Zirconium complexes with pendant aryloxy groups attached to the metallocene moiety by ethyl or hexyl spacers

Abstract Four zirconium complexes with pendant aryloxy groups attached to the metallocene moiety by ethyl or hexyl spacers have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods and HR-MS or elemental analysis. The solid state structure of bis[{6-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)hexyl}cyclopentadienyl]zirconium dichloride was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The prepared complexes were tested as catalyst precursors in the polymerization of ethylene upon activation with MAO. The results showed a marked effect of the spacer length on the catalytic activity, while only a minor effect of the substitution on the aryl group, which affected its steric properties.