Ethylene Polymerization Activity of (R3P)Ni(codH)+ (cod = 1,5-cylcooctadiene) Sites Supported on Sulfated Zirconium Oxide.

PAr3 containing o-OMe, o-Me, or o-Et substituents reacts with Brønsted sites on sulfated zirconium oxide (SZO) to form [HPAr3][SZO]. The phosphonium sites on this material react with bis(cyclooctadiene)nickel [Ni(cod)2] to form [Ni(PAr3)(codH)][SZO] that are active in ethylene polymerization reactions. Selective poisoning studies with pyridine show that ∼90% of the Ni(PAr3)(codH)+ sites in this material are active in polymerization reactions.