Formation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids and salts thereof from metalalactones and anionic polyelectrolytes

1. A composition utilized for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, the composition comprising:

(a) a transition metal precursor compound comprising a Group 8-11 transition metal and at least one first ligand;

(b) optionally, at least one second ligand; and

(c) an anionic polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the anionic polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations comprises a metallated phenol-formaldehyde resin, a metallated polyhydroxyarene-formaldehyde resin, or a metallated polyhydroxyarene- and fluorophenol-formaldehyde resin.

3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the anionic polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations comprises a sodium phenol-formaldehyde resin, a potassium phenol-formaldehyde resin, a sodium resorcinol- and 2-fluorophenol-formaldehyde resin, or a potassium resorcinol- and 2-fluorophenol-formaldehyde resin.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein:

a) the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand is a bidentate ligand; or

b) the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand independently comprise(s) at least one of a nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, or oxygen coordinating atom.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand independently comprise(s) a diphosphine ligand, a diamine ligand, a diene ligand, a diether ligand, or dithioether ligand.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand independently comprise(s) an ether ligand, an organic carbonyl ligand, a thioether ligand, an amine ligand, a nitrile ligand, a phosphine ligand, a diene ligand, or a carbene ligand.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first ligand is a diene ligand and the second ligand is a diphosphine ligand.

8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first ligand is 1,5-cyclooctadiene or TMEDA (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine), and the second ligand is 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane or TMEDA.

9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first ligand or the second ligand is selected from trimethylphosphine, triethylphosphine, tripropylphosphine, tributylphosphine, phenylphosphine, tolylphosphine, diphenylphosphine, ditolylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, tritolylphosphine, methyldiphenylphosphine, dimethylphenylphosphine, ethyldiphenylphosphine, diethylphenylphosphine, tricyclohexylphosphine, trimethyl phosphite, triethyl phosphite, tripropyl phosphite, triisopropyl phosphite, tributyl phosphite tricyclohexyl phosphite, 2-(di-t-butylphosphino)biphenyl, 2-di-t-butylphosphino-1,1′-binaphthyl, 2-(di-t-butylphosphino)-3,6-dimethoxy-2′,4′,6′-tri-i-propyl-1,1′-biphenyl, 2-di-t-butylphosphino-2′-methylbiphenyl, 2-(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine, 2-di-t-butylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-tri-i-propyl-1,1′-biphenyl, 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)biphenyl, (S)-(+)-(3,5-dioxa-4-phospha-cyclohepta[2,1-a;3,4-a′]dinaphthalen-4-yl)dimethylamine, 2-(diphenylphosphino)-2′-methoxy-1,1′-binaphthyl, 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenyl-1′-(di-t-butylphosphino)ferrocene, 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (BINAP), 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane, 1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane, 1,2-bis(dipropylphosphino)-ethane, 1,2-bis(diisopropylphosphino)ethane, 1,2-bis(dibutyl-phosphino)ethane, 1,2-bis(di-t-butyl-phosphino)ethane, 1,2-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)ethane, 1,3-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)propane, 1,3-bis(diisopropylphosphino)propane, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, 1,3-bis(di-t-butylphosphino)propane, 1,4-bis(diisopropylphosphino)butane, 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, 2,2′-bis[bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphino]-4,4′,6,6′-tetramethoxybiphenyl, 2,6-bis(di-t-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine, 2,2′-bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)-1,1′-biphenyl, bis(2-dicyclohexylphosphinophenyl)ether, 5,5′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-4,4′-bi-1,3-benzodioxole, 2-t-butylphosphinomethylpyridine, bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)methane, bis(di-t-butylphosphino)methane, or TMEDA.

10. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first ligand or the second ligand is selected from

11. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein transition metal precursor compound comprising a Group 8 transition metal.

12. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein transition metal precursor compound comprising a Group 9 transition metal.

13. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein transition metal precursor compound comprising a Group 10 transition metal.

14. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein transition metal precursor compound comprising a Group 11 transition metal.

15. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the associated metal cations are selected from a Group 1, 2, 12, or 13 metal cation.

16. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the associated metal cations are lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc or aluminum cations.

17. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein:

the transition metal precursor compound comprises Ni;

the first ligand and the second ligand are selected independently from a diphosphine ligand, a diamine ligand, a diene ligand, a diether ligand, or dithioether ligand; and

the associated metal cations are selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc or aluminum cations.

18. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises:

(d) an olefin;

(e) carbon dioxide (CO 2 ); and

(f) a diluent.

