Abstract
Polyesters have been widely applied owing to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Recently, catalytic ring-opening copolymerization of cyclic anhydrides and epoxides has emerged as an effective approach for the synthesis of polyesters. Herein, we report a series of amido-oxazolinate zinc complexes as highly active catalysts for the ring-opening copolymerization of styrene oxide and cyclic anhydrides. Turnover frequencies up to 4000h(-1) were achieved in the reaction of styrene oxide and maleic anhydride. Analysis of the end groups provides a useful probe for the preference at the electron-poor methine site of styrene oxide for the ring-opening process.