Anionic group III complexes as weakly coordinating anions for olefin polymerization catalyst activators

An activator having a structure according to formula (I):

• where:
• M is a metal in a +3 oxidation state, the metal being selected from boron, aluminum, gallium, scandium, yttrium, or a lanthanide;
• [Cat]+ is +N(H)RN3, wherein each RN is independently (C1-C20) alkyl;
• or +C(C6H4RC)3, wherein each RC is independently chosen from (C1-C30) alkyl;
• or [HN(RS)(RN)2]+, where RN is (C1-C20) alkyl and RS is chosen from (C1-C30) alkyl, (C6-C20) aryl, (C5-C20) heteroaryl, or —H;
• R1, R2, R3, R4 R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, and R16 are independently chosen from (C1-C40) alkyl, (C6-C40) aryl, —H, —NRC2, —ORC, —SRC, or halogen, wherein each RC is independently a (C1-C30) hydrocarbyl or —H, provided at least one of R1-4, and one of R5-8, and one of R9-12, and one of R13-16 is a fluorine-substituted (C1-C40) alkyl, a fluorine-substituted (C6-C40) aryl, or —F;
• and
• R17 and R18 are (C1-C40) alkyl, (C1-C40) heteroalkyl, a fluorine-substituted (C1-C40) alkyl, or a fluorine-substituted (C6-C40) aryl.