Versatile Preparation of Branched Polylactides by Low-Temperature, Organocatalytic Ring-Opening Polymerization in N-Methylpyrrolidone and Their Surface Degradation Behavior.

We describe how the organocatalytic, 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU)-based lactide ring-opening polymerization can be effectively performed in a very polar solvent, N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Due to a low ceiling temperature, this "living" mechanism has been unreported to date, but we here demonstrate that through a combination of low temperature and repeated monomer additions (starve-fed process), this mechanism enables the generation of a plethora of multifunctional homo- and (stereo)block-poly(lactide)s (PLAs) with exquisite control of the molecular weight dispersity (typically D < 1.1) and topology (from linear through 4-, 6-, or 8-armed stars and up to ∼140 armed combs). They are scarcely obtainable or inaccessible through more classical synthetic methods due to the poor solubility of multifunctional initiators (polyols) in most organic solvents and monomer melts. In these precisely designed structures, branching significantly altered the nature of the materials' hydrolytic degradation, allowing them to acquire a pronounced surface character (as opposed to the bulk degradation of linear polymers). Finally, we have assessed the amenability of this method to in situ block copolymerization by using the tacticity of PLLA blocks in PLLA-b-PDLLA versus PDLLA-b-PLLA (L-LA polymerized before or after DL-LA) as a sensitive method to detect (stereochemical) defects.

A Novel [OSSO]-Type Chromium(III) Complex as a Versatile Catalyst for Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide with Epoxides.

A new chromium(III) complex, bearing a bis-thioether-diphenolate [OSSO]-type ligand, was found to be an efficient catalyst in the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides to achieve poly(propylene carbonate), poly(cyclohexene carbonate), poly(hexene carbonate) and poly(styrene carbonate), as well as poly(propylene carbonate)(cyclohexene carbonate) and poly(propylene carbonate)(hexene carbonate) terpolymers.

Stable ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts bearing symmetrical NHC ligands with primary and secondary N-alkyl groups.

Four novel stable Hoveyda-Grubbs-type catalysts containing N,N'-dineopentyl- and N,N'-dicyclohexyl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands with syn and anti phenyl groups on the ring backbone were synthesized and fully characterized. The catalytic potential of these complexes was investigated in metathesis reactions of both standard and renewable substrates. Compared to the Hoveyda-Grubbs second generation catalyst (HGII), all of the new catalysts showed high performances in most of the examined metathesis transformations. In particular, N,N'-dicyclohexyl catalysts gave improved results in the challenging ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction to form tetrasubstituted olefins, while catalysts with neopentyl N-groups were found to be more active and Z-selective in cross-metathesis (CM) reactions. Modest enantioselectivities in the asymmetric ring-closing metathesis (ARCM) of achiral trienes with different steric hindrance were observed in the presence of catalysts bearing chiral C2-symmetric NHC ligands.

Ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts with monodentate unsymmetrical NHC ligands.

An overview on the catalytic properties of ruthenium complexes for olefin metathesis bearing monodentate unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic diaminocarbene ligands is provided. The non-symmetric nature of these NHC architectures strongly influences activity and selectivity of the resulting catalysts. The main achievements that have been accomplished in significant areas of olefin metathesis up to the current state of research are discussed.

NHC Backbone Configuration in Ruthenium-Catalyzed Olefin Metathesis.

The catalytic properties of olefin metathesis ruthenium complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with stereogenic centers on the backbone are described. Differences in catalytic behavior depending on the backbone configurations of symmetrical and unsymmetrical NHCs are discussed. In addition, an overview on asymmetric olefin metathesis promoted by chiral catalysts bearing C2-symmetric and C1-symmetric NHCs is provided.

Ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts featuring unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbenes.

New ruthenium Grubbs' and Hoveyda-Grubbs' second generation catalysts bearing N-alkyl/N-isopropylphenyl N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands with syn or anti backbone configuration were obtained and compared in model olefin metathesis reactions. Different catalytic efficiencies were observed depending on the size of the N-alkyl group (methyl or cyclohexyl) and on the backbone configuration. The presence of an N-cyclohexyl substituent determined the most significant reactivity differences between catalysts with syn or anti phenyl groups on the backbone. In particular, anti catalysts proved highly efficient, especially in the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of encumbered diolefins, while syn catalysts showed low efficiency in the RCM of less hindered diolefins. This peculiar behavior, rationalized through DFT studies, was found to be related to the high propensity of these catalysts to give nonproductive metathesis events. Enantiopure anti catalysts were also tested in asymmetric metathesis reactions, where moderate enantioselectivities were observed. The steric and electronic properties of unsymmetrical NHCs with the N-cyclohexyl group were then evaluated using the corresponding rhodium complexes. While steric factors proved unimportant for both syn and anti NHCs, a major electron-donating character was found for the unsymmetrical NHC with anti phenyl substituents on the backbone.