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  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07F—ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM
  • C07F17/00—Metallocenes
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  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07F—ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM
  • C07F7/00—Compounds containing elements of Groups 4 or 14 of the Periodic System
  • C07F7/02—Silicon compounds
  • C07F7/08—Compounds having one or more C—Si linkages
  • C07F7/10—Compounds having one or more C—Si linkages containing nitrogen having a Si-N linkage
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  • C08F10/00—Homopolymers and copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F210/00—Copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
  • C08F210/16—Copolymers of ethene with alpha-alkenes, e.g. EP rubbers
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  • C08F2420/00—Metallocene catalysts
  • C08F2420/02—Cp or analog bridged to a non-Cp X anionic donor
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  • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
  • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
  • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
  • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
  • C08F4/65908—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond in combination with an ionising compound other than alumoxane, e.g. (C6F5)4B-X+
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
  • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
  • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
  • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
  • C08F4/65912—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond in combination with an organoaluminium compound
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
  • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
  • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
  • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
  • C08F4/65916—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond supported on a carrier, e.g. silica, MgCl2, polymer
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08F—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
  • C08F4/00—Polymerisation catalysts
  • C08F4/42—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors
  • C08F4/44—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides
  • C08F4/60—Metals; Metal hydrides; Metallo-organic compounds; Use thereof as catalyst precursors selected from light metals, zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver, gold, boron, gallium, indium, thallium, rare earths or actinides together with refractory metals, iron group metals, platinum group metals, manganese, rhenium technetium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/62—Refractory metals or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/64—Titanium, zirconium, hafnium or compounds thereof
  • C08F4/659—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond
  • C08F4/6592—Component covered by group C08F4/64 containing a transition metal-carbon bond containing at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, condensed or not, e.g. an indenyl or a fluorenyl ring
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S526/00—Synthetic resins or natural rubbers -- part of the class 520 series
  • Y10S526/943—Polymerization with metallocene catalysts

Definitions

• This invention relates to a class of metal complexes, the ligands used to prepare these metal complexes and to olefin polymerization catalysts derived therefrom that are particularly suitable for use in a polymerization process for preparing polymers b> polymerization of ⁇ -olefins and mixtures of ⁇ -olefins.
• U.S. Patent No.'s 5,350.817 and 5.304.614 disclose zirconium complexes with bridged- etallocene ligands, wherein two indenyl groups are covalently linked together by a bridge containing carbon or silicon, which are useful for the polymerization of propylene.
• EP-A-577,581 discloses unsymmet ⁇ cal bis-Cp metallocenes containing a fluorene ligand with heteroatom substituents.
• Organometallics, 1992, 77, 21 15-2122 discloses C2-bridged bis-indenyl metallocenes with oxygen in the 5,6-positions of the indenyl group, while N. Piccolravazzi; P. Pino; G. Consiglio; A. Sironi; M. Moret Organometallics, 1990, 9, 3098-3105 discloses non-bridged bis-indenyl metallocenes with oxygen in the 4 and 7 positions of the indenyl group.
• M is a metal from one of Groups 3 to 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, the lanthanides or actinides, which is in the +2. +3 or +4 formal oxidation state and which is ⁇ -bonded to one cyclopentadienyl group (Cp) which is a cyclic, delocalized.
• ⁇ -bound ligand group having 5 substituents: R* (RB)J-T where j is zero, 1 or 2: R . RD an( j •*/• _ where R- * R .
• R and RD are R groups; and where T is a heteroatom which is covalently bonded to the Cp ring, and to R-*-* when j is 1 or 2, and when j is 0, T is F, Cl, Br, or I; when j is 1 , T is O or S, or N or P and R-*-* has a double bond to T; when j is 2, T is N or P; and where
• RB independently each occurrence is hydrogen, or, is a group having from 1 to 80 nonhydrogen atoms which is hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyl, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylamino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino, hydrocarbyloxy, each RB optionally being substituted with one or more groups which independently each occurrence is hydrocarbyloxy, hydrocarbylsiloxy, hydrocarbylsilylamino, di(hydrocarbylsilyl)amino, hydrocarbylamino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino, hydrocarbylsulfido, hydrocarbyl, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substi
• RD is hydrogen, or is a group having from 1 to 80 nonhydrogen atoms which is hydrocarbyl, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyl.
• hydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, each R- R or R ⁇ optionally being substituted with one or more groups which independently each occurrence is hydrocarbyloxy, hydrocarbylsiloxy, hydrocarbylsilylamino, di(hydrocarbylsilyl)amino, hydrocarbylamino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino.
• Z is a divalent moiety bound to both Cp and M via ⁇ -bonds, where Z comprises boron, or a member of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and also comprises nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or oxygen,
• X is an anionic or dianionic ligand group having up to 60 atoms exclusive of the class of ligands that are cyclic, deloca zed, ⁇ -bound ligand groups,
• X' independently each occurrence is a neutral Lewis base ligatmg compound having up to 20 atoms
• p is zero, 1 or 2, and is two less than the formal oxidation state of M, when X is an anionic ligand, when X is a dianionic ligand group, p is 1 , and
• the above complexes may exist as isolated crystals optionally in pure form or as a mixture with other complexes, in the form of a solvated adduct, optionally in a solvent, especially an organic liquid, as well as in the form of a dimer or chelated derivative thereof, wherein the chelating agent is an organic material, preferably a neutral Lewis base, especially a tnhydrocarbylamine, tnhydrocarbylphosphine, or halogenated derivative thereof
• a catalyst system for olefin polymerization prepared from catalyst system components comprising (A) a catalyst component comprising a metal complex of one of the aforementioned complexes, and
• (B) a cocatalyst component comprising an activating cocatalyst wherein the molar ratio of (A) to (B) is from 1 10,000 to 100 1 , or activation of (A) by use of an activating technique.
• (B) a cocatalyst component comprising an activating cocatalyst wherein the molar ratio of (A) to (B) is from 1 10,000 to 100 1
• the metal complex is in the form of a radical cation
• theie is provided a process for the polymerization of olefins comprising contacting one or more C? 20 ct-olefins under polymerization conditions with one of the aforementioned catalyst systems
• a preferred process of this invention is a high temperature solution polymerization process for the polymerization of olefins comprising contacting one or more C2-20 oc-olefins under polymerization conditions with one of the aforementioned catalyst systems at a temperature from about 100°C to about 250°C
• This invention also provides a cyclopentadienyl-containing ligand of one of the aforementioned metal complexes where the ligand is in the form of
• ligands for synthesis to produce a metal complex of this invention, or for synthesis to produce a metal complex comprising a metal from one of Groups 3 to 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, the lanthanides or actinides, and from 1 to 4 of the ligands.
