The search for suitable cationic precursors for olefin polymerization reactions has been an ongoing process. One of the requirements for such catalysts is a high electrophillic character on the central metal ion. Weakly coordinating anions support the formation of such cationic species, wherein the central metal ion is stabilized by neutral donors. The small tendency of these anions to coordinate to a metal center could be attributed to the extensive charge delocalization and the presence of weakly basic atoms like hydrogen or fluorine on the periphery. An example of a weakly coordinating anion is tetraphenylborate (BPh4)-, which has been used in the past to synthesize separated ion triples. We will here present the synthesis and reactivity of a novel family of alkaline earth metal based separated ion triples using tetraphenylborate having the formula [M(donor)n[BPh4]2 (M = Ca, Sr, Ba; donor = acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, 18-crown-6, hexamethylphosphoramide and 1,2-dimethoxyethane).