This invention relates to transition metal catalyst compounds represented by the formula: LMX.sub.2 wherein M is a Group 7 to 11 metal; L is a tridentate or tetradentate neutrally charged ligand that is bonded to M by least three or four nitrogen atoms, and at least one terminal nitrogen atom is part of a pyridinyl ring, a different terminal nitrogen atom is substituted with one C.sub.3 C.sub.50 hydrocarbyl, and one hydrogen atom or two hydrocarbyls; wherein at least one hydrocarbyl is a C.sub.3 C.sub.50 hydrocarbyl, and the central nitrogen atom is bonded to at least three different carbon atoms or two different carbon atoms, and one hydrogen atom; X is independently a monoanionic ligand or both X are joined together to form a bidentate dianionic ligand.