CH bond activation in cations of the type {[(2,4,6-Me3C6H2NCH2CH2)(2)NMe]ZrR}(+) and a simple solution that yields a catalyst for the living polymerization of 1-hexene

{[(MesNCH(2)CH(2))(2)NMe]ZrMe}[B(C6F5)(4)] and intermediates in the polymer ization reaction of 1-hexene that are formed from it decompose as a consequ ence of CH activation in an ortho methyl group in the mesityl substituent. The intermediates in the polymerization reaction decompose significantly mo re readily than does {[(MesrNCH(2)CH(2))(2)NMe]ZrMe }[B(C6F5)(4)] On the ot her hand, analogous cationic complexes that contain the [(2,6-Cl2C6H3NCH2 C H2)(2)NMe](2-) ligand a re re la ti very stable and will consume 1-hexene i n a strictly first-order and apparently living manner at 0 degreesC in chlo robenzene.