Synthesis of ZnII and AlIII Complexes of Diaminocyclohexane‐Derived Ligands and Their Exploitation for the Ring Opening Polymerisation of rac‐Lactide

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Two series of ligands based on diaminocyclohexane (DACH) have been prepared and successfully complexed to AlIII and ZnII metal centres. Solution and solid‐state studies reveal a tendency to form mono‐ or bis‐ligated forms depending on the steric bulk of the ligand. These complexes have been tested for their ability to ring open rac‐lactide. AlIII based complexes generally gave atactic PLA after a polymerisation time of 1–2 days. The ZnII complexes, were found to be more active and furnished PLA with a slight heterotactic bias.