Catalyst composition and process for the preparation of copolymers of carbon monoxide and an olefinically unsaturated compound

Abstract

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

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.