Alkyl bridged complexes of the group 3A and lanthanoid metals as homogeneous ethylene polymerisation catalysts

Abstract

The fully characterised group 3A and lanthanoid metal complexes [M(η-C₅H₄R)₂Me]₂(M;Y or Er, RH, Me, or SiMe₃, and MYb, RH or Me) and [M(η-C₅H₄R)₂Me₂AlMe₂](MY, Er, Ho, or Yb RH or Me, and MY, RSiMe₃) are active homogenous ethylene polymerisation catalysts; they show an intramolecular deactivation process involving abstraction of a cyclopentadinyl hydrogen which is completely suppressed with peralkylated derivatives.