Trimetallic magnesium complexes bearing amine-bis(benzotriazole phenolate) derivatives as bifunctional catalysts for ring-opening polymerization and CO2/epoxide coupling.

New trimetallic magnesium complexes were synthesized for bifunctional catalysis. Complex catalysed ε-caprolactone polymerizations in not only a 'living' manner but also in an 'immortal' fashion. Additionally, tri-Mg was active for the coupling of CO(2) with cyclohexene oxide (CHO) on addition of n-Bu(4)NBr co-catalysts to give cis-cyclohexene carbonate under mild conditions.