Benzylmethoxybis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)tin
(1) and benzylisopropoxybis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)tin
(2) were synthesized and characterized. Compound
1 exhibited good activity in the ring-openingpolymerization of
-caprolactone, in a
living fashion, under mild conditions. The polymerization was demonstratedto proceed via ring-opening of the monomer at the acyl-oxygen bond. The
-caprolactone insertion product intothe Sn-OCH
3 of the initiator was characterized, providing support for a "coordination-insertion" mechanism.