Iminoyl N-heterocyclic carbine ligand with cationic allyl Pd(II) complex (3) was successfully
synthesized by transmetallation of corresponding Ag complex with one equivalent of
[Pd(allyl)(COD)]+SbF6–. A slightly distorted square planer structure of the Pd(II) complex 3 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Pd(II) complex 3 is stable in air and found to show moderate activity in the polymerization of norbornene without any activator. The polynorbornene produced with Pd(II) complex 3 was obtained to be stable up to 440 °C. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the polymer indicated addition polymerization of norbornene and the presence of the vinylene group at the end of polymer chain.