Cationic alkyl aluminium ethylene polymerization catalysts based on monoanionic N,N,N-pyridyliminoamide ligands

Treatment of the 2,6-bis(imino)pyridines {[2,6-(ArNCR)2C5H3N]} [R = H, Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3 or 2,4,6-Me3C6H2; R = Me, Ar = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3] with AlMe3 at elevated temperature gives, via migration of a methyl group to the ligand backbone, the pseudo-five coordinate dimethylaluminium species {2-[ArNCR(Me)],6-(ArNCR)C5H3N}- AlMe2 (1a–c); upon treatment with B(C6F5)3, 1a–c cleanly afford the cationic methyl complexes [{2-[ArNCR(Me)],6-(ArNCR)C5H3N}AlMe]+[MeB(C6F5)3]– (2a–c) which are active for ethylene polymerization.