Overall Cycle The Steps of Chain Propagation

Activation barriers for the insertion reactions of the copolymerization of CO and ethylene catalyzed by DPPP-ligated palladium and the competing insertion to form polyethylene. 

Free energy diagram for the insertions of ethyiene and CO during palladium-cataiyzed copoiymerization of ethylene and CO. Aii vaiues are in kcai/moi. 

The molecular weights of polymers are controlled by the relative rates for chain growth and chain transfer steps, as described in more detail in Chapter 22. Thus, the mechanism of chain transfer has also been studied. One mechanism for chain transfer is the reaction 

One catalyst decomposition product Identified In the copolymerization of CO and olefins. 

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