NON-METALLOCENE GROUP-4 ORGANOMETALLIC COMPLEXES AS CATALYSTS FOR OLEFIN POLYMERIZATION - SYNTHESIS AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF THE CATIONIC COMPLEX [ZR(CH2PH)3]+ [B(CH2PH)(C6F5)3]-

The title cationic Cp-free zirconium hydrocarbyl has been synthesized by ligand abstraction from tetrabenzylzirconium with the strong Lewis acid tris (pentafluorophenyl)boron. NMR analysis indicates that the [Zr(CH2Ph)3]+ cation is stabilized by coordination of the phenyl ring of the anion [B(CH2Ph)(C6F5)3]-, and that this structure is maintained in aromatic solvents up to 100-degrees-C. The highly electrophilic zirconium cation reacts rapidly with Lewis bases such as THF, affording the 6-coordinate [Zr (CH2Ph)3 (THF)3]+ adduct. The title compound is the first non-metallocene group 4 cationic complex which functions as a single-component olefin polymerization catalyst.