Styrene-containing Phosphine-sulfonate Ligands for Nickel- and Palladium-catalyzed Ethylene Polymerization

A series of phosphine-sulfonate ligands bearing 2-, 3- and 4-vinylphenyl on the phosphorus atom were designed, synthesized, characterized and investigated in Ni- and Pd-catalyzed ethylene polymerization. The structure of the phosphine-sulfonate Pd complex bearing 2-vinylphenyl on the phosphorus atom showed 2,1-insertion for the 2-vinyl group. The phosphine-sulfonate Ni complex bearing 2-vinylphenyl resulted in significantly increased thermal stability and polyethylene molecular weights (M-n= 3.69x10(4)g center dot mol(-1)at 80 degrees C) versus the counterparts bearing 3-/4-vinyl groups as well as previously reported phosphine-sulfonate Ni complexes bearing bulky biaryl substituents.

Automated summary

A series of phosphine-sulfonate ligands with different vinylphenyl groups were designed, synthesized, and investigated in Ni- and Pd-catalyzed ethylene polymerization. The study found that the phosphine-sulfonate Ni complex bearing 2-vinylphenyl showed significantly increased thermal stability and polyethylene molecular weights compared to other complexes with different vinyl groups.