Abstract

A [P-O]Pd catalyst based on o-alkoxy derivatives of diphenylphosphinobenzene sulfonic acid (I) has recently been shown by Drent et al. to perform nonalternating CO/C(2)H(4) copolymerization with subsequent incorporation of ethylene units into the polyketone chain. The origin of the nonalternation is investigated in a theoretical study of I, where calculated activation barriers and reaction heats of all involved elementary steps are used to generate a complete kinetic model. The kinetic model is able to account for the observed productivity and degree of nonalternation as a function of temperature. Consistent with the energy changes obtained for the real catalyst model, the selectivity toward a nonalternating distribution of both comonomers appears to be mainly a result of a strong destabilization of the Pd-acyl complex.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

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 call