New single-site palladium catalysts for the nonalternating copolymerization of ethylene and carbon monoxide

The synthesis and first examples of structurally characterized, single-site palladium complexes containing a phosphine sulfonate chelate (PSO) for the nonalternating copolymerization of ethylene and carbon monoxide are reported. Extra incorporation of ethylene up to 30% has been achieved relative to the alternating polyketone structure with modest activities. As exemplarily shown, high molecular weight random copolymers have been produced with M-w approximate to 370000, polydispersity (M-w/M-n) = 2, and melting points of 220-230 degrees C.