Zirconocene complexes with a biphenyl substituted cyclopentadienyl ligand: synthesis, characterization, and olefin polymerization behavior

Nonbridged zirconocene complexes containing a 1-biphenyl-3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl ligand were prepared and their crystal structures have been determined. It was shown that they act as highly active catalysts in ethylene polymerization and afford atactic polypropylenes with good activity in propylene polymerization.