含苄氯端基β-蒎烯大分子引发剂及嵌段共聚物的合成

在 - 40℃下 ,CH2 Cl2 中以α 氯代乙苯为引发剂 ,Ti(OiPr) 4 TiCl4复合物 (摩尔比为 1 3)为Lewis酸活化剂、nBu4NCl存在下先进行 β 蒎烯的活性聚合 ,30min后当单体转化率接近 10 0 %时 ,加入苯乙烯引发其活性聚合 .在苯乙烯低转化率 (15 %左右 )下终止反应 ,得到由 3～ 5个苯乙烯链节封端带苄氯端基的聚 β 蒎烯大分子引发剂 .1 H NMR分析表明每个大分子引发剂所带的苄氯端基数接近 1(1 1) .大分子引发剂与Ti(OiPr) 4 TiCl4复合后 ,CH2 Cl2 中 - 40℃下能顺利引发苯乙烯阳离子聚合 ,获得 β 蒎烯 苯乙烯嵌段共聚物 ;与氯化亚铜(CuCl) 2 ,2′ 联二吡啶 (bipy)复合 ,组成原子转移自由基聚合 (ATRP)引发体系 ,在甲苯中 110℃引发甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (MMA)自由基聚合 ,得到 β 蒎烯 MMA嵌段共聚物 ,但此时大分子引发剂的引发效率小于 10 0 %     

ABA triblock copolymers with pendant hydroxyl groups prepared by controlled cationic polymerization and their use as delivery carrier for paclitaxel

To improve the hydrophilicity of poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS), this study focuses on the synthesis of novel functional ABA triblock copolymer thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with polyisobutylene (PIB) as rubbery segments. The precursor poly{(styrene-co-4-[2-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy) ethyl]styrene)-b-isobutylene-b-(styrene-co-4-[2-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)ethyl]styrene)}(P(St-co-TBDMES)-PIB-P(St-co-TBDMES)) triblock copolymer was first synthesized by living sequential cationic copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) with styrene (St) and 4-[2-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy) ethyl]styrene (TBDMES) using 1,4-di(2-chloro-2-propyl)benzene (DiCumCl)/titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄)/2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (DtBP) as the initiating system. Then, P(St-co-TBDMES)-PIB-P(St-co-TBDMES) was hydrolyzed in the presence of tetra-butylammonium fluoride to yield poly{[styrene-co-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)styrene]-bisobutylene-b-[styrene-co-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)styrene]} (P(St-co-HOES)-PIB-P(St-co-HOES)) with pendant hydroxyl groups. P(St-co-HOES)-PIB-P(St-co-HOES) used as the paclitaxel carrier was also investigated in this study. Comparing with SIBS, P(St-co-HOES)-PIB-P(St-co-HOES) has exhibited better compatibility with paclitaxel and higher release rate.     

β-蒎烯嵌段、接枝共聚物的合成

分别使用苯乙烯 HCl加成物 (a)和 2 氯乙基乙烯基醚 HCl加成物 (b)作为引发剂 ,TiCl4 Ti(OiPr) 4(3∶1mol mol)为活化剂 ,在nBu4NCl存在下 ,- 40℃、CH2 Cl2 中 ,通过顺序活性阳离子聚合 ,合成了 β 蒎烯与苯乙烯、对甲基苯乙烯的嵌段共聚物 .又用带丙烯酰氧功能基的引发剂c [CH3CH (OCH2 CH2 X )Cl,X =OCOC(CH3)CH2 ]引发 β 蒎烯活性阳离子聚合 ,合成了 β 蒎烯大分子单体 .该大分子单体在AIBN引发下与甲基丙烯酸甲酯进行自由基共聚 ,获得主链为聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯、侧链为聚 β 蒎烯的接枝共聚物     

非MAO的茂钛均相催化体系催化苯乙烯间规聚合——[Cp~*TiMe_3]/[Ph_3C]~+[B(C_6F_5)_4]~-催化体系

非ＭＡＯ的茂钛均相催化体系催化苯乙烯间规聚合———［ＣｐＴｉＭｅ３］／［Ｐｈ３Ｃ］＋［Ｂ（Ｃ６Ｆ５）４］－催化体系许光学林尚安（中山大学高分子研究所广州５１０２７５）关键词茂钛络合物，茂金属催化剂，苯乙烯，间规聚苯乙烯间规聚苯乙烯（ｓＰＳ）由于具...     

