is a divalent group such as and the substituents and indices have the following meanings: M is titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybde- num, tungsten or an element of transition group III of the Periodic Table and the lan- thanides, R R', R', R4,R5,R6,R9,R10,R11,R1',R2',R3',R4',R5',R6',R9',R10',R11' are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C20-alkyl, 3-to 8-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1-C10-alkyl group as substituent, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, . OR13, -SR13, -N(R13)2, -P(R13)2, or Si (R13) 3, where R13 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, where the radicals mentioned may be partially or fully substituted by het- eroatoms, R8, R12, R8', R12' are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, Y are identical or different and are each

=BR AIR,-Ge-,-Sn-,-0-,-S-, = SO, = SO2, = NR14, = CO, = PR or= P (O) R14, where R14 are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-fluo- roalkyl, C6-C10-fluoroaryl, C6-C10-aryl, C1-C10-alkoxy, C2-C10-alkenyl, C7-C40- arylalkyl, C8-C40-arylalkenyl, C7-C40-alkylaryl or two radicals R14 together with the at- oms connecting them form a ring, and M1 is silicon, germanium or tin, R7 is a -[Z(R15)(R16)]m- group, where Z can be identical or different and are each silicon, germanium, tin or carbon, R15, R16 are each hydrogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl or C6-C15-aryl, m is 1,2, 3 or 4, by reacting a transition metal complex of the formula (II)

where X are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, -OR17 or -NR172, where R17 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aRyL, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, n is an integer from 1 to 4 and corresponds to the valence of M minus 2, with cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the formula (ill) where M2 is an alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion, and p is 1 when M2 is an alkaline earth metal ion and is 2 when M2 is an alkali metal ion, and heating the resulting reaction mixture to a temperature in the range from-78 to +250°C.

The present invention further relates to corresponding racemic metallocene complexes of the formula (I) and to the use of racemic metallocene complexes of the formula (I) as catalysts or as constituents of catalysts for the polymerization of olefinically unsaturated compounds or as rea- gents or catalysts in stereoselective synthesis.

Apart from stereospecific olefin polymerization, enantioselective organic synthesis increasingly offers interesting possible uses for chiral metallocene complexes of metals of transition groups IiI-VI of the Periodic Table of the Elements. An example which may be mentioned is the enan- tioselective hydrogenation of prochiral substrates, for example prochiral olefins, as described in R.

Waymouth, P. Pino, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112 (1990), p. 4911-4914, or prochiral ketones, imines and oximes, as described in WO 92/9545. Further examples are the preparation of optically active alkenes by enantioselective oligomerization, as described in W. Kaminsky et al., Angew. Chem.

101 (1989), p. 1304-1306, and the enantioselective cyclopolymerization of 1,5-hexadiene, as described in R. Waymouth, G. Coates, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 113 (1991), p. 6270-6271.

The applications mentioned generally require the use of a metallocene complex in its racemic form, i. e. without meso compounds. In the case of the diastereomer mixture (rac and meso form) obtained in the metallocene synthesis of the prior art, the meso form firstly has to be separated off. Since the meso form has to be discarded, the yield of racemic metallocene complex is low.

There have therefore been attempts in the past to develop racemoselective syntheses of ansa- metallocenes. A significant step in racemoselective syntheses of ansa-metallocenes proceeds via the intermediate of an ansa-metallocene bisphenoxide or an ansa-metallocene biphenoxide. Cor- responding general synthesis routes are described, for example, in WO 99/15538 and in DE 10030638.

Despite the progress achieved, a generally applicable reaction scheme for the racemoselective synthesis of ansa-metallocenes has not yet been found. In the synthetic route via the ansa- metallocene bisphenoxide intermediate, the racemoselectivity of the synthesis is often dependent on the substitution pattern of the bisindenyl ligands used. Thus, usually only derivatives substi- tuted in the 2 position of the bridged bisindenyl ligand can be converted racemoselectively into the corresponding ansa-metallocene bisphenoxide intermediates. Without being tied to a particular theory, it is assumed that the reaction path possibly proceeds via a kinetically controlled mecha- nism in which two different diastereomeric transition states having a different energy are formed, so that the two isomers, namely the meso form and the racemate form, are formed in different amounts.

In all the synthetic routes via the corresponding ansa-metallocene bisphenoxide intermediates, the bisphenoxide complexes are thermally stable as soon as they are formed, so that no isomeri- zation between rac and meso form occurs during the elimination of the phenoxide auxiliary lig- ands.

A disadvantage of the known syntheses using the multiply alkyl-substituted. bi (s) phenoxide auxil- iary ligands customarily employed is the relatively high solubility of these usually nonpolar com- plexes in the aromatic solvents customarily employed, which makes isolation of the complex in pure form by crystallization considerably more difficult.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to find a process for the selective preparation of racemic metallocene complexes which are virtually free of the meso isomer (NMR measurement accuracy). In particular, it is an object of the present inven- tion to find a racemoselective process for synthesizing metallocene complexes which leads in a simple and cost effective manner to end products which can be isolated in pure form. A further

object is to find racemic metallocene complexes which can either be used directly as or in cata- lysts, primarily for olefin polymerization, or can after modification, for example after replacement of an"auxiliary ligand", be used as or in catalysts, primarily for olefin polymerization, or can be used as reagents or catalysts in stereoselective synthesis.

