The Pd-catalysed co- and terpolymerisation of carbon monoxide and 1-alkenes

The copolymerisation of ethene and carbon monoxide, 2-pentene and carbon monoxide and the terpolymerisation of ethene, 1-pentene and carbon monoxide were attempted, using a cationic palladium complex catalyst. Crystalline ethene/carbon monoxide alternating copolymer and ethene/carbon monoxide/1-pentene terpolymers were synthesised, as were alternating 1-pentene/carbon monoxide oligomers. The reaction products were characterised, and the effect of incorporation of 1-pentene on crystalline melting point of the polymers investigated. Incorporation of up to 18% of 1-pentene was achieved. This resulted in lowering the crystalline melting point from 250 degrees C for the ethene/carbon monoxide copolymer to 176 degrees C for the ethene/1-pentene/carbon monoxide terpolymer. The thermal stabilities of the terpolymers were lower than those of the ethene/carbon monoxide copolymers.