Bis(Phenoxy‐Imine) Zr Complexes/Et 3 Al/Heteropoly Compound Catalyst Systems for Ethylene Polymerization

Bis(phenoxy‐imine) Zr complexes upon activation with Et 3 Al/(Ph 3 C) m H n [PMo 12 O 40 ] · 8 H 2 O (average: m / n  = 2:1) were demonstrated to be highly active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene. One of the complexes formed narrow‐molecular‐weight distributed polyethylene ( $\overline M _{\rm w} /\overline M _{\rm n}$ 1.45) with a very high activity (5640 kg‐PE · mol‐cat −1  · h −1 ), representing the first example of a MAO‐ and borate‐free, highly active, single‐site catalyst system based on a Group 4 transition metal complex and a heteropoly compound.Catalysis of ethylene with bis(phenoxy‐imine) Zr complexes activated with Et 3 Al/(Ph 3 C) m H n [PMo 12 O 40 ] · 8 H 2 O.