Salicylaldimine copper complex has been synthesized and its reactivity for the ring-opening polymerization(ROP) of lactide has been studied. This monomeric copper complex was prepared by the reaction ofcopper(II) solution with one molar equivalent of salicylaldimine Schiff-base ligand in methanol under nitrogenatmosphere. This copper complex has been characterized by different spectroscopic methods, which showedsquare planar geometry. The molecular structure of the salicylaldimine Schiff-base has been determined byX-ray diffraction studies. The complex was tested as the initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of lactide,with variation in diamine group in ligand. The rate of polymerization is dependent on the diamine groupin the following order: ethylene > propylene > phenyl. The salicylaldimine copper complex allows controlledring-opening polymerization as indicated by the linear relationship between the percentage conversion and thenumber-average molecular weight. On the basis of literature reports, a mechanism for ROP of lactide has beenproposed.

In the present study, the cobalt (II) complex [Co-HMBED] has been prepared and characterized by spectrochemical techniques, which confirmed its square planar structure. The catalytic activity of the cobalt complex was evaluated towards solvent-free conversion of CO₂ and styrene oxide into cyclic styrene carbonate and polymerization of lactide