Highly diastereoselective synthesis of chiral aminophenolate zinc complexes and isoselective polymerization of rac-lactide.

An enantiopure zinc complex supported by an aminophenolate ligand with multiple stereogenic centers has been diastereoselectively synthesized via the variation of the ortho-substituent of a phenoxy moiety and the N-alkyl group of a chiral pyrrolidinyl ring in the ligand framework, which displays high isoselectivity in the polymerization of rac-lactide.