Alkali metal complex-mediated ring-opening polymerization of rac-LA, ε-caprolactone, and δ-valerolactone

Catalytic ring opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide, ε-caprolactone, and δ-valerolactone using alkali metal (Li, Na, K) complexes as competent catalysts are reported.

Thermodynamic analysis of alkali metal complex formation of polymer-bonded crown ether

Polymer bonded crown ethers complexed with alkali metal salts are much more stable compared to free crown ethers.

Enantiomerization of pendant-arm triaza macrocyclic lithium(I) and sodium(I) complex ions.

The first reported enantiomerization of six-coordinate alkali metal complex ions, represented by 1,4,7-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononanelithium(I) and its sodium(I) analogue in methanol, has been characterized by variable-temperature 13C{1H} n.m.r. spectroscopy. The respective kinetic parameters are: k = (1·11 ± 0·05) × 106 and (2·27 ± 0·09) × 105 s-1 at 298·2 K, ΔH = 27·2 ± 0·3 and 21·7±0·2 kJ mol-1, and ΔS = –36·3 ± 1·3 and –69·6±1·2 J K-1 mol-1. Molecular orbital calculations show that these enantiomers have distorted trigonal prismatic structures consistent with the interpretation of the n.m.r. spectra. For the Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+ complex ions log(K/dm3 mol−1) = 3·13±0·09, 3·52±0·05, 3·23±0·05, 2·78±0·10 and 2·47±0·08, respectively, at 298·2 K and I = 0·05 mol dm-3 (NEt4 ClO4) in methanol, where K is the complex ion stability constant.