Synthesis and copolymerization of rhodium(I) and palladium(II) complexes with the deprotonated form of 2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate

The reactions of [(cod)RhCl]2 (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) and Na2PdCl4 with the anion of 2-(acetoacetoxy)ethyl methacrylate (AAEMA−) afforded (cod)Rh(AAEMA) (1) and Pd(AAEMA)2 (2). Thermal copolymerization of 1 and 2 with suitable comonomers and cross-linkers yielded insoluble resins that have been characterised by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, XPS and SEM techniques and successfully used in the hydrogenation of 1-heptene under mild conditions.