Palladium complexes containing imino phenoxide ligands: synthesis, luminescence, and their use as catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of rac -lactide.

Abstract: The preparation, structural characterization, luminescence, and catalytic activity of three palladium(II) complexes bearing imino phenoxide ligands are reported. The X-ray studies revealed that the complexes are mononuclear with palladium centres coordinated in a square-planar coordination environment. Two of the complexes are emissive in solution at room temperature. The catalytic activities towards the ring-opening polymerization of rac -lactide ( rac -LA) were tested. Polymers with moderate molecular weights and relatively broad dispersity ( Ð ) were obtained. Kinetic studies revealed that the polymerization followed first-order kinetics.