Terpolymerization of Carbon Monoxide, Styrene, and 4-Methylstyrene Catalyzed by Palladium-Rare Earth Catalyst

In order to improve the thermomechanical performance of polyketone, a third monomer (4-methylstyrene) was added to the copolymerization system. The terpolymer of CO, styrene, and 4-methylstyrene was synthesized in the presence of multi component catalysts containing palladium acetate and rare earth metal phosphonates. The products were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The effects of the different components, including the third monomer, palladium acetate, 2,2'-bipyridyl, rare earth phosphonate, p-toluene-sulphonic acid, and p-benzoquinone, were also studied. The highest catalytic activity of 965.51 g/(gPd h) was obtained with a catalyst containing palladium acetate and rare earth phosphonate.