Process for the preparation of a metal-organic compound comprising at least one imine ligand

1. A one step process for the preparation of a metal-organic compound, comprising contacting at least one imine ligand according to formula 1 with a metal-organic reagent of formula 2 in the presence of at least 1 equivalent of an inorganic or metal-organic base, or wherein an HA adduct of the imine ligand is contacted with a metal-organic reagent of formula 2 in the presence of at least 2 equivalents of an inorganic or metal-organic base, wherein formula 1 is:

Y═N—R

wherein Y is selected from a substituted carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorous atom and R represents a proton, a protic or an aprotic substitutent, and formula 2 is:

M V (L 1 ) k (L 2 ) l (L 3 ) m (L 4 ) n X

wherein:

M represents a group 4 or group 5 metal ion,

V represents the valency of the metal ion, which is 3, 4 or 5,

L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , and L 4 represent ligands on M which may be the same or different,

X represents a group 17-halogen atom,

k, l, m, n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 with k+l+m+n+1=V, and

wherein HA represents an acid, of which H represents its proton and A its conjugated base.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein R represents a hydrogen atom and Y is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a phosphorus substituent defined by the formula:

 wherein each R 1j , with j=1-3, is independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1-8 alkoxy radical, a C 6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, an amido radical, a C 1-20 hydrocarbyl radical unsubstituted or substituted by a halogen atom, a C 1-8 alkoxy radical, a C 6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, an amido radical, a silyl radical of the formula:

 and a germanyl radical of the formula:

 wherein R 2j is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C 1-8 alkyl or alkoxy radical, and C 6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, provided each substituent R 1j or R 2j may be linked with another R 1 or R 2 to form a ring system, and

(ii) a substituent defined by formula 6:

 wherein each of Sub 1 and Sub 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl radicals having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; silyl radicals, substituted or unsubstituted amido radicals and substituted or unsubstituted phosphido radicals, and wherein Sub 1 and Sub 2 may be linked with each other to form a ring system.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the base is a carboxylate, or a fluoride, or a hydroxide, or a cyanide, or an amide, or a carbonate of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or a group 2 metal salt selected from Mg, Ca, or Ba, or an alkali metal selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, or Cs of a phosphate or a phosphate ester, or alkoxide of Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs or a phenoxide of Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs, or thallium hydroxide, or a hydrocarbanion of any of the group 1, group 2, group 12 or group 13 elements, or an alkali metal, group 1 hydride or group 2 hydride.

4. A process according to claim 3 , wherein the inorganic base is selected from sodium hydride, or calciumhydride.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the metal-organic base is selected from an organolithium compound, or an organomagnesium compound.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction is carried out in an aprotic solvent.

7. A process according claim 1 , wherein the process is carried out in the presence of a phase transfer reagent.

8. A process for the preparation of a polyolefin by preparing a metal-organic compound according to the process of claim 1 , wherein the base is an olefin polymerization-compatible base, wherein the metal-organic compound is activated anywhere in, or before a polymerization reactor.

9. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the metal-organic compound is used without purification.

10. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the metal-organic compound is formed in the polymerization reactor.