Random Copolymerization of ε-Caprolactone and Lactides Promoted by Pyrrolylpyridylamido Aluminum Complexes

The monomethylaluminum complexes 1 and 2, bearing pyrrolylpyridylamido as dianionic [−NNN−] tridentate ligands with general formula [NNN]AlMe, were synthesized and tested as initiators in the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone, L-lactide, and D,L-lactide. In the presence of 1 equiv of alcohol, compounds 1 and 2 were highly active initiators in the ROP of ε-CL (TOF up to 4000 molCL molAl −1 h−1), and they showed moderate activity in the ROP of lactides (TOF up to 1.7 molLA molAl −1 h−1). The polymerization processes proceeded with a living mechanism; moreover, the obtained PLAs resulted isotactic-enriched with Pm values up to 76%. More interestingly, this class of catalysts promoted the random copolymerization of ε-caprolactone and lactides. In particular, compound 1 allowed excellently controlled random copolymerization of ε-caprolactone and D,L-lactide as indicated by both the values of the reactivity ratios of the two monomers (rLA = 1.17; rCL = 1.36) and the average lengths of the caproyl and lactidyl sequences (LCL = 2.0; LLA = 2.5).