We have found that this object is achieved by the process defined in the claims, by the racemic metallocene complexes (I) resulting therefrom and by their use as catalysts or in catalysts for the polymerization of olefinically unsaturated compounds or as reagents or catalysts in stereoselec- tive synthesis.

It has surprisingly been found that the racemoselective synthesis of metallocene complexes can be successfully carried out when phenoxide ligands and analogous derivatives which are alkyl- substituted in the 2,6 positions of the aromatic ring are used. The synthesis proceeds with high rac: meso ratios even with simple methyl substituents in the 2,6 positions. A particularly advanta- geous aspect of the preparative method of the present invention is that the solubility of the metal- locene complexes can be significantly altered by introduction of, for example, polar substituents in the 4 position of the phenoxide ligand (or its analog), so that isolation of the complexes can be carried out in a simpler fashion and in higher yield.

Furthermore, it has been found that the process of the present invention can be carried out in a "single-vessel process"starting from the cyclopentadiene derivatives without isolation of interme- diates and the process proceeds racemoselectively with high total yields under these conditions.

For this reason, particular preference is given to carrying out the process of the present invention starting from the cyclopentadiene derivatives without isolation of intermediates after the individual process steps.

The terms"meso form", "racemate"and thus also"enantiomers"in the context of metallocene complexes are known and are defined, for example, in Rheingold et al., Organometallics 11 (1992), p. 1869-1876.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term"virtually meso-free"means that more than 80%, preferably at least 90%, of a compound are present in the form of the racemate, particularly preferably at least 95%.

For the purposes of the present invention, phenoxides (or their analogous derivatives) encompass all phenoxide ligands claimed according to the present invention and their analogous derivatives in which the phenol oxygen is replaced by other elements or groups as defined for Y.

It has surprisingly been found that metallocene bisphenoxide complexes having simple alkyl sub- stituents in the 2 and 6 positions of the phenoxide ligand lead in high rac excesses to products

which can be isolated and crystallized significantly more easily regardless of whether the custom- arily used bisindenyl ligand or its derivative are substituted in the 2 position of the indenyl.

The bridged transition metal complexes used as starting materials in the process of the present invention have the formula (II) where M is titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybde- num, tungsten or an element of transition group III of the Periodic Table and the lan- thanides, R9,R10, R11,R9',R10',R11' are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C20- alkyl, 3-to 8-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1-C10-alkyl group as substituent, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, <BR> <BR> - OR13, -SR13, -N(R13)2, -P(R13)2 or Si(R13)3, where<BR> <BR> <BR> R13 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, where the radicals mentioned may be partially or fully substituted by het- eroatoms, R8, R12, R8, R12 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, Y are identical or different and are each

=BR14,=AIR14,-Ge-,-Sn-,-O-,-S-, = SO, = SO2, = NR = CO, = PR14 or = P (O) R14, where R14 are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C1-C10-fluo- roalkyl, C6-C10-fluoroaryl, C6-C10-aryl, C1-C10-alkoxy, C2-C10-alkenyl, C7-C40- arylalkyl, C8-C40-arylalkenyl, C7-C40-alkylaryl or two radicals R14 together with the at- oms connecting them form a ring, and M'is silicon, germanium or tin, and X are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part,-OR"or-NR'2, where R17 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, and n is an integer from 1 to 4 and corresponds to the valence of M minus 2.

Preferred metals M are titanium, zirconium and hafnium, in particular zirconium.

Well-suited substituents X are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, preferably chlorine, and also C1- C6-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, i-butyl, preferably tert-butyl.

Further well-suited substituents Xare alkoxides-OR9 or amides-N (R9) Z where R9 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, fluoroalkyl or fluoroaryl each having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical. Examples of such radicals X are methyl, ethyl, i-propyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, naphthyl, p-tolyl, benzyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluorophenyl.

The substituents R9, R10, R11, R9, R10, R11 are identical or different and are each hydrogen, fluo- rine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, C1-C20-alkyl, -OR13, -SR13, -N(R13)2, -P(R13)2 or Si (R13) 3, where R13 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl.

The substituents R9, R10, R", R9, Rio', R11' may also be 3-to 8-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1-C10-alkyl radical such as methyl, ethyl or propyl as substituent. Examples of such cycloalkyl radicals are cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, preferably cyclohexyl, norbornyl, and also C6-C15- aryl such as phenyl, naphthyl ; alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, e. g. p-tolyl ; arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, e. g. benzyl, neophyl. The substitu- ents may also be triorganosilyl Si (R13) 3 where R13 are identical or different and are each Cl-C20- alkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, C6-C15-aryl, for example trimethylsilyl, tert-butyldimethylsilyl, triphenylsilyl.

The radicals mentioned can of course also be partially or fully substituted by heteroatoms, for example by S-, N-, O-or halogen-containing structural elements. Examples of such substituted radicals R9, R10, R11, R9', R10' and R11' are the trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, heptafluoropropyl, heptafluoroisopropyl and pentafluorophenyl groups.

Preferred substituents R8, R12, R8 and R12 are, independently of one another, C1-C10-alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, i-butyl, tert-butyl, preferably simply methyl. Particular preference is given to all substituents R8, R12, R5 and R12 being identical and each being methyl.

In preferred embodiments, R8, R12, R8' and R12' and also R10 and R10 in the formulae (I) and (II) are methyl, particularly preferably in combination with Y being-0-, i. e. 2,4, 6-trimethylphenol is used as ligand in formula (II). Furthermore, the use of 2, 6-dimethylphenol is also preferred ac- cording to the present invention.

