Synthesis of an Enantiopure Scorpionate Ligand by a Nucleophilic Addition to a Ketenimine and a Zinc Initiator for the Isoselective ROP of rac-Lactide

Abstract

A novel nucleophilic addition of an organolithium to a ketenimine to prepare an enantiopure NNN-heteroscorpionate ligand is described. We verified its potential utility as a valuable scaffold for chirality induction through the preparation of enantiopure zinc complexes, which behave as highly efficient initiators to produce highly-enriched isotactic poly(lactide)s (Pi up to 0.88).