Correction: Main group metal polymerisation catalysts.

Correction for 'Main group metal polymerisation catalysts' by Eszter Fazekas et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2022, 51, 8793-8814, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CS00048B.

Main group metal polymerisation catalysts.

With sustainability at the forefront of current polymerisation research, the typically earth-abundant, inexpensive and low-toxicity main group metals are attractive candidates for catalysis. Main group metals have been exploited in a broad range of polymerisations, ranging from classical alkene polymerisation to the synthesis of new bio-derived and degradable polyesters and polycarbonates via ring-opening polymerisation and ring-opening copolymerisation. This tutorial review highlights efficient polymerisation catalysts based on Group 1, Group 2, Zn and Group 13 metals. Key mechanistic pathways and catalyst developments are discussed, including tailored ligand design, heterometallic cooperativity, bicomponent systems and careful selection of the polymerisation conditions, all of which can be used to fine-tune the metal Lewis acidity and the metal-alkyl bond polarity.

Combining alkali metals and zinc to harness heterometallic cooperativity in cyclic ester ring-opening polymerisation.

Heterometallic cooperativity is an emerging strategy to elevate polymerisation catalyst performance. Here, we report the first heterotrimetallic Na/Zn2 and K/Zn2 complexes supported by a ProPhenol ligand, which deliver "best of both" in cyclic ester ring-opening polymerisation, combining the outstanding activity (Na/K) and good control (Zn2) of homometallic analogues. Detailed NMR studies and density-functional theory calculations suggest that the Na/Zn2 and K/Zn2 complexes retain their heterometallic structures in the solution-state. To the best of our knowledge, the K/Zn2 analogue is the most active heterometallic catalyst reported for rac-lactide polymerisation (k obs = 1.7 × 10-2 s-1), giving activities five times faster than the Na/Zn2 complex. These versatile catalysts also display outstanding performance in ε-caprolatone and δ-valerolactone ring-opening polymerisation. These studies provide underpinning methodologies for future heterometallic polymerisation catalyst design, both in cyclic ester polymerisation and other ring-opening (co)polymerisation reactions.

Identifying Fraudulent Natural Products: A Perspective on the Application of Carbon-14 Analysis.

Across food and supplement industries, there is a growing trend toward products comprised of natural ingredients. As manufacturers strive to offer "natural" products to consumers, adulteration of ingredients with cheaper synthetic alternatives becomes a concern. This perspective highlights the application of carbon-14 analysis to screen for potential adulteration of natural ingredients, such as garlic oil. Carbon-14 testing determines if a product is comprised of solely plant- or animal-based ingredients by measuring the percentage of biomass versus petrochemical-derived sources. Through comparison to other analytical techniques used for quality control, carbon-14 testing stands out as being able to detect petrochemical-derived nature-identical compounds.