The substituents R10 and R10 can be varied within a wide range to alter the solubility of the met- allocene complexes (I) resulting from the process of the present invention and, according to the present invention, are identical or different and are each hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, preferably chlorine, alkoxides-oR'3, thiolates-SR13, amines-N (R13) 2,-P (R13) 2 or Si (R13) 3, where R13 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl, in particular 3-to 8-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1-C10-alkyl radical such as methyl, ethyl or pro- pyl as substituent. Examples of such cycloalkyl radicals are cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, preferably cyclohexyl, norbornyl. Furthermore, R13 may also be a halogen-substituted alkyl or cycloalkyl radi- cal, for example trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, heptafluoropropyl or heptafluoroisopropyl.

A person skilled in the art will choose alkyl, cycloalkyl or aromatic groups as substituents R'° and R10' in order to increase the solubility of the metallocene complexes (I) in nonpolar solvents and

will choose polar substituents R10 and R10', for example halogen, alkoxides, thiolates, amines and the like, to reduce the solubility of the complexes (I) in nonpolar solvents.

In the latter case, R10 and R10' are preferably halogens such as chlorine or bromine, alkoxide -OR13, thiolates -SR13 or amines-N (R13) 2, where R13 is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, tert- butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, norbornyl.

Very particular preference is given to R13 being methyl. R'° and R10' in the formula (II) are par- ticularly preferably chlorine, bromine, methoxy, ethoxy, isopropyloxy, tert-butyloxy, cyclopropyloxy or cyclohexyloxy.

According to the present invention, it has been found that variation of the substituents R10 and R10 over a wide range does not have an adverse effect on the racemoselectivity of the synthesis, so that the yield of the synthesis can be increased and improved in a target manner by appropriate choice of these substituents, taking into account the reaction conditions selected.

Possible briding units Y are the following: = BR, =AIR14, -Ge-, -SN-, -O-, -S-, = SO, = SO2, = NR14, = CO, = PR14 or = P (O) R, where R'4 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C10- alkyl group, a C1-C10-fluoroalkyl group, a C6-C10-fluoroaryl group, a C6-C10-aryl group, a C1- Calo-alkoxy group, a C2-C10-alkenyl group, a C7-C40-arylalkyl group, a C8-C4o-arylalkenyl group or a C7-C4o-alkylaryl group or two radicals R14 together with the atoms connecting them form a ring, and M1 is silicon, germanium or tin.

Preferred bridging units Y are methylene-CH2-, S, O,-C (CH3) 2- ; very particular preference is given to the briding units Y being identical and each being oxygen-0-.

The transition metal complexes (li) are generally prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art.

The following procedure has been found to be useful for this purpose, and is generally carried out in a temperature range from-78 to 110°C, preferably initially at about 20°C, and the reaction can then be completed by boiling under reflux. The phenol derivative is firstly deprotonated in a sol- vent, for example tetrahydrofuran (THF), for example by means of sodium hydride or n-butyllithium, and the transition metal compound, for example the halide such as titanium tetra- chloride, zirconium tetrachloride or hafnium tetrachloride, advantageously in the form of the bis- THF adduct, is subsequently added. After the reaction is complete, the product is generally ob- tained by crystallization after salts have been separated off.

The bridged transition metal complexes (II) prepared according to the present invention generally still contain from 1 to 4 equivalents of a Lewis base which is generally introduced via the synthetic route. Examples of such Lewis bases are ethers such as diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran (THF) and also amines such as TMEDA. However, it is also possible to obtain the transition metal com- plexes (II) free of Lewis bases, for example by drying under reduced pressure or by choosing other solvents in the synthesis. Such measures are known to those skilled in the art.

The novel racemic metallocene complexes of the formula (I) are prepared by reacting the transi- tion metal complexes (II) with cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the alkali metals or alkaline earth metals and subsequently heating the resulting reaction mixture, in the presence or absence of free radicals or free radical formers, as described below.

Preference is given to using transition metal complexes (II) in which M is zirconium and the radi- cals R8, R8, R°, R10, R'2, R12 have the above-described, preferred meanings and Y is oxygen.

Very useful complexes (II) are dichlorozirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide), dichlorozirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide), dichlorozirconium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4-chlorophenoxide), dichlorozir- conium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4-bromophenoxide), dichlorozirconium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4- methoxyphenoxide), dichlorozirconium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4-ethoxyphenoxide), dichlorozirconium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4-tert-butoxyphenoxide) and the zirconium bisphenoxide compounds mentioned in the examples.

As cyclopentadienyl derivatives of the alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, use is made of com- pounds of the formula (III) :

where M2 is an alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion, in particular of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba, where p = 1 for Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and p = 2 for Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and is a divalent group such as and

is a divalent group such as and the substituents and indices have the following meanings: R', R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R", R2', R3', R4, Rs', Rs'are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C20-alkyl, 3-to 8-membered cycloalkyl which may in turn bear a C1- C10-alkyl group as substituent, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, arylalkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part, . OR13, -SR13, -N(R13)2, -P(R13)2 or Si (R13) 3, where R13 are identical or different and are each Cl-Clo-alkyl, C6-CI5-aryl, C3-Clo-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, where the radicals mentioned may be partially or fully substituted by het- eroatoms, and R7 is a -[Z(R15)(R16)]m- group, where Z can be identical or different and are each silicon, germanium, tin or carbon, R'5, X R are each hydrogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C3-C10-cycloalkyl or C6-Cl5-aryl and m is1, 2, 3 or 4.

