Ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide catalyzed by robust magnesium–sodium/lithium heterobimetallic complexes

Two heterobimetallic complexes of [(TBBP)2Mg][(Na)2(THF)4] 1 [TTBP-H2 = 2,2′-dihydroxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetra-tert-butyl-1,1′-diphenyl] and [(TBBP)2Mg][(Li)2(THF)4] 2 can initiate the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide. And the experiment results show that complex 1 can initiate the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide under an air atmosphere with high conversion, indicated that 1 is a robust catalyst in the polymerization of l-LA.