Compound [NbCp'Me-4] (Cp' - eta(5)-C5H4SiMe3, 1) reacted with several ROH compounds (R - tBu, SiiPr(3), 2,6-Me2C6H3) to give the derivatives [NbCp'Me-3(OR)] (R = tBu 2a, SiiPr(3) 2b, 2,6-Me2C6H3 2c). The diaryloxo tantalum compound [TaCp*Me-2(OR)(2)] (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5, R = 2,6-Me2C6H3 3) was obtained by reaction of [TaCp*Cl2Me2] with 2 equiv of LiOR (R = 2,6-Me2C6H3). Abstraction of one methyl group from these neutral compounds 1-3 with the Lewis acids E(C6F5)(3) (E = B, Al) gave the ionic derivatives [NbCp'Me2X][MeE(C6F5)(3)] (X = Me 4-E X = OR; R = SiiPr(3) 5b-E, 2,6-Me2C6H3 5c-E E = B, Al) and [TaCp*Me(OR)(2)][MeE(C6F5)(3)] (R = 2,6-Me2C6H3 6-E; E = B, Al). Polymerization of MMA with the aryloxoniobium compound 2c and Al(C6F5) 3 gave syndiotactic PMMA in a low yield, whereas the tetramethylniobium compound 1 and the diaryloxotantalum derivative 3 were inactive. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.