Palladium(II)-catalyzed synthesis of alternating fluoroalkene-carbon monoxide copolymers

The cationic palladium(II) complex [(R,R-Me-DuPHOS)Pd(Me)(CH3CN)]+BF4- (R,R -Me-DuPHOS = 1,2-bis[(2R,5R)-2,5-dimethylphospholano]benzene) was found to catalyze the perfectly alternating copolymerization of fluorinated allylben zene derivatives with carbon monoxide, leading to functional polymers conta ining pendant fluorinated groups. The copolymers each exhibited relatively high hydrophobicity, as determined by goniometry. The alt-allylpentafluorob enzene-carbon monoxide copolymer was found to significantly increase the wa ter contact angle of poly(methyl methacrylate) when blended in small amount s with the latter.