Preferred compounds of the formula (III) are those in which M2 is lithium, sodium and in particular magnesium. Furthermore, particular preference is given to compounds of the formula (III) in which

M2 is magnesium and which comprise, in particular, an indenyl-type ring system or a heteroatom- containing analog thereof.

Very particularly preferred compounds (III) are those described in the examples and also dimethylsilanediylbis (2,4, 7-trimethylindenyl) magnesium 1, 2-ethanediylbis (1-{2, 4, 7-trimethylindenyl)} magnesium . dimethylsilanediylbis (1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (4,5, 6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) magnesium phenyl (methyl) silanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) magnesium diphenylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4, 5,6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethyisilanediylbis (2, 4-dimethyl-6-isopropylindenyl) magnesium ethanediylbis (1-indenyl) magnesium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) magnesium . dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4- {3, 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) magnesium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) magnesium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) magnesium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-di (trifluoromethyl)} phenyl-1-indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)- (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-cyclohexyl-4-phenylindenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4-phenylindenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-propyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium dimethylgermanediylbis (2-meth-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium diethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)- (4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) magnesium <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl-6- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium

dimethylsilanediylbis (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) magnesium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediyl (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)-2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) magnesium dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4-naphthylindenyl)- (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) magnesium and also dimethylsilanediylbis (2,4, 7-trimethylindenyl) dilithium 1, 2-ethanediylbis (1- {2, 4, 7-trimethylindenyl}) dilithium dimethylsiianediylbis (1-indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (4,5, 6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) lithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) dilithium phenyl (methyl) silanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) dilithium diphenylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4, 5,6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) lithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2, 4-dimethyl-6-isopropylindenyl) dilithium <BR> <BR> <BR> ethanediylbis (1-indenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> ethanediylbis (2-methyl-1-indenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4- {3,; 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) dilithium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) dilithium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) dilithium ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-di- (trifluoromethyl)} phenyl-1-indenyl) dilithium <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)- (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) lithium <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-cyclohexyl-4-phenylindenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4-phenylindenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-propyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium <BR> <BR> <BR> dimethylgermanediylbis (2-meth-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> diethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium dimethyisilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)- (4- (4'-tert-butyl-

phenyl) indenyl) lithium dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl-6- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium<BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium<BR> dimethylsilanediylbis (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) dilithium<BR> dimethylsilanediyl (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)-2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) lithium dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4-naphthylindenyl)-(2-isopropyl-4-(4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) lithium and also the respective Lewis base adducts of these compounds with, for example, THF, DME, TMEDA.

Such alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds (III) can be obtained by methods known from the literature, for example by the, preferably stoichiometric, reaction of an organometallic com- pound or a hydride of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal with the corresponding cyclopentadi- enyl-type hydrocarbon. Suitable organometallic compounds are, for example, n-butyllithium, di-n- butylmagnesium and (n, s)-dibutylmagnesium.

The reaction of the transition metal complexes (II) with the cyclopentadienyl derivatives of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals of the formula (III) usually takes place in an organic solvent or suspension medium, preferably in a solvent mixture comprising a Lewis-basic solvent, in a tem- perature range from-78°C to 250°C, preferably from 0 to 110°C. Well-suited solvents are ali- phatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, heptane, aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, ortho-, meta-or para-xylene or isopropylbenzene (cumene), ethers such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), diethyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether or dimethoxyethane (DME), amines such as diisopro- pylamine, tetramethylethanediamine (TMEDA) or pyridine.

Well-suited solvent mixtures are mixtures of toluene and THF, toluene and DME or toluene and TMEDA, with the Lewis base generally being present in an amount of from 0.1 to 50 mol%, pref- erably from 1 to 20 mol%, based on the solvent mixture. The molar ratio of the transition metal complex (I) to the cyclopentadienyl derivative of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal (III) is usu- ally in the range from 0.8 : 1 to 1 : 1.2, preferably 1: 1.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the process of the present invention for preparing racemic metallocene complexes of the formula (I)

comprises the following steps: a) deprotonation of a compound of the formula (IV) by means of a suitable deprotonating agent; b) reaction of the deprotonated compound (IV) with a compound R'Hal2, where Hal is a halogen substituent such as F, Cl, Br or I, and subsequent repeat deprotona- tion by means of a suitable deprotonating agent to give the compound of the for- mula (III)

where M2 is an alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion,- where p is 1 when M2 is an alkaline earth metal ion and is 2 when M2 is an alkali metal ion, and R7 is as defined above; c) reaction of the compound of the formula (III) with a transition metal complex of the formula (II) where X are identical or different and are each hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, alkylaryl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part,-oR'7 or -NR172, where R17 are identical or different and are each C1-C10-alkyl, C6-C15-aryl, C3- C10-cycloalkyl, alkylaryl, n is an integer from 1 to 4 and corresponds to the valence of M minus 2, and the other substituents are as defined above,

with all substituents and their preferred ranges being as defined above.

