Investigation of Steric and Electronic Factors of (Arylsulfonyl)phosphane-Palladium Catalysts in Ethene Polymerization

(Arylsulfonyl)phosphane ligands, o-Ar2PC6H4SO3H in which Ar is phenyl (Ph), naphthyl (Np), phenanthryl (Pa), or anthracenyl (An) were prepared. These bulky phosphanes were used to generate phosphanepalladium complexes [(o-Ar2-PC6H4SO3)PdMe(pyridine)]. These complexes catalyze ethene polymerization and yield linear polyethene. The catalytic activity of these compounds and the molecular weight of the polymer decreases in the following order: Ph > Np > Pa > An, which corresponds to increasing cone angles and decreasing basicity.