Polymerization catalysis with transition metal amidinate and related complexes

Applications of transition metal amidinate [RC(NR′)2], guanidinate and amidopyridine complexes to olefin coordination polymerization are reviewed. In addition, the use of complexes, featuring closely related ligands, such as phosphonamide or iminophosphonamide [R2P(NR′)2], in olefin polymerization is highlighted. Some of these complexes have also been investigated in the stereoregular polymerization of styrene and conjugated dienes, whereas more recent work has focused on controlled ring-opening polymerization of lactones and lactides.