Copolymerization of Norbornene and 5-Norbornene-2-yl Acetate Using Novel Bis(β-ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)3/AlEt3 Catalytic System

Vinyl-type copolymerization of norbornene (NBE) and 5-NBE-2-yl-acetate (NBE-OCOMe) in toluene were investigated using a novel homogeneous catalyst system based on bis(beta-ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)(3)/AlEt3. The copolymerization behavior as well as the copolymerization conditions, such as the levels of B(C6F5)(3) and AlEt3, temperature, and monomer feed ratios, which influence on the copolymerization were examined. Without combination of AlEt3, the catalytic bis(beta-ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)(3) exhibited very high catalyst activity for polymerization of NBE. Combination of AlEt3 in catalyst system resulted in low conversion for polymerization of NBE. For copolymerization of NBE and NBE-OCOMe, involvement of AlEt3, in catalyst is necessary. Slight addition of NBE-OCOMe in copolymerization of NBE and NBE-OCOMe gives rise to significant increase of catalyst activity for catalytic system bis(beta-ketonaphthylamino)Ni(II)/B(C6F5)(3)/AlEt3. Nevertheless, excess increase of the NBE-OCOMe content in the comonomer feed ratios results in decrease of conversion as well as activity of catalyst. The achieved copolymers were confirmed to be vinyl-addition copolymers through the analysis of FTIR, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR spectra. C-13 NMR studies further revealed the composition of the copolymer and the incorporation rate was 7.6-54.1 mol % ester units at a content of 30-90 mol % of the NBE-OCOMe in the monomer feeds ratios. TGA analysis results showed that the copolymer exhibited good thermal stability (T-d > 410 degrees C) and failed to observe the glass transitions temperature over 300 degrees C. The copolymers are confirmed to be noncrystalline by WAXD analysis results and show good solubility in common organic solvents. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47:3990-4000,2009