Macromolecules, Vol.34, No.22, 7656-7663, 2001
Neutral palladium complexes as catalysts for olefin-methyl acrylate copolymerization: A cautionary tale
Neutral palladium complexes bearing pyrrole-imine ligands (I-III) have been synthesized, and their use as catalysts for olefin and vinyl monomer (co)polymerizations was investigated. Methyl acrylate (MA) has been homopolymerized in excellent yields (> 95%) using these complexes. Copolymerizations of MA with norbornene or 1-hexene in the presence of these catalysts produce acrylate-enriched copolymers. Hypothesizing that metal enolates are potential intermediates in some of these polymerizations, palladium enolate complexes (IV-VII) containing ligand 1 were tested for their catalytic activity. Surprisingly, these complexes proved inactive toward acrylate and/or olefin polymerizations. Further mechanistic studies have shown that the homo- and copolymers obtained using these complexes arise from a radical mechanism rather than the anticipated metal-mediated process.