The catalytic properties of the complexes (RCp)₂ZrCl₂ (R=H, Me, Prⁱ, Buⁿ, Buⁱ, Me₃Si,cyclo-C₆H₁₁), and Me₂SiCp^*NBuⁱZrCl₂ (Cp^*=C₅(CH₃)₄) combined with the AlBuⁱ ₃−CPh₃B(C₆F₅)₄ cocatalyst in ethylene polymerization were studied. The specific activity of the substituted bis-cyclopentadienyl complexes decreases in the sequence: Me>Prⁱ>Buⁿ>Buⁱ>Me₃Si>cyclo-C₆H₁₁, which corresponds to the activity sequence for these complexes activated by polymethylaluminoxane (MAO) but is 4–20 times lower in absolute value. Comparison of the polyethylene samples obtained in the presence of the same complexes with MAO and AlBuⁱ ₃−CPh₃B(C₆F₅)₄ cocatalysts showed that polyethylene with much higher molecular mass, melting point, and crystallinity is formed in the presence of the ternary catalytic systems, and this indicates a different nature of the active sites of the catalytic systems. The effective activation energy of polymerization (≈3.6 kcal mol⁻¹), first order with respect to monomer and ≈0.4 order with respect to organoaluminum component, was found for the (PrⁱCo)₂ZrCl₂−AlBuⁱ ₃−CPh₃B(C₆F₅)₄ catalytic system. It was proposed on the basis of the kinetic data that AlⁱBu₃ enters into the composition of the active site to form a bridged heteronuclear cationic complex. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp 301–307, February, 2000.