Organolanthanide-Initiated Living Polymerizations of ε-Caprolactone, δ-Valerolactone, and β-Propiolactone

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Abstract

Organolanthanide complexes such as SmMe(C5Me5)2(THF) and [SmH(C5M5)2]2 initiate the living polymerizations of ε-caprolactone and δ-valerolactone to give high molecular weight polyesters (Mn > 70 000) with extremely narrow molecular weight distributions, Mw/Mn < 1.08, while these initiators are completely inert for the polymerization of β-propiolactone. In contrast to lanthanide alkyl complexes, lanthanide alkoxides such as SmOEt(C5Me5)2(OEt2), [YOMe(C5H5)2]2, and YOMe(C5Me5)2(THF) exhibit fairly good catalytic activity for polymerizations of β-propiolactone, δ-valerolactone, and ε-caprolactone. The initiation mechanisms for the polymerization of lactones by LnMe(C5Me5)2(THF) (Ln = Sm, Yb) or LnOR(C5R‘5)2 (Ln = Sm, Y) initiators are discussed on the basis of equimolar reactions between organolanthanides and lactones.

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