Titanium pyridyl-phosphinimide complexes — Synthesis, structure, and ethylene polymerization catalysis

A series of Ti–pyridyl-phosphinimide complexes of the form Cp′TiX2[NPR2(2-CH2Py)] (Cp′ = Cp, Cp*, R = i-Pr, t-Bu, X = Cl, Me) have been prepared and characterized. These complexes generate ethylene polymerization catalysts upon activation with MAO or B(C6F5)3. The resulting polymers exhibit broad molecular weight distributions. The role of the pyridyl group is discussed in light of stoichiometric reactions of CpTiCl2[NPR2(2-CH2Py)] with B(C6F5)3.Key words: phosphinimide complexes, pyridyl-phosphinimides, olefin polymerization.