Catalysts containing N-pyrrolyl substituted nitrogen donors

1. A compound of the formula

wherein:

each of R 2c , R 2x and R 2y is independently H, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heteroatom connected hydrocarbyl or heteroatom connected substituted hydrocarbyl; and

R 3a-j and R 3m are each independently H, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heteroatom connected hydrocarbyl, heteroatom connected substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl, boryl fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano or nitro, and in addition any two of R 3a-j and R 3m may be linked by a bridging group.

2. A Co, Fe, Ru or Mn complex of the compound of claim 1 .

3. The complex as recited in claim 2 which is a complex of Fe or Co.

4. A process for the polymerization or oligomerization of one or more olefins wherein the complex of claim 2 is a polymerization or oligomerization catalyst.

5. The process as recited in claim 4 wherein said complex is an Fe or Co complex.

6. The process as recited in claim 4 wherein said complex is attached to a solid support.

7. The process as recited in claim 6 wherein said solid support is silica.

8. The process as recited in claim 4 wherein said olefin is ethylene.

9. The process as recited in claim 5 wherein said olefin is ethylene.

10. The process as recited in claim 6 wherein said olefin is ethylene.

11. The process as recited in claim 8 wherein said polymerization or oligomerization is carried out at about 20° C. and 160° C., and a pressure of said ethylene is about 1 atm. to about 100 atm.

12. The process as recited in claim 8 wherein a polymer is produced.

13. The process as recited in claim 8 wherein an oligomer is produced.

14. The process as recited in claim 8 wherein linear α-olefins are produced.

15. The process as recited in claim 14 wherein said complex is unsupported.