Asymmetric alternating copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO2 with dimeric zinc complexes

Dimeric zinc complex 2a [ = Et2Zn2(1a)(2)] has been synthesized by the reaction of Et2Zn and (S)-diphenyl (pyrrolidin-2-yl) methanol (1a-H). X-ray crystallography revealed that the alkoxide ligand replaced one of the two ethyl groups of Et2Zn and formed a five-membered chelate ring through a Zn-N dative bond. Two zinc centers were bridged by oxygen atoms to form a Zn2O2 four-membered ring with a syn relationship between the two ethyl groups on the zinc centers. Dimeric zinc complex 2a was an active catalyst for asymmetric alternating copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO2. An MALDI-TOF mass spectrum of the obtained copolymer showed that the copolymerization was initiated by the insertion of CO2 into Zn-alkoxide to give [(S)-diphenyl(pyrroridin-2-ly)methoxy]-[C(=O)O-(1,2-cyclohexylene)-O](n)-H (copolymer I), including chiral ligand 1a as an initiating group. Complex 3a-OEt ( = EtZn(1a)(2)ZnOEt), in which an ethoxy group replaced one of the two ethyl groups in 2a, also polymerized cyclohexene oxide and CO2 with higher catalytic activity and enantioselectivity than 2a and afforded EtO-[C(=O)O-(1,2-cyclohexylene)-O](n)-H ( = copolymer III), including an ethoxy group as an initiating group. Throughout the studies, dimeric zinc species are indicated to be the active species for the copolymerization. It is also depicted that the substituent on the aryl moiety in diaryl(pyrrolidin-2-yl)methanol 2b-e influenced the polymerization activity.