A pyridyldiamido transition metal complex for use in alkene polymerization having the general formula wherein: M is a Group 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 metal; Z is -(R 14) p C-C(R 15) q -, where R 14 and R 15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls), and substituted hydrocarbyls, and wherein adjacent R 14 and R 15 groups may be joined to form an aromatic or saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, p is 1 or 2, and q is 1 or 2; R 1 and R 11 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls and aryls), substituted hydrocarbyls (such as heteroaryls), and silyl groups; R 2 and R 10 are each, independently, -E(R 12)(R 13)- with E being carbon, silicon, or germanium, and each R 12 and R 13 being independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls, aryls), alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, substituted hydrocarbyls (such as heteroaryl), halogen, and phosphino, R 12 and R 13 may be joined to form a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 4, 5, 6, or 7 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, or R 12 and R 13 may be joined to form a saturated heterocyclic ring, or a saturated substituted heterocyclic ring where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings; R 3, R 4, and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls and aryls), substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R 3 & R 4, and /or R 4 & R 5) may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings; L is an anionic leaving group, where the L groups may be the same or different and any two L groups may be linked to form a dianionic leaving group; n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; L' is neutral Lewis base; and w is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4. M is a Group 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 metal; Z is -(R 14) p C-C(R 15) q -, where R 14 and R 15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls), and substituted hydrocarbyls, and wherein adjacent R 14 and R 15 groups may be joined to form an aromatic or saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, p is 1 or 2, and q is 1 or 2; where R 14 and R 15 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls), and substituted hydrocarbyls, and wherein adjacent R 14 and R 15 groups may be joined to form an aromatic or saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, p is 1 or 2, and q is 1 or 2; R 1 and R 11 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls and aryls), substituted hydrocarbyls (such as heteroaryls), and silyl groups; R 2 and R 10 are each, independently, -E(R 12)(R 13)- with E being carbon, silicon, or germanium, and each R 12 and R 13 being independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls, aryls), alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, substituted hydrocarbyls (such as heteroaryl), halogen, and phosphino, R 12 and R 13 may be joined to form a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 4, 5, 6, or 7 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, or R 12 and R 13 may be joined to form a saturated heterocyclic ring, or a saturated substituted heterocyclic ring where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings; R 3, R 4, and R 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls (such as alkyls and aryls), substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R 3 & R 4, and /or R 4 & R 5) may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings; L is an anionic leaving group, where the L groups may be the same or different and any two L groups may be linked to form a dianionic leaving group; n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; L' is neutral Lewis base; and w is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4.