Synthesis, characterization of potassium bulky phenolate and application in ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide

The reaction of 2,2′-ethylidenebis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenol) (EDBP-H2) with potassium gives [EDBPH·K·(THF)2] (1) in 92% yield. Experimental results show that potassium complex 1 is an efficient catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide in controlled fashion, yielding polymers with expectative molecular weight and low polydispersity indexes. Furthermore, the complex 1 has isotactic selectivity for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide.