Synthesis of heterobimetallic zinc complexes and their catalytic properties in reactions of CO2 with cyclohexene oxide

Abstract

The reaction of Et2Zn with NaOCH2CH2OH yielded a bimetallic zinc complex NaOCH2CH2⋅OZnEt. Its reactions with Ph3SnCl, Cp2TiCl2, and Cp2LuCl(THF) afforded the corresponding complexes Ph3SnOCH2CH2OZnEt, Cp2Ti(OCH2CH2OZnEt)2, and Cp2LuOCH2CH2OZnEt. Cp2Ti(OCH2CH2OZnEt)2 catalyzes copolymerization of CO2 with cyclohexene oxide at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; the yield of the polycarbonate is 4 g g−1 catalyst. Ph3SnOCH2CH2OZnEt is catalytically inert under these conditions, and with Cp2LuOCH2CH2OZnEt only the polyether is formed.