Synthesis, characterization of sodium and potassium complexes and the application in ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide

A novel sterically bulky phenol (2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(1-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)phenyl)ethyl)phenol)(HL) and corresponding dimeric sodium and potassium complexes [ML]2 (1: M = Na, 2: M = K) have been prepared and structurally characterized. Experimental results showed that complexes 1 and 2 can efficiently initiate the ring-opening polymerization of lactide in a controlled fashion, yielding polymers with expected molecular weight and low polydispersity indexes.