Preparation of addition polymerization catalysts

Claim 1

A process for preparing a metal coordination complex corresponding to the formula: wherein: M is a metal of Group 3-10, or the Lanthanide Series of the Periodic Table of the elements; Cp* is a substituted cyclopentadienyl group π-bound in an η⁵ bonding mode to M; Z is a moiety comprising boron, or a member of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and optionally sulfur or oxygen, said moiety having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally Cp* and Z together form a fused ring system; X independently each occurrence is an anionic ligand group or neutral Lewis base ligand group having up to 30 non-hydrogen atoms; n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 depending on the valence of M; and Y is an anionic or nonanionic ligand group bonded to Z and M comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulfur and having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, optionally Y and Z together form a fused ring system; the steps of the process comprising: (A) contacting a metal compound of the formula MX n+1 , or a coordinated adduct thereof with a dianionic salt compound corresponding to the formula: (L +x ) y (Cp*-ZR a -Y)⁻² or ((LX'') +x ) y (Cp*-ZR a -Y)⁻² wherein: L is a metal of Group 1 or 2 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, X'' is bromo, chloro or iodo, x and y are either 1 or 2 and the product of x and y equals 2, and M, X, Cp*, R, and Y are as previously defined; in a non-coordinating non-polar solvent; (B) contacting the resulting complex with an organic halide under reaction conditions suitable to raise the oxidation state of the metal; and (C) recovering the resulting product.