Abstract
Cationic Pd(II) catalysts incorporating bulky 8-p-tolylnaphthyl substituted diimine ligands have been synthesized and investigated for ethylene polymerization and ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymerization. Homopolymerization of ethylene at room temperature resulted in branched polyethylene with narrow Mw/Mn values (ca. 1.1), indicative of a living polymerization. A mechanistic study revealed that the catalyst resting state was an alkyl olefin complex and that the turnover-limiting step was migratory insertion, thus the turnover frequency is independent of ethylene concentration. Copolymerization of ethylene and methyl acrylate (MA) was also achieved. MA incorporation was found to increase linearly with MA concentration, and copolymers with up to 14 mol % MA were prepared. Mechanistic studies revealed that acrylate insertion into a Pd–CH3 bond occurs at −70 °C to yield a four-membered chelate, which isomerizes first to a five-membered chelate and then to a six-membered chelate. Barriers to migratory insertion of both the (diimine)PdCH3(C2H4)+ (19.2 kcal/mol) and (diimine)PdCH3(η2-C2H3CO2Me)+ (15.2 kcal/mol) were measured by low-temperature NMR kinetics.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
