The first rare earth organometallic complex of 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane: a precursor to unique cationic ethylene and alpha-olefin polymerisation catalysts supported by an all-sulfur donor ligand.

[Sc([9]aneS3)(CH2SiMe3)3], the first rare earth organometallic complex of 1,4,7-trithiacyclonane, is a precursor to ethylene and alpha-olefin polymerisation catalysts upon activation with BAr(F)3 or [CPh3][BAr(F)4](Ar(F) = C6F5); these are the first cationic rare earth organometallic catalysts supported by an all-sulfur donor ligand.