Cationic palladacycles as catalyst precursors for phenyl acetylene polymerization

Novel cationic palladacycles based on benzylidene-2,6-diisopropylphenylimines were prepared via C–H activation using Pd(CH3CN)2Cl2 as metal precursor. The complexes were fully characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The cationic palladacycles were found to be active catalysts for the polymerization of phenylacetylene producing largely trans-cisoidal PPA.