Synthesis of anionic methylpalladium complexes with phosphine-sulfonate ligands and their activities for olefin polymerization

The synthesis of anionic methylpalladium complexes with phosphine-sulfonate ligands and their activities for olefin polymerization are examined. The methylpalladium complexes are frequently used for mechanistic investigation of the copolymerization. The copolymerization of ethylene and methyl acrylate with the catalysts is examined, and the effects of additives on the catalytic activity are found. The preliminary copolymerization results indicate that further examination of additives, ligands, bases used to prepare the catalysts, and reaction conditions would lead to an improved catalyst system for production of the unique highly linear copolymer of ethylene and methyl acrylate.