An aluminum complex supported by a fluorous diamino-dialkoxide ligand for the highly productive ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

The new discrete aluminum alkoxide complex (iPrO)Al{CH2NMeCH2C(CF3)(2)O}(2) (1) initiates the controlled ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone in dichloromethane at 20 degrees C with high activity (TOF = 250 h(-1)) and productivity (TON up to 1000), leading to polymers with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution.