Synthesis and characterization of methyl-phenyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes

The synthesis and characterization of the monocyclopentadienyl zirconium complex [Zr(η5-1-Ph-3-Me-C5H3)Cl3], the dimethylsilyl-bridged ansa-zirconocene dichloride [Zr{(η5-2-Me-4-Ph-C5H2)SiMe2(η5-2-Ph-4-Me-C5H2)}Cl2] and the cyclopentadienylsilyl-η-amido dichloro and dialkyl complexes [Zr{η5-2-Me-4-Ph-C5H2(SiMe2-η-Nt-Bu)}X2] (X = Cl, Me, CH2Ph) are described. The silyl-η-amido complex activated with MAO is an efficient catalyst for ethene and propene polymerization.