• the present catalysts and processes result in the highly efficient production of high molecular weight olefin polymers over a wide range of polymerization conditions, and especially at elevated temperatures. They are especially useful for the solution or bulk polymerization of ethylene/propylene (EP polymers), ethylene/octene (EO polymers), ethylene/styrene (ES polymers), propylene and ethylene/propylene/diene (EPDM polymers) wherein the diene is ethylidenenorbornene, 1 ,4-hexadiene or similar nonconjugated diene.
• EP polymers ethylene/propylene
• EO polymers ethylene/octene
• ES polymers ethylene/styrene
• EPDM polymers ethylene/propylene/diene
• the catalysts of this invention may also be supported on a support material and used in olefin polymerization processes in a slurry or in the gas phase.
• the catalyst may be prepolymerized with one or more olefin monomers in situ in a polymerization reactor or in a separate process with intermediate recovery of the prepolymerized catalyst prior to the primary polymerization process.
• Figure 1 shows the crystal structure of d ⁇ chloro(N-( l ,l-d ⁇ methylethyl)-l ,l - di ethyl- 1 -(( 1 ,2,3,3a,7a- ⁇ )-3-( 1 -pipendinyl)- 1 H-inden- 1 -y l)s ⁇ lanam ⁇ nato-(2-)-N-)- titanium
• Figure 2 shows the crystal structure of d ⁇ chloro(N-( 1 , 1 -dimethylethy I)- 1 , 1- dimethyl- 1 -(( 1 ,2,3,3a,7a- ⁇ )-3-methoxy- 1 H-inden- 1 -yl)s ⁇ lanam ⁇ nato-(2-)-N-)-t ⁇ tan ⁇ um
• Figure 3 shows the crystal structure of [N-( 1 , 1 -dimethylethyl)- 1 , 1 -dimethyl- 1 - (( l ,2,3,3a,7a- ⁇ )-3-( l -pipendinyl)- lH- ⁇ nden- l -yl)s ⁇ lanam ⁇ nato (2-)-N][(2 3,4,5- ⁇ )-2 4 hexad ⁇ ene)]-t ⁇ tan ⁇ um
• Olefins as used herein are C2-20 aliphatic or aromatic compounds containing vinylic unsaturation, as well as cyclic compounds such as cyclobutene, cyclopentene, and norbornene, including norbornene substituted in the 5- and 6-pos ⁇ t ⁇ ons with C * 20 hydrocarbyl groups Also included are mixtures of such olefins as well as mixtures of such olefins with C4.40 diolefin compounds Examples of the latter compounds include ethyhdene norbornene, 1 ,4-hexad ⁇ ene, norbornadiene, and the like
• the catalysts and processes herein are especially suited for use in preparation of ethylene/ 1-butene, ethylene/ 1-hexene, ethylene/styrene, ethylene/propylene, ethylene/ 1-pentene, ethylene/4-methyl-l-pentene and ethylene/ 1-octene copolymers as well as terpolymers of ethylene,
• Preferred X' groups are carbon monoxide; phosphines, especially trimethylphosphine, triethylphosphine, triphenylphosphine and bis(l ,2- dimethylphosphino)ethane; P(OR ! )3, wherein R 1 is hydrocarbyl, silyl or a comibination thereof; ethers, especially tetrahydrofuran; amines, especially pyridine, bipyridine, tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), and triethylamine; olefins; and conjugated dienes having from 4 to 40 carbon atoms.
• Complexes including the latter X' groups include those wherein the metal is in the +2 formal oxidation state.
• Preferred coordination complexes according to the present invention are complexes corresponding to the formula:
• R ⁇ , RX, RY and R- ⁇ are R groups, each of which independently is hydrogen, or is a group having from 1 to 80 nonhydrogen atoms which is hydrocarbyl, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyl, hydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, each of R ⁇ , RX, RY and T- optionally being substituted with one or more groups which independently each occurrence is hydrocarbyloxy, hydrocarbylsiloxy, hydrocarbylsilylamino, di(hydrocarbylsilyl)amino, hydrocarbylamino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino, hydrocarbylsulfido, hydrocarbyl, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy- substituted hydrocar
• R--- * groups are those wherein R ⁇ is hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylamino-substituted hydrocarbyl and T is O or N, more preferred are those wherein RB is hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl and T is O or N, and still more preferred are wherein RB is hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl and T is N.
• Preferred heteroatom-containing substituents at the 3-pos ⁇ tion of the Cp are those wherein the (R-*- * );-T group is methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, ethylethyloxy, 1 , 1 - dimethyethyloxy, trimethylsiloxy, l,l-dimethylethyl(d ⁇ methyls ⁇ lyl)oxy, dimethylamino, diethylamino, methylethylamino, methylphenylamino, dipropylamino, dibutylamino, piperidinyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, hexahydro- l H-azepin-1-yl, hexahydro-l(2H)-azocinyl, octahydro-lH-azonin- 1-yl or octahydro- l(2H)-anovanyl.
• the ligand or metal complex has one or more fused rings or ring systems in addition to the Cp or indenyl wherein the one or more fused rings or ring systems contain one or more ring heteroatoms which are N, O, S, or P. Preferred ring heteroatoms are N or O, with N being more highly preferred.
