Disclosed is a novel bidentate pyridine transition metal catalyst having the general formula where each R is independently hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, or C6-14 aryl; where each R′ is independently R, C1-6 alkoxy, C7-20 alkaryl, C7-20 aralkyl, halogen, or CF3; where M is a Group 3 to 10 metal; where each X is independently halogen, C1-6 alkyl, C6-14 aryl, C7-20 alkaryl, C7-20 aralkyl, C1-6 alkoxy, or  L is X, cyclopentadienyl, C1-16 alkyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, or  where n is an integer from 1 to 4; a is an integer from 1 to 3; b is an integer from 0 to 2; the sum of a+b≦3; c is an integer from 1 to 6; and the sum a+b+c equals the oxidation state of M.