Toluene and α‑Olefins as Radical Scavengers: Direct NMR Evidence for Homolytic Chain Transfer Mechanism Leading to Benzyl and “Dormant” Titanium Allyl Complexes

Resting/dormant benzyl- and allyl-type Ti­(IV) complexes formed under α-olefin polymerization conditions have been detected and characterized by NMR. Experimental and computational evidence supports a formation mechanism via reversible Ti–C bond homolysis rather than “classical” σ-bond metathesis.