CATALYST COMPOSITION AND PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF COPOLYMERS OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND AN OLEFINICALLY UNSATURATED COMPOUND

摘要

A catalyst composition which is based upon: (a) a source of nickel cations and (b) a bidentate ligand of the general formula R<1>R<2>M<1>-R-M<2>R<3>R<4> (I), wherein M<1> and M<2> represent independently phosphorus, nitrogen, arsenic or antimony, R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and R<4> represent independently optionally substituted hydrocarbyl groups on the understanding that at least one of R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and R<4> represents a substituted aryl group, and R represents a bivalent bridging group of which the bridge which extends directly between the atoms M<1> and M<2> consists of three bridge atoms of which the middle atom is substituted; and a process for the preparation of copolymers of carbon monoxide and an olefinically unsaturated compound comprising contacting the monomers in the presence of the said catalyst composition.