A series of 6-alkyl-substituted 2, 2′-bipyridines has been applied to Pd-catalyzed styrene carbonylation. While complexes with unsubstitued 2, 2′-bipyridine lead to CO/styrene copolymers (white solid), those containing the 6-alkyl 2, 2′-bipyridines give CO/styrene oligomers (yellow oil). When chiral, enantiomerically pure, ligands are used, optically active oligomers are obtained.
