Effects of ligand tuning on dinuclear indium catalysts for lactide polymerization

Functionalized diaminophenols, H(NR1R2NR3O), were investigated as ligands for indium catalysts in the ring-opening polymerization of racemic lactide. Precursor complexes (NMe2NMeO)InCl2 (1), (NPr2NO)InCl2 (2), and (NMesNO)InCl2 (3) were synthesized and fully characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1 and 2 were used to synthesize alkoxy-bridged complexes [(NMe2NMeO)InCl](2)(mu-Cl)(mu-OEt) (4) and [(NPr2NO)InCl](2)(mu-Cl)(mu-OEt) (5). These complexes catalysed the polymerization of racemic lactide at different rates, with complex 5 being substantially more active than complex 4. The dissociation behaviour of these catalysts in the presence of lactide was also studied and used to make comparisons with previously reported catalyst systems.