Random copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate with L-lactide initiated by amine-bridged bis(phenolate) neodymium alkoxides.

Random copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) with L-lactide (LA) under mild conditions is a challenging task in polymer synthesis. Two amino-bridged bis(phenolate) neodymium complexes were synthesized and employed as efficient initiators for the copolymerization of TMC and L-LA under mild conditions to give random copolymers. NMR monitoring experiments of the chain microstructure versus polymerization time confirmed that a TMC/LA random copolymer was generated by a random copolymerization.