Patent ID: 6852662

Claim:
A process for the preparation of linear, alternating copolymers of carbon monoxide and a-olefinically unsaturated compounds, wherein the copolymerization is carried out in an aqueous medium in the presence of a catalyst system containing, as essential components a) a metal complex of the formula (I) where G is —(CR b 2 ) r —, —(CR b 2 ) s —Si(R a ) 2 —(CR b 2 ) t —, -A′-O—B′— or -A′-Z(R 5 )—B′— R 5 is hydrogen, or is C 1 - to C 28 -alkyl, C 3 - to C 14 -cycloalkyl, C 6 - to C 15 -aryl or alkylaryl where the alkyl radical is of 1 to 20 carbon atoms and the aryl radical is of 6 to 15 carbon atoms, each of which is unsubstituted or substituted by functional groups based on the elements of groups IVA, VA, VIA or VIIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, or is —N((R b ) 2 , —Si(R c ) 3 or a radical of the formula II where q is an integer from 0 to 20 and the further substituents in (II) have the same meanings as in (I), A′ and B′ are each —(CR b 2 ) r′ — or —(CR b 2 ) s —Si(R a ) 2 —(CR b 2 ) t —, R a independently of one another, are each C 1 - to C 20 -alkyl, C 3 - to C 10 -cycloalkyl, C 6 - to C 15 -aryl or alkylaryl where the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 10 carbon atoms and the aryl moiety is of 6 to 15 carbon atoms, R b is the same as R a or is hydrogen or Si(R c ) 3 , R c is C 1 - to C 20 -alkyl, C 3 - to C 10 -cycloalkyl, C 5 - to C 15 -aryl or alkylaryl where the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 10 carbon atoms and the aryl moiety is of 6 to 15 carbon atoms, r is 1, 2, 3 or 4 r′ is 1 or 2, s and t are each 0, 1 or 2, where 1≦s+t≦3 Z is a nonmetallic element from group VA of the Periodic Table of Elements, M is a metal selected from the group VIIIB, IB or IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements, E 1 and E 2 are each a nonmetallic element from group VA of the Periodic Table of Elements, R 1 to R 4 are each linear or branched C 2 - to C 28 -alkyl, C 3 - to C 14 -cycloalkyl or alkylaryl where the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 28 carbon atoms and the aryl moiety is of 6 to 15 carbon atoms, each of which is substituted by at least one polar protic or ionic functional group based on elements of groups IVA to VIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, L 1 and L 2 are formally charged or neutral ligands, X are formally monovalent or polyvalent anions, p is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, m and n are each 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, and p=m×n, and optionally, one or more Lewis or protic acids or a mixture of Lewis and protic acids.