An unprecedented Zn 10 O 4 heteroadamantane cage containing anilido-pyridinate ligand and its activity for ring opening polymerization of l-lactide and ε-caprolactone.

(NPyC2 OMe)8 Zn10 Et4 (μ4 -O)4 (1) has been synthesized in situ by hydrolysis of ZnEt2 in a one pot process and it was proved by applying X-ray structure analysis that the organozinc anilido-pyridinate moiety encapsulated the zinc oxide cluster, which demonstrated one self-assembled coordinate mode "Zn10 O4 ". Moreover, the catalytic activity was investigated and good activity for l-lactide and ε-caprolactone ring opening polymerization was observed with both living and controllable properties.