• metal complexes and the heteroatom-containing ligands thereof where -Z- is -Z*-Y-, with Z* bonded to Cp and Y bonded to M, and
• Y is -O-, -S-, -NR*-, -PR*-;
• R* independently each occurrence is hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said R* having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z and an R* group from Y form a ring system;
• X is independently each occurrence methyl, benzyl, t ⁇ methylsilylmethyl, allyl, pyrollyl or two X groups together are 1,4-butane-d ⁇ yl, 2-butene-l ,4-d ⁇ yl, 2,3-d ⁇ methyl-2-butene- 1 ,4-d ⁇ yl, 2-methyl-2-butene-l ,4-d ⁇ yl, or xylyldiyl
• metal complexes and the heteroatom-containing ligands thereof where -Z- is -Z*-Y-, with Z* bonded to Cp and Y bonded to M, and
• Y is -O-, -S-, -NR*-, -PR*-,
• R* independently each occurrence is hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said R* having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z and an R* group from Y form a ring system,
• metal complexes and the heteroatom-containing ligands thereof where -Z- is -Z*-Y-, with Z* bonded to Cp and Y bonded to M, and
• Y is -O-, -S-, -NR*-, -PR*-
• R* independently each occurrence is hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, and combinations thereof, said R* having up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R* groups from Z (when R* is not hydrogen), or an R* group from Z and an R* group from Y form a ring system;
• X' is 1 ,4- diphenyl-l,3-butad ⁇ ene, 1 ,3-pentad ⁇ ene or 2,4-hexad ⁇ ene.
• metals can be used in the preparation of the metal complexes of this invention, desirably a metal from one of Groups 3 to 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, the lanthanides or actinides, which is in the +2, +3 or +4 formal oxidation state, more desirably a metal from one of Groups 3 to 13.
• Metal complexes of this invention having somewhat different characteristics are those where M is a metal from one of Groups 3-6, one of Groups 7-9 or one of Groups 10- 12.
• M is a metal from Group 4, desirably Ti, Zr or Hf, with Ti and Zr being more preferred.
• Ti is the most highly preferred metal, especially for use in complexes which contain only one Cp-containing ligand which is the heteratom- containing ligand of this invention, while Zr is highly preferred for use in complexes which contain two Cp-contaming ligands, at least one of which is a heteratom- containing ligand.
• Ti is in the formal oxidation state, while, alternatively it is preferred that Ti is in the +3 formal oxidation state, and more preferred is that Ti is in the +2 formal oxidation state.
• Zr is in the +4 formal oxidation state, or, alternatively, in the +2 formal oxidation state.
• Y is -NR*, with the more preferred -NR* being those where R* is a group having a primary or secondary carbon atom bonded to N. Highly preferred are where R* is cyclohexyl or isopropyl.
• a preferred coordination complex is that corresponding to the formula:
• Illustrative derivatives of metals that may be employed in the practice of the present invention include:
• the complexes can be prepared by use of well known synthetic techniques.
• a reducing agent can be employed to produce the lower oxidation state complexes.
• a suitable noninterfering solvent at a temperature from -100 to 300°C, preferably from -78 to 100°C, most preferably from 0 to 50°C.
• reducing agent herein is meant a metal or compound which, under reducing conditions causes the metal M, to be reduced from a higher to a lower oxidation state.
• suitable metal reducing agents are alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum and zinc, alloys of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals such as sodium/mercury amalgam and sodium/potassium alloy.
• suitable reducing agent compounds are sodium naphthalenide, potassium graphite, lithium alkyls, lithium or potassium alkadienyls; and Grignard reagents.
• Most preferred reducing agents are the alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, especially lithium and magnesium metal.
• Suitable reaction media for the formation of the complexes include aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, and cyclic ethers, particularly branched-chain hydrocarbons such as isobutane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof; aromatic and hydrocarbyl-substituted aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, C j _4 dialkyl ethers, C * .4 dialkyl ether derivatives of (poly)alkylene glycols, and tetrahydrofuran. Mixtures of the foregoing are also suitable.
• R, R ⁇ R", R" ⁇ R" independently selected in each case are H (except on the nitrogen bound directly to the cyclopentadienyl ring), alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and are not limited only to these groups.
• CGC-ligand CGC-dianion The heteroatom-containing substituent has a nitrogen in the 3-position of the indenyl system.
• 1-Indanone is a convenient starting material for conversion to the corresponding enamine, although formation of the latter is not restricted to the use of this compound.
• Enamines of indanone are typically formed by methods known in the art, including condensation of secondary amines with the ketone (W. E. Noland, V. Kameswaran J. Org. Chem. 1981, 46, 1940-1944).
• the corresponding water byproduct may be azeotropically removed using a benzene or toluene solvent under reflux conditions and optionally an acid catalyst such as p-toluene sulfonic acid (O.
• enamines prepared by these routes must be highly pure and free of ketone, Aldol by-products and higher weight reaction tars which typically accompany product formation. None of the aforementioned routes uniformly provides a product which can be used without some sort of further purification.
• chromatographic purification using flash-grade silica gel or alumina rapidly promotes hydrolysis of the enamine to free amine and ketone, an unfortunate consequence.
• enamines of this nature may be purified by careful fractional distillation, or occasionally, recrystallization.
• rapid distillation of indanone enamines is required to prevent thermal polymerization in the still at elevated temperature. Expedient conversion of pure enamine to its corresponding anionic salt is required to obtain a highly pure CGC-ligand. since enamines may also be photochemically sensitive.
• enol ethers in this position can be made by dehydration of the appropriate hemiketal which is formed in situ from indanone and alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst (L. A. Paquette; A. Varadarajan; E. Bey J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 6702-6708).
• Enol ethers of indanones like the enamine analogues, are also susceptible to hydrolysis and are very oxygen sensitive. Once purified, they are best expediently converted to their corresponding anionic salts, which is shown in Scheme 2, below, where:
• R, R ⁇ R", R'", R” independently selected in each case are H (except on oxygen), alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and are not limited only to these groups.
• CGC-ligand constrained geometry ligands
• solvents suitable for the preparation of the anionic salts and dianionic salts of the invention include, but are not limited to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, particularly straight and branched chain hydrocarbons such as butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, decane, including their branched isomers and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane and mixtures thereof; aromatic and hydrocarbyl-substituted aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, diethylbenzene and mixtures thereof; ethers and cyclic ethers, particularly C
• Bases of suitable strength for the preparation of the dianionic salts of the invention include hydrocarbyl salts of Group 1 and Group 2 metals, especially alkyl or aryl salts of lithium or magnesium, such as methyllithium, ethyllithium, n- butyllithium, s-butyllithium, t-butyllithium, phenyllithium, methyl magnesium chloride, ethyl magnesium bromide, i-propyl magnesium chloride, dibutylmagnesium, (butyl)(ethyl)magnesium, dihexylmagnesium; Group 1 or Group 2 metals, such as lithium, sodium, potassium and magnesium; Group 1 , Group 2 or Group 13 metal hydrides, such as lithium hydride, sodium hydride, potassium hydride or lithium aluminum hydride; Group 1 or Group 2 metal amide complexes, such as lithium diisopropylamide, lithium dimethylamide, lithium hexamethyldisilazide, so
• Bases of suitable strength for the preparation of the anionic salts of the invention include the foregoing as well as Group 1 or Group 2 metal alkoxide complexes, such as sodium ethoxide, sodium t- butoxide, potassium butoxide and potassium amylate.
• the metallation of the dianionic salt may be accomplished by methods cited in this art as well. Reaction of the dianionic salt in THF with TiCl3 (THF)3, followed by oxidation with methylene chloride or lead dichlo ⁇ de is a well established procedure (J. Okuda, S. Verch, T. P. Spaniol, R. Sturmer Chem. Ber., 1996, 129, 1429- 1431 , D D. Devore EP 514,828) which affords the titanium (IV) dichlo ⁇ de complex.
• the dichlo ⁇ de may be silylated or hydrocarbylated by ligand exchange with an appropriate silylatmg or hydrocarbylatmg agent, such as methyllithium, methyl magnesium chloride, benzyl potassium, allyl lithium, t ⁇ methylsilylmethyl lithium, neopentyl magnesium bromide and phenyllithium.
• silylatmg or hydrocarbylatmg agent such as methyllithium, methyl magnesium chloride, benzyl potassium, allyl lithium, t ⁇ methylsilylmethyl lithium, neopentyl magnesium bromide and phenyllithium.
• the formation of the CGC metal (III) complexes according to the invention can be accomplished by any of several synthesis methods, among which are the following:
• the reaction under anaerobic and anhydrous conditions of the dianionic salts with trivalent metal salts, such as Group 4 metal (III) halide or alkoxide complexes can be carried out, optionally followed by silylation or hydrocarbylation with suitable silylating or hydrocarbylating agents, to form the corresponding CGC metal (III) halide, alkoxide, silyl or hydrocarbyl complexes of the invention.
• a further synthesis method involves reducing an appropriate CGC metal (IV) dihalide or dialkoxide complex, or, preceded by monosilylation or monohydrocarbylation, the corresponding CGC (IV) silyl or hydrocarbyl monohalide or monoalkoxide complex with a suitable reducing agent to the corresponding CGC metal (III) halide, alkoxide, silyl or hydrocarbyl complex.
• CGC metal (III) complexes are the methods described by Wilson (D. R. Wilson U.S. 5,504,224, 1996) which is inco ⁇ orated herein by reference.
• cyclopentadienyl ligands can be displaced by the dianionic salts and/or by the (stabilizing) hydrocarbylating agents from cyclopentadienyl-containing Group 4 metal complexes in the +3 oxidation state to give the CGC metal (III) complexes of the invention.
• Suitable reducing agents for reducing the oxidation state of the metals of the CGC metal (IV) complexes from +4 to +3 have been described above and especially include zinc, aluminum and magnesium.
• Suitable silylating and hydrocarbylating agents for the CGC metal (III) complexes and the CGC metal (IV) complexes of the invention include alkyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, neopentyl and hexyl; aryl, such as phenyl, naphthyl and biphenyl; aralkyl, such as benzyl, tolylmethyl, diphenylmethyl; alkaryl, such as tolyl and xylyl; allyl; silyl- or alkyl-substituted allyl, such as methylallyl, trimethylsilylallyl, dimethylallyl and trimethylallyl; trialkylsilyl, such as trimethylsilyl and triethylsilyl; trialkylsilylalkyl, such as trimethylsilylmethyl; pentadienyl; alkyl- or silyl-substituted pentadie
• Preferred silylating and hydrocarbylating agents include trimethylaluminurn. methyllithium, methyl magnesium chloride, neopentyllithium, trimethylsilylmethyl magnesium chloride and phenyllithium.
• Stabilizing group-containing hydrocarbylating agents are also included, especially the stabilizing group-containing hydrocarbylating agents and salts of the stabilizing group-containing hydrocarbyl groups described in U.S. 5,504,224, whose salts include, for example, benzyl potassium, 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzyllithium, allyllithium and dimethylpentadienyl potassium.
• the stabilizing groups are further described in U.S. Serial No. 8003, filed January 21, 1993 (corresponding to WO 93/19104), inco ⁇ orated herein by reference.
• Preferred halides or alkoxides of the metal (III) halide or alkoxide complexes and the CGC metal (III) halide or alkoxide complexes include fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, methoxide, ethoxide, i-propoxide, n- propoxide, butoxide and phenoxide.
• Preferred metal (III) halide or alkoxide complexes include titanium (III) chloride, titanium (III) ethoxide, titanium (III) bromide, titanium (III) isopropoxide, titanium (III) (d ⁇ chloro)( ⁇ sopropox ⁇ de), as well as Lewis base complexes of the foregoing, especially ether complexes thereof, particularly diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and ethylene glycol dimethyl ether complexes thereof
• Preferred cyclopentadienyl-containmg Group 4 metal complexes in the +3 oxidation state include tnscyclopentadienyl titanium, biscyclopentadienyl titanium chloride, biscyclopentadienyl titanium bromide, biscyclopentadienyl titanium isopropoxide, cyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride, cyclopentadienyl titanium diphenoxide, cyclopentadieny
• the ligands of this invention are 3-heteroatom substituted cyclopentadienyl- containing ligands where the ligand is in the form of
• a ligand of this invention for synthesis to produce a metal complex of this invention, for synthesis to produce a metal complex comprising a metal from one of Groups 3 to 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, the lanthanides or actinides, and from 1 to 4 of the ligands
• the ligands of this invention may be used in various forms, including salts, with various groups attached at the Z position in syntheses leading to metal complexes in which the metal is from Groups 3-16 of periodic table or the lanthanides, and in which from one to four of these ligands, alone or in combination with other ligands, are present in the metal complex
• the methods of synthesis may be similar or analogous to those discussed herein for the Group 4 metal complexes of this invention, as well as various other synthetic procedures known in the art
• the metal complexes are useful as catalysts in various reactions, including olefin polymerization reactions Obviously, naming of these metal complexes, as well as the neutral ligands and various intermediates is complicated and challenging, and the rules in various systems for these names are evolving.
• the heteroatom in those cases may be named as being in the 1 -position.
