Synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of titanium iminophenoxide complexes in relation to the ring‐opening polymerization of <scp>L</scp>‐lactide and ε‐caprolactone

Abstract

Abstract This study synthesized a series of titanium iminophenoxide complexes and investigated their suitability as catalysts for the ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide ( L ‐LA) and ε‐caprolactone (CL). Complexes with bidentate ligands demonstrate higher catalytic activity than their tridentate counterparts since the third coordination atom needs to contend with L ‐LA and CL. Differences in the geometric framework of bidentate ligands also influence the catalytic activity. Type II ligands ( N, N‐trans form of Ti complex) prevent the coordination of monomers to Ti thereby decreasing the initiation rate. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013