Novel palladium(II)-catalyzed copolymerization of carbon monoxide with olefins

The catalyst, (Pd(CH/sub 3/CN)/sub 4/)(BF/sub 4/)/sub 2/.n-triphenylphosphine n = (1-3), demonstrated the capacity to mediate the copolymerization of CO with ethylene and other alkenes under very mild conditions. The reaction of ethylene (350 psi), dissolved in acetonitrile, and CO(350 psi) was performed at 25/sup 0/C for 1 d. The copolymerizations of CO(800 psi) with norbornadiene and norbornylene were performed at 60/sup 0/C. The structures of the copolymers were studied by NMR. 9 references, 1 figure.