Distorted Sandwich α-Diimine Pd^II Catalyst: Linear Polyethylene and Synthesis of Ethylene/Acrylate Elastomers

The introduction of m-xylyl substituents to α-diimine Pd^II catalyst promotes living ethylene polymerization at room temperature and low pressure to yield high molecular weight polyethylene (PE) with low branching (<17/1000 C). m-Xylyl groups provide a highly effective blockage to the axial sites of the catalytic center and form a distorted sandwich geometry. The shielding prevents chain-transfer and easy accessibility of polar monomers, leading to a living polymerization. Conducting a light irradiation as part of the one-step metal-organic insertion light initiated radical (MILRad) process leads to diblock copolymers of ethylene and acrylates. Incorporation of different acrylate block sequences can significantly modify the mechanical and chemical properties of block copolymers which can be modulated to be a hard plastic, elastomer, or semi-amorphous polymer.