Predominant 1,2-insertion of styrene in the Pd-catalyzed alternating copolymerization with carbon monoxide

The regioselectivity of styrene insertion to an acyl-Pd bond was studied by NMR in (i) a stoichiomeric reaction and (ii) a copolymerization with CO. In the stoichiometric reaction of styrene with [(CH3CO)Pd(CH3CN){(R,S)-BINAPHOS}]. [B{3,5-(CF3)(2)C6H3}(4)], both 1,2- and 2,1-products were given. To mimic the real polymerization conditions, a polyketone-substituted complex [{CH3(CH2CHCH3CO)(n)}Pd{(R,S)-BINAPHOS}]. [B(3,5-(CF3)(2)C6H3)(4)] (n approximate to 14) was prepared. When this polymer-attached Pd species was treated with styrene, the 1,2-insertion product was the only detectable species. Thus, exclusive 1,2-insertion is demonstrated to be responsible for the styrene-CO copolymerization, in sharp contrast to the predominant 2,1-insertion with conventional nitrogen ligands. Chain-end analysis revealed that beta -hydride elimination took place from the 2,1-complex but not from the 1,2-complex. Thus, once 2,1-insertion occurs, rapid beta -hydride elimination proceeds to terminate the polymerization, as is common to the other phosphorus-ligand systems. The resulting Pd-H species re-initiates the copolymerization, as was proven by MALDI-TOF mass analysis of the product copolymers.