Abstract
Three new metal alkoxides, [(MMPEP)Al(μ-OCH 2 C 6 H 4 CH 2 Cl)] 2 (1), [(MMPEP-H)Li·(BnOH)] 2 (2) and [(MMPEP-H)Li·(HOCH 2 C 6 H 4 CH 2 Cl)] 2 (3) (MMPEP-H 2 : 2,2′-methylene-bis{4,6-di(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenol}) have been synthesized and characterized. Complex 1 was prepared by the reaction of [(MMPEP)Al(CH 3 )(Et 2 O)] with p-(chloromethyl)benzyl alcohol. Followed by the reaction of MMPEP-H 2 with n BuLi, BnOH or p-(chloromethyl)benzyl alcohol was added to give complexes 2 and 3, respectively. Complex 1 has shown excellent catalytic activity towards ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone. Both complexes 2 and 3 are active for ROP of l-lactide. Block copolymers of poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-polyacrylonitrile (PCL-b-PAN) and poly(l-lactide)-b-polyacrylonitrile can be synthesized by combining a technique of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ROP using a double-headed initiator. Microphase-separated morphology of PCL-b-PAN has been observed by transmission electron microscopy, indicating the formation of self-assembled nanostructure. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.