Transition metal complexes

A transition metal complex which is soluble in non-polar media and is a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC−]q complex, comprising a bis-arylimine pyridine ligand having the formula (I) below:

• wherein any two of R1-R3 form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and the one of R1-R3 that is not part of a ring and R4-R5, R7-R9, R12 and R14 are each, independently, hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or any two of R7-R9 vicinal to one another taken together may form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• and R6 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R7 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R10 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R9 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R11 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing only 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally containing one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R12 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R15 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R14 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• provided that R13 and at least one of R12 and R14 are independently selected from optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy, halogen and optionally substituted C5-C20 aryl, or R13 taken together with R12 or R14 form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and provided that at least one of R12, R13 and R14 is optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy;
• M is a transition metal atom selected from Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pd, Rh, Ru, Mo, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir or Pt;
• X is halide, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, amide, or hydride;
• NC− is a non-coordinating anion;
• and
• p+q matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M.

A bis-arylamine pyridine ligand having the formula (I) below:

• wherein any two of R1-R3 form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and the one of R1-R3 that is not part of a ring and R4-R5, R7-R9, R12 and R14 are each, independently, hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or any two of R7-R9 vicinal to one another taken together may form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• and R6 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R7 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R10 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R9 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with only carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally containing one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R11 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R12 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R15 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R14 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• provided that R13 and at least one of R12 and R14 are independently selected from optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy, halogen and optionally substituted C5-C20 aryl, or R13 taken together with R12 or R14 form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and provided that at least one of R12, R13 and R14 is optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy.

A catalyst system comprising:

• (a) one or more transition metal complexes which are soluble in non-polar media and are a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex or a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC31 ]q complex, each comprising a bis-arylimine pyridine ligand of formula (I) below:
• wherein any two of R1-R3 form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and the one of R1-R3 that is not part of a ring and R4-R5, R7-R9, R12 and R14 are each, independently, hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or any two of R7-R9 vicinal to one another taken together may form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• and R6 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R7 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R10 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R9 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R11 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R12 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R15 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R14 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• provided that R13 and at least one of R12 and R14 are independently selected from optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy, halogen and optionally substituted C5-C20 aryl, or R13 taken together with R12 or R14 form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and provided that at least one of R12, R13 and R14 is optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy;
• M is a transition metal atom;
• n matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M;
• X is halide, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, amide, or hydride;
• NC− is a non-coordinating anion;
• and
• p+q matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M;
• and mixtures thereof;
• and
• (b)(i) in the case when a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex is present, (1) a co-catalyst compound capable of abstracting an anion and transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom, or (2) a co-catalyst compound capable of abstracting an anion and a co-catalyst compound capable of transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom;
• and/or
• (b)(ii) in the case where a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC−]q complex is present, a co-catalyst compound capable of transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom.

A continuous dimerization or co-oligomerization process comprising contacting a feed olefin in non-polar media, which is an alpha-olefin comprising at least 3 carbon atoms or an alpha olefin comprising 3 carbon atoms and ethylene, with a catalyst system comprising:

• (a) one or more transition metal complexes which are soluble in non-polar media and are selected from the group consisting of a transition metal complex which is a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex and a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC−]q complex, each comprising a bis-arylimine pyridine ligand having the formula (I)
• wherein any two of R1-R3 form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and the one of R1-R3 that is not part of a ring and R4-R5, R7-R9, R12 and R14 are each, independently, hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or any two of R7-R9 vicinal to one another taken together may form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• and R6 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R7 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R10 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R9 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R11 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R12 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R15 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R14 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• provided that R13 and at least one of R12 and R14 are independently selected from optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy, halogen and optionally substituted C5-C20 aryl, or R13 taken together with R12 or R14 form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and provided that at least one of R12, R13 and R14 is optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy;
• M is a transition metal atom;
• n matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M;
• X is halide, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, amide, or hydride;
• NC− is a non-coordinating anion;
• and
• p+q matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M;
• (b)(i) in the case when a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex is present, (1) a co-catalyst compound capable of abstracting an anion and transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom, or (2) a co-catalyst compound capable of abstracting an anion and a co-catalyst compound capable of transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom;
• and/or
• (b)(ii) in the case where a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC−]q complex is present, a co-catalyst compound capable of transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom.

A continuous oligomerization process comprising contacting ethylene in non-polar media with a catalyst system comprising:

• (a) one or more transition metal complexes which are soluble in non-polar media and are selected from the group consisting of a transition metal complex which is a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex and a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC−]q complex, each comprising a bis-arylimine pyridine ligand having the formula (I)
• wherein any two of R1-R3 form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and the one of R1-R3 that is not part of a ring and R4-R5, R7-R9, R12 and R14 are each, independently, hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or any two of R7-R9 vicinal to one another taken together may form a ring, which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• and R6 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R7 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R10 is hydrogen a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R9 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R4 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R11 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R12 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• R15 is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl containing 1 to 20 carbon and hydrogen atoms and optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, a functional group other than said hydrocarbyl group which does not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, or taken together with R14 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed or with R5 to form a ring which is an optionally substituted C6-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed;
• provided that R13 and at least one of R12 and R14 are independently selected from optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy, halogen and optionally substituted C5-C20 aryl, or R13 taken together with R12 or R14 form a ring which is an optionally substituted C5-C20 cyclic hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted with one or more heteroatom-containing functional groups that do not interfere to any substantial degree with the catalytic process in which said complex may be employed, and provided that at least one of R12, R13 and R14 is optionally substituted C4-C20 alkyloxy;
• M is a transition metal atom;
• n matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M;
• X is halide, optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, amide, or hydride;
• NC− is a non-coordinating anion;
• and
• p+q matches the formal oxidation state of the transition metal atom M;
• (b)(i) in the case when a bis-arylimine pyridine MXn complex is present, (1) a co-catalyst compound capable of abstracting an anion and transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom, or (2) a co-catalyst compound capable of abstracting an anion and a co-catalyst compound capable of transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom;
• and/or
• (b)(ii) in the case where a [bis-arylimine pyridine MXp+][NC−]q complex is present, a co-catalyst compound capable of transferring a hydrocarbyl or hydride group to the transition metal atom.