Synthesis and characterization of bisphenol sodium complexes: An efficient catalyst for the ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide

Two sodium complexes, [(μ3-MDBP)Na2(THF)2]2[(μ3-OCH2CH2OCH3)Na]2 (1) and [(μ1-MDBP)Na(μ2-H2O)(THF)]2(THF)2 (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Experimental results show that complex 1 initiates efficiently the ring opening polymerization of l-lactide in a controlled fashion, yielding polymers with narrow polydispersity indexes in a wide range of monomer-to-initiator ratios.