Synthesis and characterization of salen-Ti(IV) complex and application in the controllable polymerization of D, L-lactide

Poly(lactic acid) has been extensively investigated in the biomedical field because of its good biocompatibility and biodegradability. As an important method of poly(lactic acid) synthesis, metal complex-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide can achieve a controllable lactide polymerization through the selection of appropriate ligands and metals. In this study, a novel metal (LTi–O)2 complex was synthesized and structurally characterized. (LTi–O)2 showed a relatively high catalytic activity and controllability of Poly(D, L-lactide) (PDLLA) molecular weights (polydispersity index of 1.02–1.22) in the ROP of D,L-lactide. The kinetic equation of D,L-LA ROP catalyzed by (LTi–O)2 could be expressed as–d[M]/dt = k[M]2[(LTi–O)2]1, and the reaction activation energy was 95.67 kJ·mol−1. Physical/chemical properties and biocompatibility evaluation results showed that PDLLA obtained through the (LTi–O)2-catalyzed ROP of D,L- lactide exhibited a good degradation performance and excellent biocompatibility.