Synthesis and structures of selected benzamidinates of Li, Na, Al, Zr and Sn(II) using the C1-symmetric ligands [N(SiMe3)C(C6H4Me-4 or Ph)NPh]-

Several compounds based on the C(1)-symmetric ligands N(R)C(Ar)NPh]- abbreviated as B1 (Ar = C(6)H(4)Me-4) or B2 (Ar = Ph), R = SiMe(3)] are reported. They are the crystalline metal benzamidinates Li(mu:kappa2-B1)(OEt2)](2) (1), Al(kappa2-B1)2Me] (2), Al(kappa2-B1)2X] X = Cl/Me, 1 : 1 (3)], Sn(kappa2-B1)2] (4), Zr(kappa2-B1)2Cl2 (5), Zr(kappa2-B1)3Cl] (6), Na(mu:kappa2-B1)(tmeda)]2 (7), KB1] (8), Li(B2)(OEt2) (9) and Zr(kappa2-B1)3Cl (10) and the known benzamidine Z-H2NC(C6H4Me-4) = NPh (11). They were prepared by (i) insertion of the nitrile 4-MeC6H4CN (1, 7, 8, 11) or PhCN (9) into the appropriate M-N(R')Ph R' = R and M = Li (1, 9), Na (7), K (8)] bond and subsequent hydrolysis for 11 R' = H and M = Li], or (ii) a ligand transfer reaction using the lithium amidinate 1 and Al(Me)2Cl (2, 3), SnCl2 (4) or ZrCl4 (5, 6), or Li(B2) and ZrCl4 (10). The X-ray structures of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6b (i.e..3PhMe) 7, and 11 are presented. Exploratory polymerisation experiments are described, using 2, 5 or 6 as a procatalyst with methylaluminoxane (MAO) (Al : Zr ca. 500 : 1) as promoter. Thus toluene solutions were exposed to C2H4 under ambient conditions; while 2 was unresponsive, 5 and 6 showed modest activity in the formation of polyethylene.