旋光性聚{(+)-甲基丙烯酸-2,5-二[4′-((S)-2-甲基丁氧基)苯基]苄酯}的合成与表征

设计、合成了一个带有横挂三联苯侧基的手性乙烯基单体——(+)-甲基丙烯酸-2,5-二[4′-((S)-2-甲基丁氧基)苯基]苄酯,进行了普通自由基和原子转移自由基聚合反应.所得聚合物具有比单体低30°左右的比旋光度,且在侧基的紫外吸收处呈现明显不同于单体的Cotton效应,说明其主链可能形成了具有相反旋光方向的螺旋构象.在所研究范围内,聚合条件对聚合物的旋光度没有明显的影响.在分子量较小时,聚合物的比旋光度随着分子量的增加而降低,说明主链螺旋构象的贡献在增大,而当分子量达到一定值后,聚合物的比旋光度不再随分子量的增加而显著变化.     

Synthesis of block and graft copolymers of β-pinene and styrene by transformation of living cationic polymerization to atom transfer radical polymerization

The transformations of living cationic polymerization to ATRP to form the block and graft copolymers of β-pinene with styrene were performed. Poly(β-pinene) carrying benzyl chloride terminal [poly(β-p)StCl] was prepared by capping the living poly(β-pinene), which was obtained with 1-phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, with a few units of styrene. Poly(β-p)StCl, in conjunction with CuCl and bpy, could initiate the ATRP of styrene and gave well-defined block copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. In contrast, tert-alkyl-chlorine-capped poly(β-pinene) [poly(β-p)Cl] obtained by living cationic polymerization of β-pinene per se without capping of styrene gave a mixture of desired block copolymers and unreacted poly(β-p)Cl due to the low initiating reactivity of poly(β-p)Cl. Brominated poly(β-pinene) synthesized by the quantitative bromination of poly(β-pinene) using NBS was also used to initiate the ATRP of styrene in the presence of CuBr and bpy to prepare the graft copolymer of β-pinene and styrene. The first-order kinetic characteristic and linear increment of molecule weight with the increasing of monomer conversion indicated the living nature of this ATRP grafting.     

Anionic synthesis of binary random in-chain multi-functionalized poly(styrene/butadiene/isoprene and dimethyl [4-phenylvinyl)-phenyl]silane)(PS-DPESiH,PB-DPESiH,PI-DPESiH) copolymers

The binary random in-chain silyl-hydride multi-functionalized poly(styrene/butadiene/isoprene and dimethyl[4-(1-phenylvinyl) phenyl]silane)(PS-DPESiH,PB-DPESiH,PI-DPESiH) copolymers were successfully synthesized.These functionalized copolymers were prepared in hexane with n-BuLi as the initiator at 50℃for 4 h.The silyl-hydride groups were introduced into polymer backbones quantitatively by living anionic polymerization.The copolymers were determined through ’H NMR,size exclusion chromatography(SEC) and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) techniques,while the number of silyl-hydride groups was calculated and discussed.     

High-temperature single-site ethylene polymerization behavior of titanate complexes supported by 1,3-bis(3,5-dialkylpyrazol-1-yl)propan-2-olate ligation

Titanate(1-) complexes Na[(THF)(kappa1-O-bdbpzp)TiCl4] (1) and Na[(THF)(kappa1-O-bdmpzp)TiCl4] (2) and titanate(2-) complexes [Na(THF)]2[(kappa1-O-bdbpzp)2TiCl4] (4) and [Na(THF)]2[(kappa1-O-bdmpzp)2TiCl4] (5) were obtained in good yield from reaction of Na[bdbpzp] or Na[bdmpzp] (sodium salt of 1,3-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazol-1yl)propan-2-ol or 1,3-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1yl)propan-2-ol) with TiCl4 (in the appropriate molar ratio) at 0-25 degrees C. Protonolysis of TiCl4 with 1 equiv of bdmpzpH furnished related zwitterionic titanate(1-) complex 3 that possessed a kappa2-N,O-coordinated pyrazolyl-alkoxide with pendant pyrazolium group. Methylalumoxane (MAO) activation of 1-5 under high-temperature solution polymerization conditions produced active single-site ethylene polymerization catalysts that exhibit considerably higher thermal stability (especially 2/MAO, 3/MAO, and 5/MAO) than previously reported for Cp2TiCl2/MAO or Ti catalysts supported by related heteroscorpionate or scorpionate ligation.     

1,3-二氯-1,1′,3,3′-四(1,3-二苯基-1,3-丙二酮)-μ-氧合钛(Ⅳ)的晶体结构与分子结构

本文报导了氧桥双核钛配合物[TiCl(BZBZ)_2]_2O的晶体结构和分子结构。配合物晶体(分子式C_(60)H_(44)Cl_2O_9Ti_2)属单斜晶系,C2/c空间群,a=21.013(7),b=18.509(2),c=17.493(2),β=91.43(2)°,V=6801.5(?)~3,M_r=1075.72,Z=4,D_x=1.05 gcm~(-3),μ=3.54 cm~(-1),F(000)=2216,R=0.104(1887个可观测衍射)。配合物分子由Ti—O—Ti桥氧骨架构成,有一分子内二重轴通过桥氧原子。对配合物的生成机理作了探讨。     

High-molecular-weight Polyethylene Prepared with Early Transition Metal Catalysts

Early transition metal catalysts [N,N]MCln, in which [N,N] is N-（2,6-diisopropylphenyl） pyridine-2-carboxaldimine （C18H22N2, NN-1）, N-（2,6-diisopropylphenyl）-6-methylpyridine-2- carboxaldimine （C19H24N2, NN-2）, N-（2,4,6-trimethylphenyl）pyridine-2-carboxaldimine （CIsH16N2, NN-3）, M is Ti, Zr and V, and n is 3 or 4, e.g. [NN-1]TiCh 1a, [NN-1]ZrCh 1b, [NN-1]VC13 1c, [NN-2]TiCh 2a, [NN-2]ZrCh 2b, [NN-2]VC13 2e, [NN-3]TiCh 3a have been investigated to catalyze ethylene polymerization in the presence of methylaluminoxane （MAO）. It was noteworthy that polyethylene characteristic of high molecular weight and wide or bimodal molecular weight distribution was formed with moderate to high activities.     

Reaction of p-toluenesulfonylamide and M(NMe2)4 (M = Ti, V): generation of electron-deficient imido complexes of early transition metals

p-Toluenesulfonamide (p-TsNH2) was successfully employed as an imido ligand precursor in the synthesis of highly air- and moisture-sensitive titanium(IV) and vanadium(IV) complexes. Reaction of M(NMe2)4 (M = Ti, V) with TsNH2 in toluene afforded [M(micro-NTs)(NMe2)2]2 dimer complexes (M = Ti (1), V (2)). By contrast, the reaction carried out in dichloromethane led to [Ti[micro-N,O-NTs]Cl(NMe2)(NHMe2)2]2 (3) and [Ti[micro-N,O-NTs]Cl2(NHMe2)2]n (4) through solvent activation. The same reaction of M(NMe2)4/TsNH2 conducted in the presence of an excess of trimethylchlorosilane produced [V(=NTs)Cl2(NHMe2)2] (5) and [(Me2HN)Cl2Ti(micro2-N-NTs-kappa2N,O)2TiCl2(NHMe2)2] (6). Alternatively, compound 6 has also been prepared from TiCl2(NMe2)2 and TsNH2. 1 was reacted with trimethylchlorosilane to afford the amide complex [Ti[micro-N,O'-N(SiMe3)Ts-kappa3N,O,O']Cl2(NMe2)]2 (7) in which the tosylimide bond has been silylated. Compounds 1-6 represents the first examples of sulfonylimido complexes for titanium and vanadium.     

