Linear, high molecular weight polyethylene from a discrete, mononuclear phosphinoarenesulfonate complex of nickel(II)

A well-defined, homogeneous catalyst, [(Ph)(2-(2',6'-(OMe)(2)-C(6)H(3))-C(6)H(4))P(2-SO(3)-C(6)H(4))]Ni(Ph)PPh(3), in which a single, bulky ortho-biphenyl substituent on the chelating phosphine blocks one axial position, is very active for formation of linear polyethylene (M(n) = 403 000 g mol(-1), M(w)/M(n) = 1.87).