Ligand effects on palladium complex catalyzed copolymerization of ethylene/carbon monoxide

Abstract

Several neutral and cationic methyl palladium complexes with bidentate ligands of phosphorus–nitrogen (P∼N) donors which form five- or six-membered chelates have been synthesized and characterized. Carbonylation of these complexes generates the corresponding stable Pd–acetyl complexes. The ligands that form a five-membered chelating ring appear to confer better activity towards carbonylation as well as copolymerization of ethylene/CO than do the six-membered analogues. Crystal structures of several inserted intermediates are provided.