Examples of suitable deprotonating agents are, as mentioned above, n-butyllithium,. tert- butyllithium, sodium hydride, potassium tert-butoxide, Grignard reagents of magnesium, magne- sium compounds such as di-n-butylmagnesium, (n, s)-dibutylmagnesium or other suitable alkaline earth metal alkyl or alkali metal alkyl compounds.

The racemic metallocene complexes of the present invention are preferably compounds of the formula (I) is a divalent group such as and

is a divalent group such as where the substituents are as defined above.

Preferred compounds of the formula (I) are those in which M is titanium, hafnium and in particular zirconium. Particularly preferred compounds of the formula (I) are metallocenes in which an inde- nyl-type ring system which is unsubstituted or methyl-substituted in the 2 position is present.

Very particular preference is given to compounds of the formula (I) in which are and the radicals R3 to R6 and R3 to R6 are as defined above.

Most preferred compounds (I) are those which are described in the examples, in particular dimethylsilylbis (1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide), dimethylsilylbis (2-methyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide), dimethylsilylbis (2-methyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide), dimethylsilylbis (2-methyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4-bromophenoxide), or ethanediyl- bis (1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide), and also : dimethylsilanediylbis (2,4, 7-trimethylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; 1, 2-ethanediylbis(1-{2, 4, 7-trimethylindenyl)} zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (4,5, 6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; phenyl (methyl) silanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; diphenylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4, 5,6, 7-tetrahydro-1indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2, 4-dimethyl-6-isopropylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-diniethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4- {3, 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-di (trifluoromethyl)} phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-cyclohexyl4-phenylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4-phenylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-propyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ;

dimethylgermanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; diethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl)-6- (4'-tert-butyl-phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis-(2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,6- dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediyl (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; or dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4-naphthylindenyl) (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2,4, 7-trimethylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; 1, 2-ethanediylbis (1-{2, 4, 7-trimethylindenyl)} zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (4,5, 6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; phenyl (methyl) silanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; diphenylsilanediylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4, 5,6, 7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2, 4-dimethyl-6-isopropylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-trifluoromethyl} phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- . trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-isopropyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4-{3,5-trifluoromethyl}phenyl- 1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4-naphthyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; ethanediylbis (2-methyl-4- {3, 5-di (trifluoromethyl)} phenyl-1-indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ;

dimethylsilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyi) indenyl)- (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-cyclohexyl-4-phenylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4-phenylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-propyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylgermanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; diethyisilanediylbis (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl)-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-butyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl)-6- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediylbis (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) ; dimethylsilanediyl (2-ethyl-4- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) indenyl) (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) ; or dimethylsilanediyl (2-methyl-4-naphthylindenyl) (2-isopropyl-4- (4'-tert-butyl- phenyl) indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide).

The racemic metallocene complexes, preferably those of the formula (. 1), can generally be modi- fied further.

In particular, the phenoxide ligands in the complex (I) can, for example, be replaced either indi- vidually or together in a substitution reaction and the split-off ligands can, if appropriate, be re- used. Suitable substitution methods are reaction of the racemic metallocene complexes, prefera- bly those of the formula (I), with SOC12, silicon tetrachloride, methylaluminum dichloride, dimeth- aluminum chloride, aluminum trichloride, dialkylaluminum chlorides, aluminum sesquichlorides, particularly preferably ethylaluminum dichloride, or a Brönsted acid such as a hydrogen halide, i. e.

HF, HBr, Hi, preferably HCI, which is generally employed as such or as a solution in water or or- ganic solvents such as diethyl ether, THF. Well-suited solvents are aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, heptane, aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, ortho-, meta-or para- xylene or isopropylbenzene (cumene), ethers such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), diethyl ether, methyl

tert-butyl ether or dimethoxyethane (DME), amines such as diisopropylamine, tetramethylethane- diamine (TMEDA) or pyridine.

Lewis base-containing solvent mixtures of hydrocarbons and ethers or amines or both, for exam- ple mixtures of toluene and THF, toluene and DME or toluene and TMEDA, are very useful, with the Lewis base generally being present in an amount of 0.01-50 mol%, preferably 0.1-10 mol%, based on the solvent mixture. Particularly well-suited"replacement reagents"are carboxylic acid halides such as acetyl chloride, phenylacetyl chloride, 2-thiophenacetyl chloride, trichloroacetyl chloride, trimethylacetyl chloride, O-acetylmandelyl chloride, 1,3, 5-benzenetricarboxylic chloride, 2, 6-pyridinecarboxylic chloride, tert-butylacetyl chloride, chloroacetyl chloride, 4-chlorophen- ylacetyl chloride, dichloroacetyl chloride ; 3-methoxyphenylacetyl chloride, acetyl bromide, bromo- acetyl bromide, acetyl fluoride, benzoyl fluoride. These are generally used in the abovementioned solvents or else as such.

This usually gives the monohalide or dihalide analogous to the compound of the formula (I), i. e. the compound of the formula (la) : (la) where Hal is F, Cl, Br or 1.

A further well-suited substitution'method is reaction of the racemic metallocene complexes of the formula (I) with organoaluminum compounds such as tri-C1-Cr0-alkylaluminums, i. e. trimethylalu- minum, triethylaluminum, tri-n-butyialuminum, triisobutylaluminum. According to the present state of knowledge, this generally gives the organo compound analogous to the compound 11 (organic radicals in place of the bisphenoxide, e. g. C1-Cr0-alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, i-butyl) and, for example, the organoaluminum bisnaphthoxide.

