Copolymerization of 7‐Methylenebicyclo[4.1.0]heptane with Carbon Monoxide Initiated by Optically Active Palladium Complexes

Seven Pd‐complexes with optically active bis[dihydroxazole]‐type ligands promote asymmetric alternating copolymerization of 7‐methylenebicyclo[4.1.0]heptane with CO, which produces an optically active polyketone, ? [C(?CH₂)? CO? C₆H₁₀]_n? . The reaction under increased CO pressure (> 5 atm) affords a polymer that contains monomer units with the cis‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diyl group almost exclusively. The polyketone exhibits positive or negative optical rotation depending on the Pd‐complex. The highest and lowest [α] of the polymer obtained are + 68.9 and ? 76.1, respectively. Addition of dibutylcuprate to a solution of the polymer in the presence of Me₃SiCl transforms the enone groups of the polymer to silyl enol ether groups, which are ozonized to (silyloxy)oxirane moieties.