Polyethylenes with Combined In-Chain and Side-Chain Functional Groups from Catalytic Terpolymerization of Carbon Monoxide and Acrylate.

Linear polyethylenes with a combination of incorporated in-chain keto as well as side-chain ester groups are formed by Ni(II)-catalyzed terpolymerization of ethylene, carbon monoxide, and methyl acrylate. These possess a random structure, with largely isolated nonalternating in-chain keto groups as well as ester-substituted units adjacent to the polyethylene chain, whereas the solid-state structure of polyethylene is retained. Molecular weights of the terpolymers (<i>M</i>_n ∼ 20.000 g mol^-1) are predominantly determined by chain transfer after acrylate incorporation.