Synthesis of ferrocene‐containing N‐aryloxo β‐ketoiminate lanthanide complexes and polymerization of ε‐caprolactone

Abstract The synthesis, characterization and ε‐caprolactone polymerization behavior of lanthanide amido complexes stabilized by ferrocene‐containing N‐aryloxo functionalized β‐ketoiminate ligand FcCOCH2C(Me)N(2‐HO‐5‐But‐C6H3) (LH2, Fc = ferrocenyl) are described. The lanthanide amido complexes [LLnN(SiMe3)2(THF)]2 [Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Yb (3), Y (4)] were synthesized in good yields by the amine elimination reactions of LH2 with Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3(µ‐Cl)Li(THF)3 in a 1:1 molar ratio in THF. These complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and 1H NMR spectroscopy was added for the analysis of complex 4. The definitive molecular structures of complexes 1 and 3 were determined by X‐ray diffraction studies. Complexes 1–4 can initiate the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone with moderate activity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.