Monometallic solvent stabilized transition metal cations as initiators for cyclopentadiene polymerization

Several mononuclear transition metal cations stabilized by acetonitrile molecules act as initiators for the polymerization of cyclopentadiene. The highest yield is reached with Cr, Mn, Fe, and Zn complexes, all of them in the oxidation state +II. The analogous V and Ni complexes, however, are completely or nearly inactive. In general, the observed activity of the examined monomeric complexes correlates well with the ligand field stabilization energy as a function of the number of d electrons for octahedrally coordinated transition metals in the oxidation state +II. The counter ions have a pronounced influ-ence on the catalytic activity: the less coordinating they are, the higher is the activity of the cations. The reaction temperature also has a significant influence: above 50°C the complex activity is on decline, possibly due to initiator decomposition or com-petitive inhibition by dicyclopentadiene.