To date, an inconclusive and partially contradictive picture exists on the behavior of neutral Ni(II) insertion polymerization catalysts toward methyl methacrylate (MMA). We shed light on this issue by a combination of comprehensive mechanistic NMR and EPR studies, isolation of a key Ni(I) intermediate, and pressure reactor studies with ethylene and MMA, followed by detailed polymer analysis. An interlocking mechanistic picture of an insertion and a free radical polymerization is revealed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFormation of Ni-polymeryl propagating species upon the interaction of three salicylaldiminato nickel(II) complexes of the type [(N,O)Ni(CH3 )(Py)] (where (N,O)=salicylaldimine ligands, Py=pyridine) with ethylene (C2 H4 /Ni=10:30) has been studied by (1) H and (13) C NMR spectroscopy. Typically, the ethylene/catalyst mixtures in [D8 ]toluene were stored for short periods of time at +60 °C to generate the [(N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] species, then quickly cooled, and the NMR measurements were conducted at -20 °C. At that temperature, the [(N,O)Ni(polymeryl)] species are stable for days; diffusion (1) H NMR measurements provide an estimate of the average length of polymeryl chain (polymeryl=(C2 H4 )n H, n=6-18).
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