Rapid Screening of Olefin Polymerization Catalyst Libraries by Electrospray Ionization Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

The simultaneous screening of catalysts according to their propensity for catalyzing the polymerization of ethylene (see scheme) can be achieved with the help of electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A small (eight catalysts) library of Pd(II) complexes synthesized simultaneously in a one-pot reaction has demonstrated the efficiency of this new screening technique. This method could be widened to libraries of other olefin polymerization catalysts.