Polymerization of ε-caprolactone using bulky alkoxo-titanium complexes and structural analysis of [Ti(OBorneoxo) 2Cl 2(thf) 2

Abstract

A variety of bisalkoxo titanium dichloride THF adducts [Ti(OR) 2Cl 2(thf) 2] {OR = adamantanoxo ( 9), (1 R,2 S,5 R)-(−)-menthoxo ( 10), (1 S-endo)-(−)-borneoxo ( 11)} have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The molecular structure of 11 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The parent Lewis acid bisalkoxo titanium dichloride derivatives and related alkoxo complexes [Ti(OR) 2(OPr i ) 2] 2 have been tested as initiators in ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and l-lactide.