Utilization of Azobenzene Units to Control Zinc-mediated Ring Opening Polymerization of Cyclic Esters

Abstract

Salicylaldimine Zn(II) complexes bearing azobenzene moieties were prepared to catalyze ring opening po-lymerization of various cyclic esters. The different reactivities of the trans and cis isomers of the zinc complexes provide a facile strategy to control polymerization processes as well as the compositions of the resultant polymers.