Patent ID: 6649714
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: C08G

Abstract:
A method for making a polycyclic polymer comprising repeating units having pendant anhydride groups said method comprising polymerizing a monomer composition comprising a monomer of the formula: wherein x independently represents oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur or a methylene group of the formula â€”(CH2)nâ€²â€”; nâ€² is an integer of 1 to 5; m is an integer from 0 to 5; and R1 and R4 independently represent hydrogen, linear or branched linear and branched C1-C20 alkyl; R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, and linear and branched C1-C20 alkyl, with the proviso that at least one of R2 and R3 is a pendant cyclic anhydride group of the formula: or at least one of R1 and R2 or R3 and R4 can be taken together with the ring carbon atom to which they are attached to form a spirally attached cyclic anhydride group in the presence of a solvent and a nickel containing catalyst of the formula:EnNi(C6F5)2 wherein n is 1 or 2 and E represents a neutral electron donor ligand.