Synthesis and reactivity of di(silylamido)cyclopentadienyl titanium and zirconium complexes

We present in this account the synthesis and recent developments of a new class of group 4 metal complexes with the tridentate di(silylamido)cyclopentadienyl ligand. These doubly silyl-bridged group 4 metal amido chelates are receiving increasing interest as they are efficient catalysts for ethene polymerization when activated with MAO despite generating 14-electron d0 cationic species free of the alkyl group required for the first insertion reaction in the polymerization process.