Novel mixed-metal alkoxide clusters of lanthanide and sodium: synthesis and extremely active catalysts for the polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate.

Novel mixed-metal alkoxide clusters of lanthanide and sodium [Ln2Na8(OCH2CH2NMe2)12(OH)2], which were synthesized in reproducible high yields and structurally characterized, were found to be extremely active catalysts for the ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate.