Group 5 metal complexes for producing amine-functionalized polyolefins

A method for amination of a polyolefin having at least one alkene group, the method comprising:

• (i) reacting a secondary amine-containing moiety with the polyolefin in the presence of a metal complex, the metal complex having the structure of Formula I:
• wherein:
• (i) R1 and R2 are each independently H;
• a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl;
• a substituted or unsubstituted aryl;
• or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group;
• or
• R1 and R2 are bonded together thereby forming, together with the nitrogen atom they are both bound to, a heterocycle;
• and
• R3 is H;
• a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl;
• a substituted or unsubstituted aryl;
• or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group;
• or
• (ii) R1 is H;
• a C1-C40 substituted or unsubstituted linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl;
• a substituted or unsubstituted aryl;
• or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group;
• and
• R3 is bonded together with R2 to form a heterocycle;
• M is a group 5 metal;
• a=0 to 4 and b=0 to 4, wherein the sum of a and b is 4;
• each X is a halogen substituent;
• and
• each R4 is independently H;
• or a C1-C20 substituted or unsubstituted, linear, branched or cyclic alkyl, optionally comprising heteroatoms.