Discrete divalent rare-earth cationic ROP catalysts: ligand-dependent redox behavior and discrepancies with alkaline-earth analogues in a ligand-assisted activated monomer mechanism

The first solvent-free cationic complexes of the divalent rare-earth metals, [{RO}RE(II) ](+) [A](-) (RE(II) =Yb(II) , 1; Eu(II) , 2) and [{LO}RE(II) ](+) [A](-) ([A](-) =[H2 N{B(C6 F5 )3 }2 ](-) ; RE(II) =Yb(II) , 3; Eu(II) , 4), have been prepared by using highly chelating monoanionic aminoether-fluoroalkoxide ({RO}(-) ) and aminoether-phenolate ({LO}(-) ) ligands. Complexes 1 and 2 are structurally related to their alkaline-earth analogues [{RO}AE](+) [A](-) (AE=Ca, 5; Sr, 6). Yet, the two families behave very differently during catalysis of the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide (L-LA) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) performed under immortal conditions with excess BnOH as an exogenous chain-transfer agent. The ligand was found to strongly influence the behavior of the RE(II) complexes during ROP catalysis. The fluoroalkoxide RE(II) catalysts 1 and 2 are not oxidized under ROP conditions, and compare very favorably with their Ca and Sr congeners 5 and 6 in terms of activity (turnover frequency (TOF) in the range 200-400 molL-LA (molEu h(-1) )) and control over the parameters during the immortal ROP of L-LA (Mn,theor ≈Mn,SEC , Mw /Mn <1.05). The Eu(II) -phenolate 4 provided one of the most effective ROP cationic systems known to date for L-LA polymerization, exhibiting high activity (TOF up to 1 880 molL-LA ⋅(molEu h)(-1) ) and good control (Mw /Mn =1.05). By contrast, upon addition of L-LA the Yb(II) -phenolate 3 immediately oxidizes to inactive RE(III) species. Yet, the cyclic carbonate TMC was rapidly polymerized by combinations of 3 (or even 1) and BnOH, revealing excellent activities (TOF=5000-7000 molTMC ⋅(molEu h)(-1) ) and unusually high control (Mn,theor ≈Mn,SEC , Mw /Mn <1.09); under identical conditions, the calcium derivative 5 was entirely inert toward TMC. Based on experimental and kinetic data, a new ligand-assisted activated monomer ROP mechanism is suggested, in which the so-called ancillary ligand plays a crucial role in the catalytic cycle. A coherent reaction pathway computed by DFT, compatible with the experimental data, supports the proposed scenario.