Trimetallic magnesium complexes bearing amine-bis(benzotriazole phenolate) derivatives as bifunctional catalysts for ring-opening polymerization and CO2/epoxide coupling

New trimetallic magnesium complexes were synthesized for bifunctional catalysis. Complex 1 catalysed e-caprolactone polymerizations in not only a 'living' manner but also in an 'immortal' fashion. Additionally, tri-Mg 1 was active for the coupling of CO2 with cyclohexene oxide (CHO) on addition of n-Bu4NBr co-catalysts to give cis-cyclohexene carbonate under mild conditions.