• x is 0 or 1
• y is 0 or 1
• z is 0 or 1
• x + y is 0 or 1
• x + z is 0 or 1
• the other symbols are as previously defined, where the dotted circle within the Cp ring implies the various possibilities for double bond character, partial double bond character or aromatic character as appropriate, depending upon the values for x, y, and z.
• the complexes are rendered catalytically active by combination with an activating cocatalyst or by use of an activating technique.
• Suitable activating cocatalysts for use herein include polymeric or oligomeric alumoxanes, especially methylalumoxane, triisobutyl aluminum modified methylalumoxane, or isobutylalumoxane; neutral Lewis acids, such as C 1.45 hydrocarbyl substituted Group
• Combinations of neutral Lewis acids especially the combination of a trialkyl aluminum compound having from 1 to 4 carbons in each alkyl group and a halogenated tri(hydrocarbyl)boron compound having from 1 to 20 carbons in each hydrocarbyl group, especially tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, tris(o- nonafluorobiphenyl)borane, further combinations of such neutral Lewis acid mixtures with a polymeric or oligomeric alumoxane, and combinations of a single neutral Lewis acid, especially tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane with a polymeric or oligomeric alumoxane are especially desirable activating cocatalysts.
• a benefit according to the present invention is the discovery that the most efficient catalyst activation using such a combination of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane/alumoxane mixture occurs at reduced levels of alumoxane.
• Preferred molar ratios of Group 4 metal complex:tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane:alumoxane are from 1 : 1 : 1 to 1 :5:5, more preferably from 1 : 1 : 1.5 to 1:5:3.
• Suitable ion forming compounds useful as cocatalysts in one embodiment of the present invention comprise a cation which is a Bronsted acid capable of donating a proton, and a compatible, noncoordinating anion, A " .
• noncoordinating means an anion or substance which either does not coordinate to the Group 4 metal containing precursor complex and the catalytic derivative derived therefrom, or which is only weakly coordinated to such complexes thereby remaining sufficiently labile to be displaced by a neutral Lewis base.
• a noncoordinating anion specifically refers to an anion which when functioning as a charge balancing anion in a cationic metal complex does not transfer an anionic substituent or fragment thereof to said cation thereby forming neutral complexes.
• “Compatible anions” are anions which are not degraded to neutrality when the initially formed complex decomposes and are noninterfering with desired subsequent polymerization or other uses of the complex.
• Preferred anions are those containing a single coordination complex comprising a charge-bearing metal or metalloid core which anion is capable of balancing the charge of the active catalyst species (the metal cation) which may be formed when the two components are combined.
• said anion should be sufficiently labile to be displaced by olefinic, diolefinic and acetylenically unsaturated compounds or other neutral Lewis bases such as ethers or nitriles.
• Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, aluminum, gold and platinum.
• Suitable metalloids include, but are not limited to, boron, phosphorus, and silicon.
• Compounds containing anions which comprise coordination complexes containing a single metal or metalloid atom are, of course, well known and many, particularly such compounds containing a single boron atom in the anion portion, are available commercially.
• cocatalysts may be represented by the following general formula: (L*-H) d + (A)d-
• L* is a neutral Lewis base
• (L*-H)+ is a Bronsted acid
• (A)d- is a noncoordinating, compatible anion having a charge of d-, and d is an integer from 1 to 3.
• (A)d- corresponds to the formula: [M' ⁇ ] ;
• M' is boron or aluminum in the +3 formal oxidation state
• Q independently each occurrence is selected from hydride, dialkylamido, halide, hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxide, halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl, halosubstituted hydrocarbyloxy, and halo- substituted silylhydrocarbyl radicals (including perhalogenated hydrocarbyl- perhalogenated hydrocarbyloxy- and perhalogenated silylhydrocarbyl radicals), said Q having up to 20 carbons with the proviso that in not more than one occurrence is Q halide.
• suitable hydrocarbyloxide Q groups are disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,296,433, the teachings of which are herein inco ⁇ orated by reference.
• d is one, that is, the counter ion has a single negative charge and is A " .
• Activating cocatalysts comprising boron which are particularly useful in the preparation of catalysts of this invention may be represented by the following general formula:
• L* is as previously defined; B is boron in a formal oxidation state of 3; and Q is a hydrocarbyl-, hydrocarbyloxy-, fluorinated hydrocarbyl-, fluorinated hydrocarbyloxy-, or fluorinated silylhydrocarbyl- group of up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, with the proviso that in not more than one occasion is Q hydrocarbyl.
• Q is each occurrence a fluorinated aryl group, especially, a pentafluorophenyl group.
• Illustrative, but not limiting, examples of ion forming compounds comprising proton donatable cations which may be used as activating cocatalysts in the preparation of the catalysts of this invention are tri-substituted ammonium salts such as: trimethylammonium tetraphenylborate, ethyldioctadecylammonium tetraphenylborate, triethylammonium tetraphenylborate, tripropylammonium tetraphenylborate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate, methyltetradecyloctadecylammonium tetraphenylborate,
• N,N-dimethyl(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium) tetraphenylborate trimethylammonium tetrakis(penta-fluorophenyl)borate, triethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tripropylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tri(sec-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,
• Dialkyl ammonium salts such as: di-(i-propyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and dicyclohexylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
• Tri-substituted phosphonium salts such as: triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tri(o-tolyl)phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and tri(2,6-dimethylphenyl)phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
• An especially preferred group of activating cocatalysts is tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, N-R3,N-R4 anilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate where R3 and R4 independently each occurrence are substituted or unsubstituted saturated hydrocarbyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, (R* R2NHCH3) + (C 0 H 4 OH)B(C6F5) 3 , or (R ⁇ NHO * ⁇ B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 " , where R ⁇ and R 2 independently each occurrence are substituted or unsubstituted saturated hydrocarbyl groups having from 12 to 30 carbon atoms.
• Another suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst comprises a salt of a cationic oxidizing agent and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the formula: (O ⁇ e+) d (Ad-) e .
• Ox e+ is a cationic oxidizing agent having a charge of e+; e is an integer from 1 to 3; and A* ⁇ " and d are as previously defined.
• cationic oxidizing agents include: ferrocenium, hydrocarbyl- substituted ferrocenium, Ag + ' or Pb "1" --*.
