Synthesis and Structure of Group 4 Symmetric Amidinate Complexes and Their Reactivity in the Polymerization of α-Olefins

The steric properties of various nitrogen substituents on amidines were tuned in order to obtain group 4 mono- and bis(amidinate) dimethylamido or chloride complexes. The amidinate dimethylamido and chloride complexes were prepared, and their solid-state as well as their solution-state structures were studied. After the activation by MAO, these complexes were tested in the polymerization of propylene and ethylene. A noticeable influence of the amidine carbon and nitrogen substituents on the activity of the catalyst and properties of the obtained polymer was observed. Further, a plausible mechanism for the ethylene polymerization process is presented taking into account a combination of ESR-C 60 and MALDI-TOF experiments, shedding light on the nature of the catalytic species.