Copolymerization of Norbornene and Methyl Acrylate by Nickel Catalyst Bearing 2-(Diarylphosphino)-N-phenylbenzenamine Ligands

The synthesis of polar functionalized cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs) from the coordination copolymerization norbornene (NB) and monomers catalyzed by late transition metal catalysts has been a recent research hotspot. However, few have achieved efficient with commercial vinyl-type monomers, such as methyl acrylate (MA). In this contribution, nickel complexes bearing 2-(diarylphosphino)-N-phenylbenzenamine ligands were synthesized applied pre-catalysts to catalyze (co)polymerization norbornene. Upon activation methylaluminoxane (MAO), these active for polymerization highest activity being 3.6 × 106 g mol−1 h−1 number average molecular weight (Mn) polynorbornene (PNB) reaching 27.4 105 mol−1. Moreover, also promoted MA furnish high-molecular-weight NB/MA (Mn up 6.20 104 mol−1) reasonable contents (3.07−5.90 mol%). PNB obtained present are remarkably higher than those (co)polymers our previous reported dimethyl substituted phosphinobenzenamine catalyst, suggesting significant progress in field.