Half-sandwich titanium and zirconium complexes with tridentate dianionic aryloxide or arylsulfide
ligands [R-2-{(2-XC6H4)NCH}C6H2O]2- ([XNOR]2-, R = H, X = O (L1); R = 4-Me-6-Bu
t
(R‘), X =
O (L2); R = H, X = S (L3); R = 4-Me-6-Bu
t
(R‘), X = S (L4)) have been prepared. Reactions of
CpMCl3 (M = Ti, Zr) with sodium salts of the aryloxide or arylsulfide ligands (L1−L4) afford CpTi[XNOR]Cl [R = H, X = O (1); R = 4-Me-6-Bu
t
(R‘), X = O (2); R = H, X = S (3); R = 4-Me-6-Bu
t
(R‘), X = S (4)] and CpZr[ONOR]Cl [R = H (5)], respectively. Complexes 1−5 were characterized by
IR and 1H NMR spectra and elemental analyses, and their molecular structures have been determined by
X-ray diffraction methods. The coordination properties of these complexes have been investigated in the
solid state and compared to related systems. When activated by excess methylaluminoxane (MAO), these
complexes can be used as catalysts for ethylene polymerization and exhibited moderate activities. The
activities of arylsulfide complexes 3 and 4 are higher than those of their analogues, aryloxide complexes
1 and 2, and zirconium complex 5 is much more active than titanium complexes 1−4.