometallic cationic alkoxo-Nb(V) ε-caprolactone adduct representing, to the best of our knowledge, an unprecedented example of a metal complex with an intact lactone monomer and a functional ROP-initiating group simultaneously coordinated at the metal center. At 80 °C, all three systems initiate the immortal solution-state ROP of ε-caprolactone via a coordination-insertion mechanism, which has been confirmed through experimental studies, and is supported by computational data. Natural bond orbital calculations further indicate that polymerization ma

SUBMITTER: Buchard A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10523432 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature