Mono(amidinate) yttrium alkyl complexes: The effect of ligand variation on ethene polymerization catalysis

Yttrium dialkyl complexes were prepared for three different 2,6-diisopropylphenyl-substituted benzamidinate ligands. The electron-donating ability of the parent ligand (L1) was decreased by a pentafluorophenyl backbone substituent (L2), and enhanced by addition of a pendant Lewis base (L3). The corresponding cationic monoalkyl species were generated and compared in catalytic ethene polymerization.