Supported cationic complexes: selective preparation and characterization of the well-defined electrophilic metallocenium cation [(identical)SiO–B(C6F5)3]–[Cp*ZrMe2(Et2NPh)]+ supported on silica

The reaction of Cp*ZrMe3, 1, with the heterogeneous activator [(identical)SiO–B(C6F5)3]–[HNEt2Ph]+, 2, has been investigated to generate, by an irreversible process of methane elimination, the well-defined cationic silica-supported metallocenium species [(identical)SiO–B(C6F5)3]–[Cp*ZrMe2(NEt2Ph)]+, 3, as an active olefin polymerisation catalyst.