Catalysts and methods for polymer synthesis

摘要

The present invention provides unimolecular metal complexes having increased activity in the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and epoxides. Also provided are methods of using such metal complexes in the synthesis of polymers. According to one aspect, the present invention provides metal complexes comprising an activating species with co-catalytic activity tethered to a multidentate ligand that is coordinated to the active metal center of the complex.

主权项

1. A metal complex having the structure:wherein:comprises a tetradentate porphyrin ligand;
M is a metal atom optionally coordinated to up to two nucleophiles capable of ring opening an epoxide; and (Z)m represents one or more activating moieties tethered to the multidentate ligand, where represents a linker moiety; m represents the number of Z groups present on a linker moiety and is an integer between 1 and 4 inclusive; and each (Z) represents an activating moiety.