In the replacement reactions, the components are usually used in a stoichiometric ratio, depend- ing on whether a monosubstituted or disubstituted product is to be obtained.

The replacement reactions generally take place with retention of the stereochemistry of the met- allocene complexes, i. e. it is generally the case that no transformation of the racemic form into the meso form of the metallocene complexes takes place.

The process of the present invention makes it possible for the rac form of metallocene complexes (I) and also the corresponding dihalides (la) obtainable therefrom to be obtained very selectively.

Novel bisphenoxide complexes of the bisindenyl-metallocene type which have hydrogen or a ligand different from hydrogen in the vicinity of the bridging unit R7 (namely the 2-position) can be obtained particularly advantageously.

The racemic metallocene complexes (I) can be obtained selectively by the process of the present invention regardless of the presence or absence of a substituent in the 2 position on the indenyl system. Furthermore, the process of the present invention makes it possible for the solubility of the resulting products to be controlled in a simple fashion by selection of the substituent in the 4 position on the phenoxide ligand (R10 or Rio'), which makes isolation of the products easier and increases the yields of the synthesis.

A further significant advantage is that the process of the present invention can be carried out ra- cemoselectively as a single-vessel process. For the purposes of the present invention, a single- vessel process means that no intermediates are isolated after the individual process steps. The further reaction can be carried out directly using the reaction product mixtures from the preceding step.

The racemic metallocene complexes of the present invention, in particular those of the formula (I) or their above-described derivatives of the formula (la) which are obtainable, for example, by re- placement of the phenoxide ligands, can be used as catalysts or in catalyst systems for the po- lymerization of olefinically unsaturated compounds such as ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1- hexene, 1-octene, styrene. They are particularly advantageous for the stereoselective polymeri- zation of prochiral, olefinically unsaturated compounds such as propylene and styrene. Suitable catalysts or catalyst systems in which the racemic metallocene complexes of the present inven- tion can function as"metallocene component"are usually obtained by means of compounds ca- pable of forming metallocenium ions, as described, for example, in EP-A-0 700 935, page 7, line 34, to page 8, line 21, and the formulae (IV) and (V) therein. Further compounds capable of form- ing metallocenium ions are aluminoxanes (RAIO) n such as methylaluminoxane, and also boron activators.

The racemic metallocene complexes of the present invention, in particular those of the formula (I) or their above-described derivatives of the formula (la) obtainable by, for example, replacement of the phenoxide ligands, can also be used as reagents or as catalysts or in catalyst systems in stereoselective, in particular organic, synthesis. Examples which may be mentioned are stereoselective reductions or stereoselective alkylations of C=C double bonds or C=O or C=N double bonds.

Examples General procedures : preparation and handling of the organometallic compounds were carried out in the absence of air and moisture under argon (Schienk technique or glove box). All solvents required were purged with argon and dried over molecular sieves before use.

The preparation of the bridged bisindenyl ligands was carried out by the customary methods known to those skilled in the art from the prior art; some of the bisindenyls used are also commer- cially available compounds. The BuLi solution used had a concentration of about 20% by weight of butyllithium in toluene (about 2.6 molar).

Example 1: Preparation of ethanediylbis (indenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) a) Preparation of ZrCl4 (THF) 2 In a dry 1000 ml three-necked round-bottom flask which had been flushed with inert gas and was provided with a magnetic stirrer bar, dropping funnel and vacuum connection with stopcock, 46.6 g (199.97 mmol) of ZrCI4 were suspended in 80 g of toluene. The suspension was cooled to about 4°C in an ice bath, and 30.3 g of THF were then slowly added dropwise via the dropping funnel. The resulting suspension was allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirred for one hour. b) Preparation of Li (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) In a dry 1000 mi three-neck round-bottom flask which had been flushed with inert gas and was provided with a magnetic stirrer bar, dropping funnel and vacuum connection with stopcock, 56.3 g (413.42 mmol) of 2, 4, 6-trimethylphenol were dissolved in 100 g of toluene and 29 g of THF. The solution was cooled to about 4°C in an ice bath and 124.3 mi of BuLi solution were sub- sequently added via the dropping funnel over a period of 1 hour. The reaction mixture was then allowed to warm-to room temperature and was stirred for one hour. c) Preparation of (THF) 2CI2Zr (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) The solution from step a) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the suspen- sion from step b) at room temperature over a period of several minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2.5 hours. d) Preparation of Li2 [1, 2-ethanediylbis (indenyl)] In a dry 1000 ml three-neck round-bottom flask which had been flushed with inert gas and was provided with a magnetic stirrer bar, dropping funnel and vacuum connection with stopcock, 46.5 g (179.98 mmol) of 1, 2-ethanediylbis (indenyl) were suspended in 80 g of toluene and 17.1 g of THF. The suspension was cooled in an ice bath and 112.5 g of a BuLi solution were slowly added dropwise over a period of 20 minutes while stirring. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for a further 2.5 hours.

e) Preparation of 1, 2-ethanediylbis (indenyl) Zr (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step c) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the sus- pension from step d) over a period of several minutes. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. A'H-NMR spectrum of the reaction mixture showed the racemose- lective formation of the target complex. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room tempe- rature, subsequently heated to 60°C and, at this temperature, transferred by means of a syringe to a glass filter frit number 4 and filtered into a round-bottom flask with stopcock. The precipitate was washed twice with 40 g and 35 g of toluene and the filtrate was subsequently concentrated under reduced pressure. 123 g of solvent were removed. The complex crystallized at room tem- perature after a number of hours. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with 5 ml of toluene and dried under reduced pressure. This gave a total of 15.61 g of the target compound in pure rac form, as was established by means of'H-NMR. Yield : 52%.

Elemental analysis: calculated : found: C% 73.86 73.2 H% 6.2 6.2 Example 2: Preparation of dimethylsilylbis (indenyl) zirconium'bis (2,4, 6-trimethylphenoxide) a) Preparation of ZrCI4 (THF) 2 The preparation was carried out as described in step a) of example 1, but the amounts used were 9.33 g of ZrCI4 (40.03 mmol), 140 ml of toluene and 7 g of THF. b) Preparation of Li (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) The preparation was carried out as described in step b) of example 1, but the amounts used were: 10. 90 g (80.04 mmol) of 2, 4, 6-trimethylphenol, 140 ml of toluene, 5.77 g of THF and 29.0 ml of BuLi solution. c) Preparation of (THF) 2Ch2Zr (2, 4 , 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step a) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the sus- pension from step c) at room temperature over a period of several minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for three hours.

d) Preparation of Me2Si (ind) 2Li2 This reaction step was carried out as described in example 1, d). The amounts used were 11.0 g (38.13 mmol) of dimethylsilylbis (indenyl) in 120 ml of toluene and 7 g of THF. 29 mi of BuLi soluti- on were added, and the mixture was subsequently stirred at room temperature for another 1.5 hours. e) Preparation of Me2Si (ind) 2Zr (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step c) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the sus- pension from step d) over a period of several minutes. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for three hours. H-NMR spectroscopy indicated racemoselective formation of the complex. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature, then heated at 80°C for 1 hour and subsequently filtered under nitrogen through a glass filter frit number 4 which was blanketed with inert gas into a round-bottom flask with stopcock and the filtrate was concen- trated to about 50 ml under reduced pressure. The target complex crystallized out at room tempe- rature after 12 hours and was isolated by filtration, washed with small amounts of toluene and dried under reduced pressure. This gave a total of 16.0 g of the target complex in the pure rac form ; yield: 64%.

Elemental analysis: calculated: found: C% 70.43 70.5 H% 6.22 6.5 Example 3: Preparation of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethylphenoxide) a) Preparation of ZrCl4 (THF) The preparation was carried out as described in example 1 a) using the following amounts: 5.05 g (21.67 mmol) of Arc14, 90 mi of toluene and 4.0 g of THF. b) Preparation of Li (2, 6-Me2-C6H20) The preparation was carried out as described in example 1 b) using the following amounts and materials: 5.29 g of 2, 6-dimethylphenol, 100 ml of toluene, 4.0 g of THF and 16.5 ml of BuLi solu- tion. c) Preparation of (THF) 2CI2Zr (2, 6-Me2-C6H20) 2 The suspension from b) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the white sus- pension from step a) at room temperature over a period of several minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 6 hours.

d) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Li2 In a dry 1000 ml three-neck round-bottom flask which had been flushed with inert gas and was provided with a magnetic stirrer bar, dropping funnel and vacuum connection with stopcock, 6.6 g (20.85 mmol) of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl) were suspended in 100 ml of toluene and 6.0 g of THF. 16 mi of BuLi solution were slowly added dropwise at room temperature. The suspension was stirred at room temperature for another 2.5 hours. e) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Zr (2, 6-Me2-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step c) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the sus- pension from step d) over a period of several minutes. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. A'H-NMR spectrum showed that the target complex had formed in a rac/meso ratio of about 13.5 : 1. The suspension was stirred at room temperature for a further 4 days, subsequently heated to 80°C and filtered under nitrogen through a glass filter frit No. 4.

The residue was washed with 120 mi of toluene at 80°C, and the filtrate was subsequently evapo- rated to about 50 ml at 40°C under reduced pressure. After 12 hours at room temperature, the complex crystallized out. The crystals were filtered off, washed with small amounts of toluene and dried under reduced pressure. This gave a total of 11.33 g of the target compound; yield: 83%.

Example 4: Preparation of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) a) Preparation of ZrCI4 (DME) The synthesis of the zirconium tetrachloride-DME adduct was carried out by a method similar to a) of example 1 using DME in place of THF. The amounts used were: 10.6 g (45.48 mmol) of zirconium tetrachloride, 50.0 g of toluene, 5.7 g of DME. b) Preparation of Li (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The preparation was carried out as in example 1 b); the amounts used were: 12.4 g (91.05 mmol) of 2, 4, 6-trimethylphenol, 47 g of toluene, 8 g of DME in place of THF, and 28.3 g of a 20% strength by weight BuLi solution. c) Preparation of (DME) CI2Zr (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step b) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the sus- pension from step a) at room temperature over a period of several minutes. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1.5 hours.

d) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Li2 The preparation was carried out as in step d) of example 1. The amounts used were: 12.0 g of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl), 44 g of toluene, 5.2 g of DME and 25.7 mi of BuLi solution. The suspension was heated to 60°C and stirred for 1 hour, and subsequently cooled back down to room temperature. e) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Zr (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step c) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the sus- pension from step d) over a period of several minutes. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. An'H-NMR spectrum showed that the target compound had been formed in a rac/meso ratio of about 20: 1. The suspension was filtered under nitrogen through a glass filter frit No. 3 into a round-bottom flask with stopcock and the filter cake was washed with 15 g of toluene. The filtrate was subsequently evaporated to about 60.8 g at 40°C. 71 g of hepta- ne were added and the mixture was stirred for 15 minutes, resulting in crystallization of the com- plex.

