Ligand electronic effects on late transition metal polymerization catalysts

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om048988j

The synthesis and polymerization properties of substituted palladium (Pd)(II)-α-diimine complexes were investigated. The ligand electronic structure effects on the molecular weight, polymer branching topology, tolerance to polar monomers, and polar monomer incorporation of late transition metal α-diimine olefin polymerization catalysts were also investigated. The ligand electronic structure of the catalysts had a significant effect on the topology of the polyethylene formed. NMR chemical shift analysis of the complexes and IR analysis of the CO stretching frequencies of the carbonyl complexes showed that substitution did not effect the electrophilicity of the metal center.