Novel cerium(IV)-diolate complex with a 13-nuclear cerium(IV)-oxo core: Synthesis, molecular structure and catalytic property for ε-caprolactone-polymerization

Abstract

The reaction of Ce(OtBu)2(NO3)2, prepared in situ from (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 and tBuONa in a 1:4M ratio in THF, and N-phenyldiethanolamine (C6H5)N(CH2CH2OH)2 in a 1:1M ratio led to a brown solution, to which 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) was added. Yellow crystals of Ce(NO3)3(phen)2 and red crystals of Ce13O8[(OCH2CH2)2N(C6H5)]18 (1) were produced respectively at 40°C. Complex 1 is a novel polynuclear cerium(IV)-diolate compound with an 18 N-phenylaminediethanolate shell and a 13-nuclear cerium(IV)-oxo core. It catalyzed the polymerization of ε-caprolactone (CL) to produce PCL in very narrow molecular weight distribution.