• Preferred embodiments of A****" are those anions previously defined with respect to the Bronsted acid containing activating cocatalysts, especially tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
• Another suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst comprises a compound which is a salt of a carbenium ion and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the formula:
• ⁇ + is a C j _20 carbenium ion
• A" is as previously defined.
• a preferred carbenium ion is the trityl cation, i.e. triphenylmethylium.
• a further suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst comprises a compound which is a salt of a silylium ion and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the formula:
• R is C * _ * o hydrocarbyl
• X', q and A" are as previously defined.
• Preferred silylium salt activating cocatalysts are t ⁇ methylsilylium tetrakispentafluorophenylborate, t ⁇ ethylsilyhum tetrakispentafluorophenylborate and ether substituted adducts thereof Silylium salts have been previously gene ⁇ cally disclosed in J Chem Soc Chem Comm., 1993, 383-384, as well as Lambert, J.
• the technique of bulk electrolysis involves the electrochemical oxidation of the metal complex under electrolysis conditions in the presence of a supporting electrolyte comprising a noncoordinating, inert anion
• solvents, supporting electrolytes and electrolytic potentials for the electrolysis are used such that electrolysis byproducts that would render the metal complex catalytically inactive are not substantially formed during the reaction
• suitable solvents are materials that are * liquids under the conditions of the electrolysis (generally temperatures from 0 to 100°C), capable of dissolving the supporting electrolyte, and inert.
• “Inert solvents” are those that are not reduced or oxidized under the reaction conditions employed for the electrolysis It is generally possible in view of the desired electrolysis reaction to choose a solvent and a supporting electrolyte that are unaffected by the electrical potential used for the desired electrolysis Preferred solvents include difluorobenzene (all isomers), dimethoxyethane (DME), and mixtures thereof
• the electrolysis may be conducted in a standard electrolytic cell containing an anode and cathode (also referred to as the working electrode and counter electrode respectively) Suitable materials of construction for the cell are glass, plastic, ceramic and glass coated metal.
• the electrodes are prepared from inert conductive materials, by which are meant conductive materials that are unaffected by the reaction mixture or reaction conditions. Platinum or palladium are preferred inert conductive materials.
• an ion permeable membrane such as a fine glass frit separates the cell into separate compartments, the working electrode compartment and counter electrode compartment.
• the working electrode is immersed in a reaction medium comprising the metal complex to be activated, solvent, supporting electrolyte, and any other materials desired for moderating the electrolysis or stabilizing the resulting complex.
• the counter electrode is immersed in a mixture of the solvent and supporting electrolyte.
• the desired voltage may be determined by theoretical calculations or experimentally by sweeping the cell using a reference electrode such as a silver electrode immersed in the cell electrolyte.
• the background cell current the current draw in the absence of the desired electrolysis, is also determined.
• the electrolysis is completed when the current drops from the desired level to the background level. In this manner, complete conversion of the initial metal complex can be easily detected.
• Suitable supporting electrolytes are salts comprising a cation and a compatible, noncoordinating anion, A-.
• Preferred supporting electrolytes are salts corresponding to the formula G + A " ; wherein:
• G + is a cation which is nonreactive towards the starting and resulting complex
• A" is as previously defined.
• Examples of cations, G + include tetrahydrocarbyl substituted ammonium or phosphonium cations having up to 40 nonhydrogen atoms.
• Preferred cations are the tetra(n-butylammonium)- and tetraethylammonium- cations.
• the cation of the supporting electrolyte passes to the counter electrode and A" migrates to the working electrode to become the anion of the resulting oxidized product.
• Either the solvent or the cation of the supporting electrolyte is reduced at the counter electrode in equal molar quantity with the amount of oxidized metal complex formed at the working electrode.
• Preferred supporting electrolytes are tetrahydrocarbylammonium salts of tetrakis(perfluoroaryl) borates having from 1 to 10 carbons in each hydrocarbyl or perfluoroaryl group, especially tetra(n- butyla monium)tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate.
• a further recently discovered electrochemical technique for generation of activating cocatalysts is the electrolysis of a disilane compound in the presence of a source of a noncoordinating compatible anion. This technique is more fully disclosed and claimed in the previously mentioned United States Patent application entitled, "Silylium Cationic Polymerization Activators For Metallocene Complexes", filed on September 12, 1994.
• electrochemical activating technique and activating cocatalysts may also be used in combination.
• An especially preferred combination is a mixture of a tri(hydrocarbyl)a]uminum or tri(hydrocarbyl)borane compound having from 1 to 4 carbons in each hydrocarbyl group with an oligomeric or polymeric alumoxane compound.
• the molar ratio of catalyst/cocatalyst employed preferably ranges from 1 : 10,000 to 100: 1 , more preferably from 1 :5000 to 10: 1 , most preferably from 1 : 1000 to 1 : 1.
• Alumoxane when used by itself as an activating cocatalyst, is employed in large quantity, generally at least 100 times the quantity of metal complex on a molar basis.
• Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, where used as an activating cocatalyst is employed in a molar ratio to the metal complex of form 0.5: 1 to 10: 1 , more preferably from 1 : 1 to 6: 1 , most preferably from 1 : 1 to 5: 1.
• the remaining activating cocatalysts are generally employed in approximately equimolar quantity with the metal complex.
• the process may be used to polymerize ethylenically unsaturated monomers having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms either alone or in combination.
• Preferred monomers include monovinylidene aromatic monomers, especially styrene, 4-vinylcyclohexene, vinylcyclohexane, norbornadiene and C2-10 aliphatic ⁇ -olefins, especially ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 3-methyl-l-pentene, 4-methyl- 1-pentene, 1-heptene, and 1-octene, C4.40 dienes, and mixtures thereof.
• Most preferred monomers are ethylene, propylene, 1 -butene, 1 -hexene, 1-octene and mixtures of ethylene, propylene and a nonconjugated diene, especially ethylidenenorbornene.
• the polymerization may be accomplished at conditions well known in the prior art for Ziegler-Natta or Kaminsky-Sinn type polymerization reactions, that is, temperatures from 0-250°C, preferably 30 to 200°C and pressures from atmospheric to 10,000 atmospheres. Suspension, solution, slurry, gas phase, bulk, solid state powder polymerization or other process condition may be employed if desired.