A Copper-Based Reverse ATRP Process for the Living Radical Polymerization of 4-Vinylpyridine: Discussion on Optimum Reaction Conditions

In this original experiment, reverse atom transfer radical polymerization technique using CuCl₂/hexamethyl tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me₆-TREN) as catalyst complex was applied to living radical polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. N,N-Dimethylformamide was used as solvent to improve the solubility of the reaction system. The polymerization not only showed the best control of molecular weight and its distribution, but also provided a rather rapid reaction rate with the molar ratio of [4VP]:[AIBN]:[CuCl₂]:[Me₆-TREN] = 400:1:2:2. The rate of polymerization increased with increasing the polymerization temperature and the apparent activation energy was calculated to be 51.5 kJ· mol¹. Use of Cl as the halogen in copper halide had many advantages over the use of Br. The resulting poly(4-vinylpyridine) was successfully used as the macroinitiator to proceed the block polymerization of styrene in the presence of CuCl/Me₆-TREN catalyst complex via a conventional ATRP process in DMF.     

Similarities and differences of epoxide, aldehyde and peroxide initiators for Cp2TiCl-catalyzed styrene living radical polymerizations

Cp₂TiCl is the first example of a single electron transfer (SET) agent that both provides initiating radicals from three different types of functionalities (i.e. radical ring opening of epoxides and reduction of aldehydes and peroxides) and doubles as mediator for the living radical polymerization of styrene (St) by reversibly endcapping the growing polymer chains. An initiator (I) comparison was performed using 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDE), benzaldehyde (BA) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as models. The investigation of the effect of reaction variables was carried out over a wide range of experimental conditions ([Cp₂TiCl₂]/[I] = 0.5/1-4/1; [Zn]/[Cp₂TiCl₂] = 0.5/1-3/1, [St]/[I] = 50/1-400/1 and T = 60-130 °C) to reveal living polymerization features such as a linear dependence of molecular weight on conversion and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) for each initiator class. However, progressively lower polydispersities and larger initiator efficiencies are obtained with increasing the [Cp₂TiCl₂]/[I] and [Zn]/[Cp₂TiCl₂] ratios and with decreasing temperature. Accordingly, optimum conditions correspond to [St]/[I]/[Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn] = [50-200]/[1]/[2-3]/[4-6] at 70-90 °C. By contrast to peroxides, aldehydes and the more reactive epoxides provide alcohol end groups useful in block or graft copolymers synthesis.     

Living polymerization of ethylene catalyzed by titanium complexes having fluorine-containing phenoxy-imine chelate ligands

Seven titanium complexes bearing fluorine-containing phenoxy-imine chelate ligands, TiCl(2)[eta(2)-1-[C(H)=NR]-2-O-3-(t)Bu-C(6)H(3)](2) [R = 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl (1), R = 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl (2), R = 2,6-difluorophenyl (3), R = 2-fluorophenyl (4), R = 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl (5), R = 3,5-difluorophenyl (6), R = 4-fluorophenyl (7)], were synthesized from the lithium salt of the requisite ligand and TiCl(4) in good yields (22%-76%). X-ray analysis revealed that the complexes 1 and 3 adopt a distorted octahedral structure in which the two phenoxy oxygens are situated in the trans-position while the two imine nitrogens and the two chlorine atoms are located cis to one another, the same spatial disposition as that for the corresponding nonfluorinated complex. Although the Ti-O, Ti-N, and Ti-Cl bond distances for complexes 1 and 3 are very similar to those for the nonfluorinated complex, the bond angles between the ligands (e.g., O-Ti-O, N-Ti-N, and Cl-Ti-Cl) and the Ti-N-C-C torsion angles involving the phenyl on the imine nitrogen are different from those for the nonfluorinated complex, as a result of the introduction of fluorine atoms. Complex 1/methylalumoxane (MAO) catalyst system promoted living ethylene polymerization to produce high molecular weight polyethylenes (M(n) > 400 000) with extremely narrow polydispersities (M(w)/M(n) < 1.20). Very high activities (TOF > 20 000 min(-1) atm(-1)) were observed that are comparable to those of Cp(2)ZrCl(2)/MAO at high polymerization temperatures (25, 50 degrees C). Complexes 2-4, which have a fluorine atom adjacent to the imine nitrogen, behaved as living ethylene polymerization catalysts at 50 degrees C, whereas complexes 5-7, possessing no fluorine adjacent to the imine nitrogen, produced polyethylenes having M(w)/M(n) values of ca. 2 with beta-hydrogen transfer as the main termination pathway. These results together with DFT calculations suggested that the presence of a fluorine atom adjacent to the imine nitrogen is a requirement for the high-temperature living polymerization, and the fluorine of the active species for ethylene polymerization interacts with a beta-hydrogen of a polymer chain, resulting in the prevention of beta-hydrogen transfer. This catalyst system was used for the synthesis of a number of unique block copolymers such as polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene-co-propylene) diblock copolymer and polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene-co-propylene)-b-syndiotactic polypropylene triblock copolymer from ethylene and propylene.     

