Bp Chemicals Limited

The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

Neil Andrew Cooley

Adrian Peter Kirk

Evert Jan Ditzel

Michael J Green

Philip K Hodgson

John H Brophy

John Paul McNally

Philip Geoffrey Lodge

A catalyst composition for preparing polyketones comprises

Catalyst composition

A process for the manufacture of polyketones wherein carbon monoxide and at least one olefin are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst is prepared by reacting together a promotor; a source of a Group VIII metal; and a compound of the formula A.sub.2 PR.sup.1 PA.sub.2 wherein each A is independently a hydrocarbyl group or a Group B bonded to the phosphorous of the PA.sub.2 moiety directly through a nitrogen, sulphur or oxygen and R.sup.1 is a divalent organic group, with the proviso that at least one of the two A groups bonded to each phosphorous is a Group B.

Catalyst compositions

Catalyst compositions for preparing polyketones comprising

Process for preparing polyketones

Catalyst compositions for preparing polyketones comprising (a) a Group VIII metal compound, containing at least one ligand capable of coordinating to the Group VIII metal, and (b) a boron hydrocarbyl compound are disclosed, in particular catalyst compositions wherein the boron hydrocarbyl compound is a Lewis acid of the formula BXYZ where at least one of X, Y and Z is a monovalent hydrocarbyl group. A preferred catalyst composition comprises a palladium complex and B(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.3.

Catalyst composition and use in preparing polyketones

Group VIII metal catalyst composition

A process for preparing polyketones by polymerizing a mixture of carbon monoxide and one or more olefins in the presence of a group VIII metal catalyst which is prepared by reacting together:

Palladium complexes having the general formula Pd(R'CO.sub.2).sub.2 X where R' is C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkyl or C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 aryl and X is a chelating ligand of formula (R.sup.2).sub.2 PYP(R.sup.2).sub.2 where the R.sup.2 groups are independently selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl, phenyl or alkoxy substituted phenyl, and Y is --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- where n=2 to 4 are provided. The complexes may be prepared by reacting the compounds Pd(R'CO.sub.2).sub.2 and (R.sup.2).sub.2 PYP(R.sup.2).sub.2 together in an aromatic solvent at a temperature of less than 60.degree. C. in amounts such that the molar ratio of the two compounds is in the range 1.2:1 to 1:1.2.

Preparation of palladium catalysts

A process for preparing terpolymer polyketones comprises reacting at least two olefins with carbon monoxide at elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst prepared from (a) a source of palladium, (b) a source of an anion which either does not coordinate with palladium or is less strongly coordinating to palladium than both carbon monoxide and the olefin(s) used and (c) a bisphosphine of formula (R.sup.1).sub.2 P--R--P(R.sup.1).sub.2 wherein R.sup.1 is an optionally polar substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group and R is a divalent organic bridging group of formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --where n=2 to 8 and (d) a 1,4 quinone. The process is characterized by being carried out in a solvent comprising a mixture of an aprotic polar solvent and from 0.0001 to 0.5% by weight water. The particular solvent system used is especially useful for preparing terpolymer polyketones of high molecular weight.

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Teddington, United Kingdom

Neil Andrew Cooley