• a support, especially silica, alumina, or a polymer (especially poly(tetrafluoroethylene) or a polyolefin) may be employed, and desirably is employed when the catalysts are used in a gas phase or slurry polymerization process.
• the support is preferably employed in an amount to provide a weight ratio of catalyst (based on metal):support from 1 : 100,000 to 1 : 10, more preferably from 1 :50,000 to 1 :20, and most preferably from 1 : 10,000 to 1 :30.
• One such polymerization process comprises: contacting, optionally in a solvent, one or more ⁇ -olefins with a catalyst according to the present invention, in one or more continuous stirred tank or tubular reactors, connected in series or parallel, or in the absence of solvent, optionally in a fluidized bed gas phase reactor, and recovering the resulting polymer. Condensed monomer or solvent may be added to the gas phase reactor as is well known in the art.
• the molar ratio of catalyst:polymerizable compounds employed is from 10" -2 * 1 to 10 " * : 1, more preferably from 10"9; 1 to 10" 5 : 1.
• Suitable solvents for polymerization are inert liquids.
• examples include straight and branched-chain hydrocarbons such as isobutane, butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof; perfluorinated hydrocarbons such as perfluorinated C4.10 alkanes, and the like and aromatic and alkyl-substituted aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and the like
• Suitable solvents also include liquid olefins which may act as monomers or comonomers including ethylene, propylene, butadiene, 1 - butene, cyclopentene, 1-hexene, 1 -he
• the catalyst systems may be utilized in combination with at least one additional homogeneous or heterogeneous polymerization catalyst in separate reactors connected in series or in parallel to prepare polymer blends having desirable properties
• An example of such a process is disclosed in WO 94/00500, equivalent to U S. Serial Number 07/904.770, as well as U S Serial Number 08/10958, filed January 29, 1993, the teachings or which are hereby inco ⁇ orated by reference herein
• the catalyst systems of the present invention are particularly advantageous for the production of ethylene homopolymers and ethylene/ ⁇ -olefin copolymers having high levels of long chain branching.
• the use of the catalyst systems of the present invention in continuous polymerization processes, especially continuous, solution polymerization processes, allows for elevated reactor temperatures which favor the formation of vinyl terminated polymer chains that may be inco ⁇ orated into a growing polymer, thereby giving a long chain branch.
• the use of the present catalysts system advantageously allows for the economical production of ethylene/ ⁇ -olefin copolymers having processability similar to high pressure, free radical produced low density polyethylene.
• a preferred process is a high temperature solution polymerization process for the polymerization of olefins comprising contacting one or more C2-20 ot-olefins under polymerization conditions with a catalyst system of this invention at a temperature from about 100°C to about 250°C. More preferred as a temperature range for this process is a temperature from about 120°C to about 200°C, and even more preferred is temperature from about 150°C to about 200°C.
• the present catalysts system may be advantageously employed to prepare olefin polymers having improved processing properties by polymerizing ethylene alone or ethylene/ ⁇ -olefin mixtures with low levels of a "H" branch inducing diene, such as norbornadiene, 1 ,7-octadiene, or 1 ,9-decadiene.
• a "H" branch inducing diene such as norbornadiene, 1 ,7-octadiene, or 1 ,9-decadiene.
• the unique combination of elevated reactor temperatures, high molecular weight (or low melt indices) at high reactor temperatures and high comonomer reactivity advantageously allows for the economical production of polymers having excellent physical properties and processability.
• such polymers comprise a C3.20 ⁇ -olefin, including ethylene, and a "H"-branching comonomer.
• such polymers are produced in a solution process, most preferably a continuous solution process.
• such polymers may be produced in a gas phase process or a slurry process.
• the present catalyst system is particularly useful in the preparation of EP and EPDM copolymers in high yield and productivity.
• the process employed may be either a solution or slurry process both of which are previously known in the art.
• Kaminsky, J. Poly. Sci., Vol. 23, pp. 2151 -64 ( 1985) reported the use of a soluble bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium dimethyl-alumoxane catalyst system for solution polymerization of EP and EPDM elastomers.
• U.S. 5,229,478 disclosed a slurry polymerization process utilizing similar bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium based catalyst systems.
• an olefin polymerization catalyst to a diene, especially the high concentrations of diene monomer required to produce the requisite level of diene incorporation in the final EPDM product, often reduces the rate or activity at which the catalyst will cause polymerization of ethylene and propylene monomers to proceed.
• lower throughputs and longer reaction times have been required, compared to the production of an ethylene-propylene copolymer elastomer or other ⁇ -olefin copolymer elastomer.
• the present catalyst system advantageously allows for increased diene reactivity thereby preparing EPDM polymers in high yield and productivity. Additionally, the catalyst system of the present invention achieves the economical production of EPDM polymers with diene contents of up to 20 weight percent or higher, which polymers possess highly desirable fast cure rates.
• the nonconjugated diene monomer can be a straight chain, branched chain or cyclic hydrocarbon diene having from about 6 to about 15 carbon atoms.
• suitable nonconjugated dienes are straight chain acyclic dienes such as 1 ,4-hexadiene and 1 ,6-octadiene; branched chain acyclic dienes such as 5-methyl-l ,4-hexadiene; 3,7-dimethyl- l ,6-octadiene; 3,7-dimethy!-l ,7-octadiene and mixed isomers of dihydromyricene and dihydroocinene; single ring alicyclic dienes such as 1 ,3-cyclopentadiene; 1 ,4-cyclohexadiene; 1,5-cyclooctadiene and 1 ,5-cyclododecadiene: and multi-ring alicyclic fused and bridged ring dienes such
• the particularly preferred dienes are 1 ,4-hexadiene (HD), 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB), 5-vinylidene-2- norbornene (VNB), 5-methylene-2-norbornene (MNB), and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD).
• the especially preferred dienes are 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene (ENB) and 1 ,4-hexadiene (HD).
• the preferred EPDM elastomers may contain about 20 up to about 90 weight percent ethylene, more preferably about 30 to 85 weight percent ethylene, most preferably about 35 to about 80 weight percent ethylene.
• the alpha-olefins suitable for use in the preparation of elastomers with ethylene and dienes are preferably C3..- 6 alpha-olefins.
• Illustrative nonlimiting examples of such alpha-olefins are propylene, 1 -butene, 1 -pentene, 1-hexene, 4- methyl-1-pentene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-decene, and 1 -dodecene.
