Titanium and zirconium complexes containing the new 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diphenylcyclopentadienyl ligand. Synthesis, characterization and polymerization behavior

An easy and inexpensive three-step synthesis of new 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-diphenylcyclopentadiene (3) ligand and the titanium and zirconium homometallocene dichlorides [TiCl2(η5-C5H-2,3-Me2-1,4-Ph2)2] (4), [ZrCl2(η5-C5H-2,3-Me2-1,4-Ph2)2] (5), and the mixed ligand zirconium complex [ZrCl2(η5-C5H-2,3-Me2-1,4-Ph2)(η5-C5H5)] (6) prepared thereof are described. The polymerization of ethene using 4–6/MAO catalysts revealed that zirconocene complexes 5 and 6 displayed moderate and high activity, respectively, whereas the titanium catalyst 4/MAO was inactive. The crystal structures of 4 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography.