A Chromium Catalyst for the Polymerization of Ethylene as a Homogeneous Model for the Phillips Catalyst

A structurally characterized cationic chromium(III) alkyl featuring a bulky nacnac ligand catalyzes the polymerization of ethylene as well as the copolymerization of ethylene with α-olefins. This well-characterized homogeneous catalyst constitutes a structural as well as functional model of the widely used heterogeneous Phillips olefin polymerization catalyst.