In this work the synthesis of mono(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanide compounds containing methanesulfonate anion and pyrazinamide ligand is presented. The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, complexometric titration with EDTA, thermal analyses, and vibrational spectra in the infrared region. In a preliminary catalytic study these compounds were active in ethylene polymerization when MAO was used as cocatalyst producing low crystalline polyethylene. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.