The complex was filtered off and washed with 25 g of diisopropyl ether and dried under reduced pressure. This gave a total of 18.8 g (74%) of the target compound.

Elemental analysis: calculated: found: C% 71.06 69.9 H% 6.56 6.8 Example 5: Preparation of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2,4, 6- trimethylphenoxide) starting from 2-methylindene in a single-vessel process a) Preparation of ZrCI4 (DME) 2 The synthesis of this compound was carried out as described in example 4 a). The amounts used were 10.3 g (44.20 mmol) of ZrCl4, 52.0 g of toluene, 4.9 g of DME. b) Preparation of Li (2, 4, 6-Me3-C6H20) The preparation of this compound was carried out as described in example 4 b). The amounts used were: 12.4 g (91.05 mmol) öf 2, 4, 6-trimethylphenol, 48 g of toluene and 4.8 g of DME and also 28.4 g of a 20% strength by weight BuLi solution. c) Preparation of (DME) CI2Zr (2,4, 6-Me3-C6H20) 2 The preparation of this compound was carried out as described in example 4 c) using the above solutions b) and a). The resulting suspension was stirred for 0.5 hours.

d) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Li2 In a dry three-neck round-bottom flask which had been flushed with inert gas and was provided with a dropping funnel and vacuum connection with stopcock, 10.9 g (79.71 mmol) of 2- methylindene were dissolved in 151 g of toluene and 8.3 g of DME. At room temperature, 26.8 g of a 20% strength by weight BuLi solution were slowly added dropwise over a period of 20 minu- tes. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. 5.4 g of dichlorodime- thylsilane were subsequently added dropwise and the dropping funnel was rinsed with 2 g of tolu- ene. The mixture was heated to 45°C and stirred at this temperature for a further 1.5 hours. After cooling to room temperature, a further 26.7 g of BuLi solution were added dropwise and the mixtu- re was heated to 60°C and stirred for 1.5 hours. The mixture was subsequently cooled and stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. GC and'H-NMR analysis indicated 94% of the ligand. e) Preparation of the target compound The suspension from c) was transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe into the suspension from step d) over a period of several minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at room tempe- rature for 2 hours. The suspension was subsequently transferred under nitrogen by means of a syringe onto a glass filter frit Number 3 and filtered into a round-bottom flask with stopcock. The filter cake was washed twice with 10 g each time of toluene. A H-NMR spectrum of the filtrate showed the formation of the target compound in a rac: meso ratio of about 20: 1. The filtrate was evaporated to about 80.6 g at 40°C. 70 g of heptane were subsequently added at room tempera- ture, resulting in crystallization of the complex. The crystals were filtered off, washed with 28 g of diisopropyl ether and dried under reduced pressure. This gave a total of 13.8 g (51%) of the target compound.

Example 6: Preparation of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl) zirconium bis (2, 6-dimethyl-4- bromophenoxide) a) Preparation of ZrCI4 (DME) The preparation of this compound was carried out as described in example 4 a). The amounts used were 5.70 g (24.46 mmol) of ZrCl4, 70 ml of toluene and 2.20 g of DME. b) Preparation of Li (2, 6-Me2-4-Br-C6H20) The preparation of this compound was carried out as described in example 4 b). The amounts used were 9.83 g (49.08 mmol) of 2, 6-dimethyl-4-bromophenol, 70 ml of toluene, 4.40 g of DME and 20.0 mi of 20% strength by weight BuLi solution. c) Preparation of (DME) xCl2Zr (2, 6-Me2-4-Br-CrH20) 2 The preparation of this compound was carried out as described in example 4 c).

d) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Li2 In a dry 1000 mi three-neck round-bottom flask which had been flushed with inert gas and was provided with a magnetic stirrer bar, dropping funnel and vacuum connection with stopcock, 7.74 g (24.45 mmol) of dimethylsilylbis (2-methylindenyl) were suspended in 100 ml of toluene and 15 ml of DME. At room temperature, 20.0 ml of a 20% strength by weight BuLi solution were slowly added dropwise over a period of 20 minutes. The mixture was subsequently heated to 60°C and stirred for another one hour. The suspension was finally cooled to room temperature. e) Preparation of Me2Si (2-Me-ind) 2Zr (2, 6-Me2-4-Br-C6H20) 2 The suspension from step c) was transferred by means of a syringe into the suspension from step d) over a period of several minutes. The resulting suspension was heated to 40°C and stirred at this temperature for 1 hour. An'H-NMR spectrum showed the formation of the target compound in a rac: meso ratio of about 10: 1. The suspension was heated to 60°C and transferred while hot via a syringe to a glass filter frit number 4 and filtered into a round-bottom flask with stopcock. The filtrate was concentrated, with about 150 ml of the solvent being removed. The flask was stored at 0°C for a number of days, resulting in formation of a precipitate. The precipitate was isolated by filtration and drying under reduced pressure, giving a total of 9.49 g (48%) of the pure rac form of the target compound.

Elemental analysis: calculated: found: C% 56.7 56.5 H% 4.8 4.8