Cationic PdII, NiII, and RuII complexes in the synthesis of alternating copolymers of CO with vinyl monomers

The history and state-of-the-art of the synthesis of alternating copolymers of CO with vinyl monomers in the presence of Pd-II, Ni-II, and Ru-II complexes are considered. The influence of (PP)-P-boolean AND, (PN)-N-boolean AND, and (NN)-N-boolean AND mono- and bidentate ligands and the nature of the reaction medium and the acid on the rate of CO copolymerization with ethylene and on the structure and some properties of optically active CO-propylene and CO-styrene copolymers is discussed. A possible mechanism of CO and ethylene copolymerization in the presence of Pd-II complexes is proposed.