Oxygen scavengers, compositions comprising the scavengers, and articles made from the compositions

1. A melt-blended polymer composition comprising:

a) a thermoplastic polymer;

b) a transition metal in a positive oxidation state, the metal present in an amount of from about 10 ppm to about 400 ppm; and

c) a compound having the formula:

wherein R 1 is chosen from:

i) —CH 3 ;

ii) —CHO; or

iii) a combination thereof; and

the index n is equal to 1 or 2.

2. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , comprising from about 30 ppm to about 150 ppm of a transition metal.

3. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is a polyester homopolymer or polyester copolymer.

4. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises polyethylene terephthalate or a copolymer thereof.

5. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises from about 1% to about 10% by weight of the composition.

6. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the composition.

7. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises from about 1% to about 3% by weight of the composition.

8. The polymer composition according to claim 1 , further comprising a colorant.