Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.137, No.48, 15078-15081, 2015
Greater than the Sum of Its Parts: A Heterodinuclear Polymerization Catalyst
Homodinuclear catalysts have good precedent for epoxide and carbon dioxide/anhydride copolymerizations; in contrast, so far pure heterodinuclear catalysts are unknown. The synthesis and properties of a heterodinudear Zn(II)/Mg(II) complex coordinated by a symmetrical macrocydic ligand are reported. It shows high polymerization selectivity, control, and significantly greater activity compared to either of the homodinuclear analogues or any combinations of them. Indeed, compared to a 50:50 mixture of the homodinuclear complexes, it shows 5 times (CO2/epoxide) or 40 times (anhydride/epoxide) greater activity.