Synthesis of [(-cyano-P-nacnac)Cp] and [(-cyano-nacnac)Cp]-zirconium complexes, and their remote activation for ethylene polymerizationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: further experimental and spectroscopic details. CCDC reference numbers 847631847635. For ESI and crystallographic data in CIF or other electronic format see DOI: 10.1039/c1dt11261a

In this contribution the synthesis and characterization of two distinct, yet similar, zirconium complexes, [(- P -nacnac-CN)Cp] and [(-nacnac-CN)Cp] zirconium dichloride were discussed. In addition to the complexes, Lewis acid adducts [B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ] of the complexes were isolated and characterized as well. It was found that while structurally similar, the complexes behave distinctly upon adduct formation and in their ethylene polymerizations. The new complexes (nacnac-CN)CpZrCl 2 ( 3 ) and ( P -nacnac-CN)CpZrCl 2 ( 6 ) with a nitrile substituent at the ligand reacted with B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 to give the adducts 4 and 7 , which catalyse ethylene polymerization after activation with MAO.