19. The composition according to claim 18 , wherein the composition comprises a metalalactone compound, the metalalactone compound comprising (a) the Group 8-11 transition metal and (b) at least one of the first ligand or, when present, at least one of the second ligand.

20. The composition according to claim 19 , wherein the composition comprises an adduct of the metalalactone compound and the anionic polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations.

21. The composition according to claim 18 , wherein the diluent comprises an ether diluent, a carbonyl-containing diluent, an aromatic hydrocarbon diluent, a halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon diluent, an alcohol diluent, or combinations thereof.

22. The composition according to claim 18 , wherein the olefin comprises ethylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptane, octene, or styrene.

23. The composition according to claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises a metal-containing base selected from an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal oxide, hydroxide, alkoxide, aryloxide, amide, alkyl amide, arylamide, or carbonate.

24. The composition according to claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises a metal-containing base selected from Na 2 CO 3 , Cs 2 CO 3 , MgCO 3 , NaOH, KOH, Mg(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , Al(O i Pr) 3 , Na(O t Bu), or Mg(OEt) 2 .

25. A composition utilized for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, the composition comprising:

(a) a Group 8-10 transition metal precursor compound comprising and at least one first ligand selected independently from a diene ligand, an ether ligand, an organic carbonyl ligand, a thioether ligand, an amine ligand, a nitrile ligand, a phosphine ligand, or a carbene ligand;

(b) at least one second ligand selected independently from a diene ligand, an ether ligand, an organic carbonyl ligand, a thioether ligand, an amine ligand, a nitrile ligand, a phosphine ligand, or a carbene ligand;

(c) an anionic polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations comprising a metallated phenol-formaldehyde resin, a metallated polyhydroxyarene-formaldehyde resin, or a metallated polyhydroxyarene- and fluorophenol-formaldehyde resin;

(d) an olefin;

(e) carbon dioxide (CO 2 ); and

(f) a diluent.

26. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the composition comprises a metalalactone compound, the metalalactone compound comprising (a) the Group 8-10 transition metal and (b) at least one of the first ligand or at least one of the second ligand.

27. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the anionic polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations comprises a sodium phenol-formaldehyde resin, a potassium phenol-formaldehyde resin, a sodium resorcinol- and 2-fluorophenol-formaldehyde resin, or a potassium resorcinol- and 2-fluorophenol-formaldehyde resin.

28. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the Group 8-10 transition metal precursor compound comprises a Group 8 metal.

29. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the Group 8-10 transition metal precursor compound comprises a Group 9 metal.

30. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the Group 8-10 transition metal precursor compound comprises a Group 10 metal.

31. The composition according to claim 25 , wherein the composition further comprises a metal-containing base selected from an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal oxide, hydroxide, alkoxide, aryloxide, amide, alkyl amide, arylamide, or carbonate.

32. A process for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, the process comprising:

(a) contacting in any order

(i) a transition metal precursor compound comprising a Group 10 transition metal and at least one first ligand;

(ii) at least one second ligand; and

(iii) an anionic polyelectrolyte with associated metal cations, wherein the anionic polyelectrolyte comprises an alkoxide, an aryloxide, an acrylate, a (meth)acrylate, a sulfonate, an alkyl thiolate, an aryl thiolate, an alkyl amide, or an aryl amine groups;

(iv) an olefin;

(i) carbon dioxide (CO 2 ); and

(vi) a diluent, to provide a reaction mixture; and

(b) contacting the reaction mixture with a metal-containing base to produce an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid salt.

33. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the metal-containing base is selected from an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal oxide, hydroxide, alkoxide, aryloxide, amide, alkyl amide, arylamide, or carbonate.

34. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the anionic polyelectrolyte with associated metal cations is selected from a metallated poly(vinyl aryloxide) resin or a poly(vinyl alkoxide) resin, each with associated metal cations.

35. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the anionic polyelectrolyte with associated metal cations comprises a polyphenoxide resin with associated metal cations.

36. The process according to claim 32 , wherein:

a) the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand is a bidentate ligand; or

b) the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand independently comprise(s) at least one of a nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, or oxygen coordinating atom.

37. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand independently comprise(s) a diphosphine ligand, a diamine ligand, a diene ligand, a diether ligand, or dithioether ligand.

38. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the first ligand, the second ligand, or both the first ligand and the second ligand independently comprise(s) an ether ligand, an organic carbonyl ligand, a thioether ligand, an amine ligand, a nitrile ligand, a phosphine ligand, a diene ligand, or a carbene ligand.

39. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the first ligand is a diene ligand and the second ligand is a diphosphine ligand.

40. The process according to claim 32 , wherein the contacting step is carried out in the absence of a metal hydride.