Neutral Pd(II) and Ni(II) acetylide complexes as single‐component initiators for polymerizations of butyl methacrylate and acrylates

Homogeneous polymerization of butyl methacrylate (BMA) using Pd(II)‐ and Ni(II)‐based acetylide complexes as single‐component initiators has been investigated in CHCl₃ at 60°C. M(PPh₃)₂(C = CR)₂ (M = Pd, Ni; R = Ph, CH₂OH, CH₂OOCCH₃) were found to be a novel type of effective initiators for the polymerization of butyl methacrylate. Among them, Pd(PPh₃)₂(C‐CPh)₂ (PPP) shows the highest activity. Besides, PPP alone can also initiate the homogeneous polymerizations of acrylates, e. g., methyl acrylate (MA), and n‐butyl acrylate (BA). The present type of polymerization is not hindered by the incorporation of hydroquinone.