Synthesis of non-symmetrically sulphonated phosphine sulphonate based Pd(II) catalyst salts for olefin polymerisation reactions.

Direct sulphonation of 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzenesulphonic acid was extensively studied. The non-symmetrically functionalised reaction products obtained, related to the widely applied water soluble phosphine ligands m,m,m-TPPTS and m,m-TPPDS, display chelating κ(2)-(P,O)-coordination to Pd(II) metal centres. Phase transfer reaction of rac-o,m-TPPDS as the potassium salt with 18-crown-6 and complexation to Pd(II) gives the novel anionic catalyst precursor [K(18-crown-6)](2)[κ(2)(P,O){rac-o,m-TPPDS}PdMeCl] suitable for olefin polymerisation reactions. Ethene homo- and co-polymerisation reactions with polar functionalised olefins were investigated with this anionic phosphine sulphonate Pd(II)-based pre-catalyst salt. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011