Schiff碱钛配合物催化n-辛基联烯聚合

采用简便的方法, 合成了Schiff碱钛配合物Ti(Salen)2Cl2[Salen为N,N-(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)anilinato]并与Al(i-Bu)3组成二元催化体系用于n-辛基联烯的聚合. 实验结果表明, 在单体与催化剂摩尔比为100, n(Al)/n(Ti)=50, 催化剂于80 ℃陈化时间1 h后, 于80 ℃本体聚合16 h得到聚n-辛基联烯, 转化率100%, 分子量Mw=1.1×105, MWD=1.77, 1,2聚合链节单元质量分数为50%.     

活性正离子聚合制备聚(异丁烯-b-α-甲基苯乙烯)嵌段共聚物

以2-氯-2,4,4-三甲基戊烷(TMPCl)/TiCl4/质子捕捉剂(DtBP)为引发剂体系,引发异丁烯聚合,随后加入1,1-二(4-甲基苯基)乙烯作为封端剂稳定末端碳正离子,再引入四异丙醇钛(Ti(OiPr)4),降低Lewis酸性,继续引发α-甲基苯乙烯聚合,实现活性正离子聚合制备聚(异丁烯-b-α-甲基苯乙烯)嵌段共聚物.考察了α-甲基苯乙烯聚合时间对单体转化率、产物的dn/dc值、分子量及其分布的影响以及四异丙醇钛对聚合速率的影响.并通过体积排斥色谱法/紫外检测器/示差折光指数/多角激光光散射、1H-NMR以及DSC以对产物进行表征.实验结果表明,嵌段共聚物分子量分布窄(MWD≤1.2),单体转化率与分子量呈线性关系,聚合速率对单体浓度呈一级动力学关系,具有活性聚合的特征.Ti(OiPr)4能有效稳定活性中心,降低聚合速率.聚(异丁烯-b-α-甲基苯乙烯)嵌段共聚物的DSC测试发现明显的两个Tg,表明存在微相分离结构.     

3-对甲氧基苯基-和3-对羟基苯基-1-氨基-3a,4,5,9b-四氢化-9b-羟基-3H-环戊烯并[a]萘-2-甲腈的合成和晶体结构

用低价钛试剂(TiCl₄-Zn)与2-氰基-3-对甲氧基苯基-3-(1-四氢萘酮-2-基)丙腈反应合成了3-对甲氧基苯基-1-氨 基-3a,4,5,9b-四氢化-9b-羟基-3H-环戊烯并[a]萘-2-甲腈和3-对羟基苯基-1-氨基-3a,4,5,9b-四氢化-9b-羟基-3H-环戊烯并[a]萘-2-甲腈, 并用X射线衍射分析确定了这两个产物的结构.     

