Ethene and styrene insertion into the Pd–acyl bond of [Pd(COMe)(P∧N)(solv)]O3SCF3 and its role in the copolymerisation of olefins with carbon monoxide

Abstract

Styrene has higher productivity than ethene during copolymerization with carbon monoxide using [Pd(CO-CH3)(P∧N)(solv)]O3SCF3 (where P∧N is a phosphanyldihydrooxazole ligand), while ethene, not styrene, is preferentially enchained during the terpolymerisation probably reflecting the different reactivity of the two possible alkyl intermediates toward carbon monoxide insertion.