Isoselective mechanism for asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization of rac-lactide catalyzed by chiral tridentate bis(oxazolinylphenyl)amido ligand supported zinc complexes

Chiral tridentate bis(oxazolinylphenyl)amido ligand supported zinc complexes were synthesized and utilized for the asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization of rac-lactide. These polymerizations catalyzed by chiral cat-alysts were performed efficiently, resulting in isotactic polylactide with stereogradient microstructure and nar-row dispersity. The asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization and block polymerization experiments indicated that the combination of enantiomorphic site control and chain-end control should be responsible for the stereocontrol mechanism during the polymerization process.

Automated summary

Zinc complexes supported by chiral tridentate bis(oxazolinylphenyl)amido ligands were synthesized and used for the efficient asymmetric kinetic resolution polymerization of rac-lactide, resulting in isotactic polylactide with stereogradient microstructure and narrow dispersity. The combination of enantiomorphic site control and chain-end control is responsible for the stereocontrol mechanism during the polymerization process.