Transition metal complex for use in or as a catalyst for olefin polymerization

Transition metal complex suitable for use in a catalyst for olefin polymerization wherein the metal complex comprises at least one —SF5 group attached to a ligand bound to the metal, and wherein the complex is a catalyst or compound having the general structure 12.

• where the substituents and indices have the following meanings:
• M is a transition metal from groups 3 to 10 of the periodic table of the elements,
• L1 denotes a neutral Lewis base,
• L2 denotes halide ions, amide ions (R16)hNH2-h, h denoting an integer from 0 to 2, C1-C6 alkyl anions, allyl anions, benzyl anions or aryl anions, wherein optionally L1 and L2 are linked by one or more covalent bonds;
• X is CR or nitrogen atom (N), wherein R is hydrogen, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C7-C13 aralkyl radical or a C6-C14 aryl group, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more C1-C12 alkyl groups, halogens, mono- or polyhalogenated C1-C12 alkyl groups, C1-C12 alkoxy groups, silyloxy groups OSiR11R12R13;
• amino groups NR14R15 or C1-C12 thioether groups;
• Y is OH group, oxygen, sulfur, N-R10 or P-R10, provided that when Y is OH group, the bond between Y and M is a coordinate bond;
• a is 1 or 2;
• b=0 or 1;
• c=0 or 1, and wherein a+b+c equals the valency of the transition metal M and wherein b+c is 1 or 2;
• R1 to R9 are independently of one another:
• hydrogen;
• C1-C12 alkyl, the alkyl groups being branched or unbranched, optionally C1-C12 alkyl being substituted one or more times by identical or different substituents selected from C1-C12 alkyl groups, halogens, C1-C12 alkoxy groups, C1-C12 thioether groups;
• and C7-C13 aralkyl;
• C3-C12 cycloalkyl;
• C3-C12 cycloalkyl substituted one or more times by identical or different substituents selected from C1-C12 alkyl groups, halogens, C1-C12 alkoxy groups and C1-C12 thioether groups;
• C6-C14 aryl, optionally substituted by identical or different substituents selected from one or more C1-C12 alkyl groups, halogens, mono- or polyhalogenated C1-C12 alkyl groups, C1-C12 alkoxy groups, silyloxy groups OSiR11R12R13;
• amino groups NR14R15 and C1-C12 thioether groups;
• C1-C12 alkoxy groups;
• silyloxy groups OSiR11R12R13;
• halogens;
• NO2 groups or amino groups NR14R15;
• or
• —SF5 groups or radicals of the formula 14 below, where n is an integer from 1 to 5;
• optionally in each case two adjacent radicals R1 to R9 forming with one another a saturated or unsaturated 5- to 8-membered ring;
• R10 to R16 independently of one another being hydrogen, C1-C20 alkyl groups, which are optionally substituted with O(C1-C6 alkyl) or N(C1-C6 alkyl)2 groups, C3-C12 cycloalkyl groups, C7-C13 aralkyl radicals, C7-C13 substituted aralkyl radicals, C6-C14 aryl groups or substituted C6-C14 aryl groups;
• wherein at least one of the radicals R1 to R9 is in the form of a —SF5 group or a radical of the formula 14 below
• where n is an integer from 1 to 5.