Trimetallic yttrium N-(2-methylquinolin-8-yl)benzamides: synthesis, structure and use in ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone

Abstract

A series of trimetallic yttrium complexes, L₇Y₃Cl₂ [L = N-(2-methylquinolin-8-yl)-p-R-benzamides, 1: R = H; 2: R = OMe; 3: R = Me; 4: R = Cl], has been synthesized by the stoichiometric reaction of YCl₃(THF)₂ with the corresponding potassium amidates. All complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of complex 1 bearing seven amidate ligands was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Screening of these complexes, in the presence of BnOH, for ring-opening polymerization of caprolactone (ε-CL) revealed effective activities.