Process for production of bis-(pentafluorophenyl) borane and use thereof for producition of base free zwitterionic homogeneous Ziegler-Natta olefin polymerization catalysts

A method of hydroborating alkenes by reaction with (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH, comprising:

• providing a quantity of [(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH].sub.2 and a quantity of an alkene;
• and
• mixing said quantity of [(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH].sub.2 with a dry aromatic organic solvent to produce a suspension comprising an equilibrium mixture of [(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH].sub.2 and (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH and mixing therewith said quantity of said alkene, such that said alkene reacts with said (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH to undergo hydroboration.

A method of hydroborating alkynes by reaction with (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH, comprising:

• providing a quantity of [(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH].sub.2 and a quantity of an alkyne;
• and
• mixing said quantity of [(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH].sub.2 with a dry aromatic organic solvent to produce a suspension comprising an equilibrium mixture of [(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH ].sub.2 and (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH and mixing therewith said quantity of said alkyne, such that said alkyne reacts with said (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH to undergo hydroboration.

A compound having the formula Cp.sub.2 Zr{R'"[(.mu.-H)B(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 ]} wherein Cp is cyclopentadienyl and R'" is selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.2 and (.eta..sup.3 -CH(C.sub.6 H.sub.5)).

A method of producing chelating bis borane co-catalysts by hydroboration of terminal alkynes by reaction with (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH, comprising:

• providing an amount of a terminal alkyne having a formula RC.ident.CH wherein R is selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl, and phenyl and alkyl organic functional groups;
• and
• reacting said terminal alkyne with an effective amount of (C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 BH to cause said terminal alkyne to undergo hydroboration to produce chelating bis borane co-catalysts having a formula RCH.sub.2 CH[B(C.sub.6 F.sub.5).sub.2 ].sub.2.