New ring-opening polymerization via a π-allylpalladium complex

Summary

A binary system of a palladium complex as catalyst and zinc alkoxide as initiator conducted a novel ring-opening polymerization of cyclic carbonate, i. e., 5,5-dimethyl-4-ethenyl-1,3-dioxan-2-one. The polymerization proceeded along with releasing carbon dioxide to produce the corresponding polyether. The π-allylpalladium complex generated from the monomer with the catalyst is the key intermediate for this new polymerization. The propagating end is zinc alkoxide, which nucleophilically attacks the monomer activated as the π-allylpalladium complex in the propagation.