Patent ID: 7635739

Claim:
A process for preparing a copolymer comprising contacting at least one acyclic aliphatic olefin monomer, at least one monomer having the formula and a catalyst composition comprising a metal center, M, complexed with at least one ligand, wherein the at least one ligand has a structure according to the following formula wherein Z is selected from a halogen, —CN, an aromatic hydrocarbyl group, —COY and —CO 2 Y; where Y is selected from hydrogen and R 19 ; where R 19 is selected from a hydrocarbyl group, an aromatic hydrocarbyl group and derivatives thereof; wherein J is selected from a hydrogen and an aliphatic hydrocarbyl group having up to 30 carbons; wherein the metal center is selected from Ni and Pd; wherein R 1 -R 14 are independently selected from a hydrogen; a halogen; and, a substituent selected from C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 3 -C 20 cycloalkyl, C 2 -C 20 alkenyl, C 2 -C 20 alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, phenyl, biphenyl, C 1 -C 20 carboxylate, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 2 -C 20 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylthio, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfinyl and silyl: wherein at least one of R 1 , R 5 , R 6 and R 10 is a 2,6-R 16 R 17 -phenyl, where R 16 and R 17 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 3 -C 20 cycloalkyl, C 2 -C 20 alkenyl, C 2 -C 20 alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, phenyl, biphenyl, C 1 -C 20 carboxylate, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 2 -C 20 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylthio, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfinyl and silyl; wherein R 15 is —SO 3 ; wherein the copolymer has a number average molecular weight of ≧21,200 and wherein the copolymer comprises 1 to 99.9 mol % acyclic aliphatic olefin monomer units.