The diaminebis(aryloxido) ligand precursors H(2)L(1) and H(2)L(2) [H(2)L(1) = Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N(CH(2)-4-CMe(2)CH(2)CMe(3)-C(6)H(3)OH)(2); H(2)L(2) = Me(2)NCH(2)CH(2)N(CH(2)-4-Me-C(6)H(3)OH)(2)] were synthesized by a straightforward single-step Mannich condensation. Their reactions with 2 molar equivalents of MeLi in thf afforded [Li(4)(μ-L-κ(4)O,N,N,O)(2)(thf)(2)] (1a, L(1); 1b, L(2)) and unexpectedly small amounts (∼9%) of [Li(6)(μ-L-κ(4)O,N,N,O)(2)(μ(3)-Cl)(2)(thf)(4)]·thf (2a·thf; L(1); 2b·thf, L(2)). Stoichiometric reactions of LiCl, MeLi and ligand precursors H(2)L led to the formation of 2a and 2b in high yield (∼80%). All compounds were characterized by chemical and physical techniques including X-ray crystallography for H(2)L(1), H(2)L(2), 1b, 2a and 2b.

The reactions of the diaminebis(aryloxido) ligand precursors [Me2NCH2CH2N(CH2-4-R-C6H3OH)2] [R = C(CH3)2CH2C(CH3)3, H2L(1); R = CH3, H2L(2)] with Mg(n)Bu2, ZnEt2 and AlEt3 create complexes of general formula [M2(μ-L-κ(4)O,N,N,O)2] (M = Mg, 1a for L(1) and 1b for L(2); M = Zn, 2a for L(1) and 2b for L(2)) and [Al2(μ-L-κ(3)O,N,N,O)2Et2] (3 for L(1)) in good yields. Compounds 1a-3 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS experiments. The definitive molecular structure of 1b·CH2Cl2, 2a·H2O, 2b·CH2Cl2 and 3 was provided by a single-crystal analysis and revealed their dimeric nature with an M2O2 planar core. The L(1) and L(2) ligands coordinate as the dianions in a tetradentate/bridging manner in 1b, 2a, 2b and in a tridentate/bridging mode in 3. The NMR spectra showed that the solid state of these compounds is essentially retained in solution.

A new imidazolidine-bridged bis(aryloxido) ligand precursor (H(2)L) [H(2)L = 2,2'-(imidazolidine-1,3-diylbis(methylene))bis(4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl-2-yl)phenol)] was prepared in a relatively high yield (∼60%) via a single-step Mannich condensation of 4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethylenediamine and paraformaldehyde at 2:1:3 molar ratio and characterized by chemical and physical techniques including X-ray crystallography. Reactions of H(2)L with [VO(OEt)(3)] at 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios in toluene afforded [V(L-κ(3)O,N,N,O)(O)(OEt)] (1) and [V(2)(μ-L-κ(4)O,N,N,O)(μ-OEt)(2)(O)(2)(OEt)(2)] (2), respectively. Alcoholysis of 1 with EtOH enables elimination of one molecule of H(2)L and the formation of 2. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy as well as ES-MS experiments. The definitive molecular structure of 2 was provided by a single-crystal analysis and revealed its dinuclear nature, featuring two octahedral vanadium centres bridged by both OEt groups and the L ligand. The (51)V, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra as well as ES-MS showed that 2 does not stay intact in solution and undergoes dissociation to give 1 and [VO(OEt)(3)].

Thio(bisphenolato) complexes of the type [M2(mu-tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2Cl4] [M = Zr 1, Hf 2 and tbop = 2,2-thiobis{4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-butyl)phenolate}] were prepared by HCl elimination from tbopH2 and MCl4. Substitution of the chlorides in 1 and 2 by 2,6-diisopropylphenolato groups (dipp) generates new compounds [M2(mu-tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2(dipp)4] (M = Zr 3, Hf 4). The structures of 1-4 were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy; complexes 3 and 4 were further investigated by X-ray crystallography. These studies showed 1-4 to be dimers either in the solid state or in solution and to have metal centers adopting distorted octahedral geometry. However treatment of MCl4 with [Al2(mu-OEt)2(tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2] or [Al2(mu-tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2Me2] gave heterotrinuclear complexes [M(tbop-kappa3O,S,O)2Cl2(mu-AlX2)2] (M = Zr, X = Cl 5, X = Me 7 and M = Hf, X = Cl 6, X = Me 8) for which the single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showed zirconium and hafnium centers to have eight-coordinate dodecahedral geometry. Complexes 1-6 after activation with aluminium alkyls and supporting on MgCl2 showed a lack of activity in the ethene polymerization process and moderate activity towards 1-hexene producing high molecular weight atactic poly(1-hexenes).