Catalyst-Controlled Regioselective Carbonylation of Isobutylene Oxide to Pivalolactone

Poly­(pivalolactone) (PPVL) is a crystalline polyester with attractive physical and mechanical properties; however, prohibitively expensive syntheses of pivalolactone have thwarted efforts to produce PPVL on an industrial scale. Therefore, we developed a class of highly regioselective sandwich-type catalysts for the carbonylation of isobutylene oxide. These sterically encumbered complexes install carbon monoxide at the substituted epoxide carbon, generating a high level of contrasteric selectivity (up to >99:1). Further catalyst development improved catalyst solubility and reproducibility while maintaining high regioselectivity. In addition, a dibasic ester solvent extended catalyst lifetimes and suppressed side product formation. This contrasteric carbonylation of isobutylene oxide offers a route to sought-after pivalolactone and, therefore, PPVL.