Titanium complexes supported by an [OSSO]-type bis(phenolato) ligand based on a trans-cyclooctanediyl platform: synthesis, structures, and 1-hexene polymerization

trans-Cyclooctanediyl-bridged [OSSO]-type ligand 4 reacts with TiCl(4)(thf)(2) in toluene to produce the corresponding titanium(IV) dichloro complexes as an inseparable mixture of cis-α isomer 6a and cis-β isomer 6b in a ratio of 2:1, whereas treatment of dilithio salt of 4 with TiCl(3)(thf)(3) in Et(2)O afforded chloride-bridged dimeric titanium(III) complex 8, which indicated the antiferromagnetic character in a nonpolar solvent solution. Di(isopropoxy) titanium(IV) complex 10 having a C(2)-symmetric cis-α configuration was synthesized by the reaction of 4 with Ti(O(i)Pr)(4) in toluene as yellow crystals. Moreover, the reaction of 4 with Ti(NEt(2))(4) in toluene resulted in the unexpected formation of [OSSO]-type bis(phenolato)-bridged dinuclear diamido titanium(IV) complex 11, which adopted a distorted tetrahedral geometry on the titanium center. These titanium complexes were characterized on the basis of their NMR spectroscopic data, and the molecular structures of complexes 8, 10, and 11 were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The titanium(IV) and (III) complexes 6 and 8 upon activation with a cocatalyst in toluene polymerized 1-hexene isospecifically to produce poly(1-hexene) having high molecular weight (M(w) = 22,000-52,000 g mol(-1)) and relatively narrow polydispersity (M(w)/M(n) = 1.7-1.8), albeit with low activity [0.27-1.0 g mmol(cat)(-1) h(-1)].     

(n-BuCp)_2TiCl_2/Sn/I_s引发合成梳形羟基功能化无规聚苯乙烯及聚合物结构与性能的研究

采用茂金属化合物(n-BuCp)2TiCl2,还原剂(Sn),引发剂苯基缩水甘油基醚甲醛共聚物(Is)组成的催化体系引发苯乙烯活性自由基聚合,合成梳形羟基功能化无规聚苯乙烯.考察了聚合温度、聚合时间及引发剂与单体的比例对苯乙烯聚合的影响.当聚合温度在65～95℃范围内,随着聚合温度的升高,聚合物的分子量及单体转化率增加;在一定温度下,聚合物的分子量与单体转化率之间存在线性增长关系,且聚合物的分子量分布较窄(Mw/Mn=1.6～1.9).采用GPC,WAXD,13C(1H)-NMR对聚合物(沸丁酮可溶级分)的结构与性能进行了表征.GPC结果证明(n-BuCp)2TiCl2/Sn/Is引发苯乙烯聚合为活性聚合;13C-NMR和WAXD结果说明聚苯乙烯链段为无规结构;1H-NMR结果表明聚合物分子链中含有羟基,并根据其结果计算出聚合物分子的臂数为4,与引发剂Is的环氧基团数相等.这些结果证明了其聚合机理是经环氧基团开环后形成的自由基引发苯乙烯自由基聚合.     

Syntheses, structure, and reactivity of chiral titanium compounds: procatalysts for olefin polymerization

Titanium complexes with chelating alkoxo ligands have been synthesised with the aim to investigate titanium active centres in catalytic ethylene polymerisation. The titanium complexes cis-[TiCl2(eta2-maltolato)2] (1, 89%), and cis-[TiCl2(eta2-guaiacolato)2] (2, 80%) were prepared by direct reaction of TiCl4 with maltol and guaiacol in toluene. The addition of maltol to [Ti(OiPr)4] in THF results in the formation of species [Ti(OiPr)2(maltolato)2] (3, 82%). The titanium compound cis-[Ti(OEt)2(eta2-maltolato)2] (4, 74%) was obtained by the transesterification reaction of species 3 with CH3CO2Et. When compound 4 is dissolved in THF a dinuclear species [Ti2(mu-OEt)2(OEt)4-(eta2-maltolato)2] (5, 45%) is formed. Reaction of [Ti(OiPr)4] with crude guaiacol in THF yields a solid, which after recrystallisation from acetonitrile gives [Ti4(mu-O)4(eta2-guaiacolato)] x 4CH3CN (6, 55%). In contrast, reaction of TiCl4 with crude guaiacol in tetrahydrofuran affords [Ti2(mu-O)Cl2(eta2-guaiacolato)4] (7, 82%). Crystallographic and electrochemical analyses of these complexes demonstrate that maltolato and guaiacolato ligands can be used as a valuable alternative for the cyclopentadienyl ring. These complexes have been shown to be active catalysts upon combination with the appropriate activator.