Reactivity of Phosphino‐naphtholate Nickel Complexes and Their Catalysis of Copolymerization with Polar Monomers

Olefin polymerization: Phosphino-naphtholate neutral nickel catalyst performed an excellent reactivity toward electron-deficient acrylic derivatives (BA, MMA, DMAA) and electron-rich vinyl monomers (VTEoS, NVP). Notably, BA and DMAA displayed higher insertion rates and they favor 2,1-insertion into the Ni−CH3 bond while the bulky MMA, VTEoS and electron-rich NVP prefer 1,2-fashion. The reactive polar monomers were copolymerized with ethylene at high activities.