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Complexes [(2-MeOC6H4N)C(tBu)N(2,6-Me2C6H3)]2LnN(SiMe3)2 (Ln = Y (2), Sm (3)) and [(2-MeOC6H4N)C(tBu)N(2,6-Me2C6H3)]CaN(SiMe3)2(THF) (4) were obtained by reacting Ln[N(SiMe3)2]3 (Ln = Y, Sm) or Ca[N(SiMe3)2]2 with [2-MeOC6H4N]C(tBu)NH(2,6-Me2C6H3) (1) in 1 : 2 or 1 : 1 molar ratios, respectively, and were isolated in 76 (2), 68 (3) and 63% (4) yields. In complexes 2 and 3, the amidinate ligands are tridentate due to the intramolecular coordination of the 2-MeO-group to the metal center. Complex 4 exhibits an unusual κ2-N,O:η3-arene coordination mode of the amidinate ligand. Complexes 2–4 initiate ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of rac-lactide (rac-LA) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) at room temperature and allow for conversion of 1000 equivalents of monomer into polymer within 180–230 min for rac-LA and 1–7 min for ε-CL. Complexes 2 and 3 enable the formation of atactic polymers (Pr = 0.52–0.58) featuring moderate polydispersities (PDI = 1.30–3.06 for polylactide; PDI = 1.48–2.84 for polycaprolactone). When 4 was applied, PDIs were somewhat narrower (1.28–2.43 for PLA; 1.24–2.48 for PCL). Application of the initiating systems 2–4/iPrOH (1 : 1) leads to the formation of the polymers having close values of the experimental and calculated molecular weights however does not affect strongly the molecular weight distribution. In the presence of 5 equivalents of iPrOH, complexes 2–4 initiate immortal polymerization for both rac-LA and ε-CL. The polymers feature a good match with the experimental and calculated Mn but have moderate polydispersities (PDI = 1.28–1.90 for polylactide; PDI = 1.24–1.96 for polycaprolactone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amido [ButC(NC6H4‐2‐OMe)2]2LnN(SiMe3)2 (Ln = Y (3), Nd (4)) and borohydrido complexes [ButC(NC6H4‐2‐OMe)2]2LnBH4 (Ln = Y (5), Nd (6)) coordinated by new amidinate ligand bearing two pendant anisolyl groups are synthesized. According to X‐ray analysis in complexes 3 and 4 one amidinate ligand is coordinated to the Ln3+ cation in a bidentate fashion (κ2‐NN), while the second one is tetradentate (κ4‐NNOO). At the same time in borohydrido neodymium complex 6 the amidinate ligands demonstrate κ4‐NNOO and κ3‐NNO coordination modes. Complexes 3–6 proved to be efficient initiators for ring‐opening polymerization of rac‐lactide and allow for achieving quantitative conversion of 500 equivalents of monomer into polymer in 0.3–4.5 h at 25 °C. The polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by 3–6 proceeds much faster under similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]