Aluminum Alkoxide Complexes that Polymerize ε-Caprolactone and L-lactide
Abstract
Plastics such as poly-lactic acid (PLA) and poly-caprolactone (PCL) are of interest because of their biodegradability and are prepared from their respective monomers, L-lactide (L-LA) and ε-caprolactone (εCL). In this project, the PLA and PCL polymers were prepared with a series of aluminum complexes comprised of a tridentate ketoiminate and two phenoxides. The ketoiminate substituents were varied from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing and characterized with NMR spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography. The complexes showed trigonal bipyramidal structures. The aluminum complexes were able to make both PLA and PCL, and the best catalysts included electron-withdrawing substituents.
Aluminum Alkoxide Complexes that Polymerize ε-Caprolactone and L-lactide
Waves Cafeteria
Plastics such as poly-lactic acid (PLA) and poly-caprolactone (PCL) are of interest because of their biodegradability and are prepared from their respective monomers, L-lactide (L-LA) and ε-caprolactone (εCL). In this project, the PLA and PCL polymers were prepared with a series of aluminum complexes comprised of a tridentate ketoiminate and two phenoxides. The ketoiminate substituents were varied from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing and characterized with NMR spectroscopy, absorbance spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography. The complexes showed trigonal bipyramidal structures. The aluminum complexes were able to make both PLA and PCL, and the best catalysts included electron-withdrawing substituents.