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This critical review summarizes recent developments in the preparation and application of lithium catalysts/initiators such as, alkyl lithium, alkoxy lithium and bimetallic lithium compounds for ring-opening polymerization (ROP). The ROP of cyclic esters, cyclic carbonates, cyclo-silazanes, cyclo-silanes, cyclo-siloxanes, cyclo-carboxylate, cyclic phosphirene and quinodimethanes are covered in this review. The present paper emphasizes the polymerization kinetics and the control exhibited by the different types of lithium initiators/catalysts. For the cases where useful properties, such as high molecular weight, narrow PDI, or stereocontrol, have been observed, a more detailed examination of the mechanistic studies of the catalysts/initiators are provided. Furthermore, this review also focuses on the synthesis of block copolymers and graft copolymers by ROP principle. The topics covered in this review regarding lithium compounds toward ROP will be of interest to inorganic, organic and organometallic chemists, material, polymer and catalytic scientists due to its unique mode of activation as compared to transition and inner transition-metals. In addition, use of these compounds in catalysis is steadily growing, because of the complementary reactivity toward ROP as compared to other metals. Finally, some aspects and opportunities which may be of interest in the future are suggested (143 references).

A family of aluminium complexes supported by dianionic amine bis(phenolate) ligands are described. Treatment of ligand precursors1.1 molar equivalent of AlMe 3 in toluene affords MeAl(O 2 NN Py ) (1) and MeAl(O 2 NN Me ) (2) as five-coordinate aluminium methyl complexes, which further react with one equivalent of benzyl alcohol affording (C 6 H 5 CH 2 O)Al(O 2 NN Py ) (3) and (C 6 H 5 CH 2 O)Al(O 2 NN Me ) (4) as five-coordinate aluminium benzyloxy complexes. The molecular structures are reported for compounds 1 and 4. Compounds 3 and 4 show excellent catalytic activity toward the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone.

Lithium complexes bearing dianionic amine bis(phenolate) ligands are described. Reactions of ligand precursors H(2)O(2)NN(Me), H(2)O(2)NN(Py) or H(2)O(2)NO(Me) [H(2)O(2)NN(Me)=Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N-(CH(2)-2-HO-3,5-C(6)H(2)((t)Bu)(2))(2); H(2)O(2)NN(Py)=(2-C(5)H(4)N)CH(2)N-(CH(2)-2-HO-3,5-C(6)H(2)((t)Bu)(2))(2); H(2)O(2)NO(Me)=MeOCH(2)CH(2)N-(CH(2)-2-HO-3,5-C(6)H(2)((t)Bu)(2))(2)] with 2.2 molar equivalents of (n)BuLi in diethylether afford (Li(2)O(2)NN(Me))(2) (1), (Li(2)O(2)NN(Py))(2) (2) and (Li(2)O(2)NO(Me))(2) (3) as tetra-nuclear lithium complexes. The crystalline solids of partially hydrolyzed product, (LiO(HO)NN(Py)) (4), were obtained from recrystallization of 2 in diethylether solution for three months. The synthesis of (LiO(HO)NO(Me))(2) (5) was carried out at ambient temperature by carefully layering a solution of water in hexane on top of a solution of 3 in Et(2)O. Crystalline solids of were obtained after two months. Molecular structures are reported for compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5. Compounds 1-3 show excellent catalytic activities toward the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of benzyl alcohol.

Lithium complexes bearing mono-anionic aminophenolate ligands are described. Reactions of ligand precursors HON(Me)Ph(OMe), HON(Me)Ph(SMe), HON(Me)C(OMe) or HON(Me)C(NMe2) [HON(Me)Ph(OMe) = (2-OMeC6H4CH2)N(Me)(CH2-2-HO-3,5-C6H2((t)Bu)2); HON(Me)Ph(SMe)= (2-SMe-C6H4CH2)N(Me)(CH2-2-HO-3,5-C6H2((t)Bu)2); HON(Me)C(OMe) = (MeOCH(2)CH2)N(Me)(CH2-2-HO-3,5-C6H2((t)Bu)2); HON(Me)C(NMe2) = (Me2NCH2CH2)N(Me)(CH2-2-HO-3,5-C6H2((t)Bu)2)] with 1.1-1.3 molar equivalents of (n)BuLi in diethyl ether solution afford (LiON(Me)Ph(OMe))(2) (3), (LiON(Me)Ph(SMe))2 (4), (LiON(Me)C(OMe))2 (5) and (LiON(Me)C(NMe2))2 (6) as dinuclear lithium complexes. The BnOH adduct of , (BnOH)(LiON(Me)C(OMe)) (7), was prepared from the reaction of and BnOH in diethyl ether solution. The molecular structures are reported for ligand precursor HON(Me)Ph(SMe) and compounds 3-5 and 7. These dinuclear lithium complexes show excellent catalytic activities toward the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide in the presence of benzyl alcohol.