Olefin oligomerization, homopolymerization and copolymerization by late transition metals supported by (imino)pyridine ligands

In this review, the key advances achieved over more than 10 years on the design and development of (imino)pyridyl transition metal complexes as catalyst precursors for the transformation of ethylene, higher alpha-olefins and cyclic olefins into either linear/branched homopolymers or oligomers are highlighted. Particular attention has been paid to the relationships between the catalytic activity exhibited by the catalysts and their electronic and geometrical structure. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.