Cationic Group 4 Metal Alkyl Compounds Containing o-Arylphenoxide Ligation

Treatment of the dibenzyl compounds [(ArO)₂M(CH₂Ph)₂] (ArO = 2,6-diphenyl-3,5-dimethylphenoxide, M = Ti, Zr; ArO = 2,6-diphenylphenoxide, M = Ti) with [B(C₆F₅)₃] gave the corresponding zwitterionic species [(ArO)₂M⁺(CH₂Ph)(η⁶-C₆H₅CH₂B^-(C₆F₅)₃)]. Addition of [B(C₆F₅)₃] to the titanium dimethyl compounds [(ArO)₂TiMe₂] gave unstable species which polymerize ethene and propene.