Process for preparation of monocyclopentadienyl metal complex compounds and method of use

Claim 1

A process for preparing a cationic complex comprising contacting: a) a derivative of a Group 4 or Lanthanide metal corresponding to the formula: ##STR4## wherein: M is zirconium or titanium; Cp* is a cyclopentadienyl group; or a group selected from indenyl, fluorenyl and hydrogenated derivatives thereof; or one of the foregoing groups substituted with one or more alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl moieties of up to 20 carbons, said Cp* further being bound in an η 5 bonding mode to M; Z is SiR* 2 , CR* 2 , SiR* 2 SiR* 2 CR* 2 CR* 2 , CR*═CR*, CR* 2 SiR* 2 , or GeR* 2 ; Y is a nitrogen or phosphorus containing group corresponding to the formula --N(R"")-- or --P(R"")--; wherein: R* each occurrence is hydrogen or a moiety selected from alkyl, aryl, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl groups and combinations thereof having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, and R"" is C 1-10 alkyl or C 6-10 aryl; X' each occurrence is halo, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, or aryloxy of up to 20 carbons; and p is 2, with b) a salt corresponding to the formula © + A - , wherein © + is a stable carbonium ion containing up to 30 nonhydrogen atoms and A - is a noncoordinating compatible anion; under conditions to cause abstraction of one X" and formation of the neutral species, .sup.© X".