Copolymerization of Carbon Monoxide and Norbornene with a Palladium Catalyst

Carbon monoxide and norbornene (NBE) with Pd(CH 3 COO) 2 under various conditions were copolymerized at 90°C. Elemental analysis, infrared spectra and NMR spectra showed that the copolymers contained ketone and ring structures. Bidentate nitrogen and phosphorus ligands were more effective ligands to stabilize catalytic activity than monodentate arsenic or phosphorus ligands. Methanol and the protonic acid served as coinitiator and chain-transfer agents. X-Ray diffraction analysis shows the copolymer to be partially crystalline. Thermogravimctric analysis showed that the copolymer started to lose mass at 350°C and that maximum decomposition occurred at 447 C. The NBE/CO copolymer obtained from various ligands has a glass transition temperature (T g ) in the range 100-126°C. Hydrogenation of norbornene/CO copolymer with a reducing agent yielded a hydroxy-containing polymer.