• the alpha-olefin is generally inco ⁇ orated into the EPDM polymer at about 10 to about 80 weight percent, more preferably at about 20 to about 65 weight percent.
• the nonconjugated dienes are generally inco ⁇ orated into the EPDM at about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent; more, preferably at about 1 to about 15 weight percent, and most preferably at 3 to about 12 weight percent. If desired, more than one diene may be inco ⁇ orated simultaneously, for example HD and ENB, with total diene inco ⁇ oration within the limits specified above.
• the catalyst system may be prepared as a homogeneous catalyst by addition of the requisite components to a solvent in which polymerization will be carried out by solution polymerization procedures.
• the catalyst system may also be prepared and employed as a heterogeneous catalyst by adsorbing the requisite components on a catalyst support material such as silica gel, alumina or other suitable inorganic support material.
• a catalyst support material such as silica gel, alumina or other suitable inorganic support material.
• silica When prepared in heterogeneous or supported form, it is preferred to use silica as the support material.
• Inorganic support materials, such as, for example, silica may be treated with aluminum alkyls or other chemical pacification agents to reduce surface hydroxyl content of the support.
• the heterogeneous form of the catalyst system may be employed in a gas phase or slurry polymerization.
• the diluent for slurry polymerization is one or more hydrocarbons with less than 5 carbon atoms.
• saturated hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane or butane may be used in whole or part as the diluent.
• the ⁇ -olefin monomer or a mixture of different ⁇ -olefin monomers may be used in whole or part as the diluent.
• the diluent comprises in at least major part the ⁇ -olefin monomer or monomers to be polymerized.
• the catalyst system of this invention may comprise an aluminum organometallic component which comprises an alumoxane, an aluminum alkyl or a combination thereof.
• This component may be present in a nonactivating amount and function primarily as a scavenger, or it may interact with the cocatalyst component to enhance the activity of the catalyst component, or it may do both.
• the catalyst or cocatalyst of the catalyst system can be covalently or ionically attached to the support material of the support component, which comprises a support material which is a polymer, an inorganic oxide, a metal halide, or a mixture thereof.
• Preferred supports for use in the present invention include highly porous silicas, aluminas, aluminosilicates, and mixtures thereof.
• the most preferred support material is silica.
• the support material may be in granular, agglomerated, pelletized, or any other physical form. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, silicas available from Grace Davison (division of W.R. Grace & Co.) under the designations SD 3216.30, Davison Syloid 245, Davison 948 and Davison 952, and from Crossfield under the designation ES70, and from Degussa AG under the designation Aerosil 812; and aluminas available from Akzo Chemicals Inc. under the designation Ketzen Grade B.
• Supports suitable for the present invention preferably have a surface area as determined by nitrogen porosimetry using the B.E.T. method from 10 to about 1000 m ⁇ /g. and preferably from about 100 to 600 m-**/g.
• the pore volume of the support, as determined by nitrogen adso ⁇ tion advantageously is between 0.1 and 3 cm-Vg, preferably from about 0.2 to 2 cm-Vg.
• the average particle size depends upon the process employed, but typically is from 0.5 to 500 ⁇ m, preferably from 1 to 100 ⁇ m.
• Both silica and alumina are known to inherently possess small quantities of hydroxyl functionality.
• these materials are preferably subjected to a heat treatment and/or chemical treatment to reduce the hydroxyl content thereof.
• Typical heat treatments are carried out at a temperature from 30°C to 1000°C (preferably 250°C to 800°C for 5 hours or greater) for a duration of 10 minutes to 50 hours in an inert atmosphere or under reduced pressure.
• Typical chemical treatments include contacting with Lewis acid alkylating agents such as trihydrocarbyl aluminum compounds, trihydrocarbylchlorosilane compounds, trihydrocarbylalkoxysilane compounds or similar agents. Residual hydroxyl groups are then removed via chemical treatment.
• Suitable functionalizing agents are compounds that react with surface hydroxyl groups of the support or react with the silicon or aluminum of the matrix. Examples of suitable functionalizing agents include phenylsilane, hexamethyldisilazane diphenylsilane, methylphenylsilane, dimethylsilane, diethylsilanc, dichlorosilane, and dichlorodimethylsilane. Techniques for forming such functionalized silica or alumina compounds were previously disclosed in U.S. Patents 3,687,920 and 3,879,368, the teachings of which are herein inco ⁇ orated by reference.
• the support may also be treated with an aluminum component selected from an alumoxane or an aluminum compound of the formula AIR - X 'R-*y, wherein R' independently each occurrence is hydride or R, R2 is hydride, R or OR, x' is 2 or 3, y' is 0 or 1 and the sum of x' and y' is 3.
• suitable R ⁇ and R2 groups include methyl, methoxy, ethyl, ethoxy, propyl (all isomers), propoxy (all isomers), butyl (all isomers), butoxy (all isomers), phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, and benzyloxy.
• the aluminum component is selected from the group consisting of aluminoxanes and tri(C ⁇ _4 hydrocarbyl)aluminum compounds.
• Most preferred aluminum components are aluminoxanes, trimethylaluminum, triethyl aluminum, tri-isobutyl aluminum, and mixtures thereof.
• Alumoxanes are oligomeric or polymeric aluminum oxy compounds containing chains of alternating aluminum and oxygen atoms, whereby the aluminum carries a substituent, preferably an alkyl group.
• the structure of alumoxane is believed to be represented by the following general formulae (-Al(R)-O) m >, for a cyclic alumoxane, and R2Al-O(-Al(R)-O) m * -AlR2- for a linear compound, wherein R is as previously defined, and m' is an integer ranging from 1 to about 50, preferably at least about 4.
• Alumoxanes are typically the reaction products of water and an aluminum alkyl, which in addition to an alkyl group may contain halide or alkoxide groups. Reacting several different aluminum alkyl compounds, such as for example trimethyl aluminum and tri-isobutyl aluminum, with water yields so-called modified or mixed alumoxanes.
• Preferred alumoxanes are methylalumoxane and methylalumoxane modified with minor amounts of C2.4 alkyl groups, especially isobutyl.
• Alumoxanes generally contain minor to substantial amounts of starting aluminum alkyl compound.
• alumoxane may be inco ⁇ orated into the support by reaction of a hydrated alumina or silica material, which has optionally been functional ized with silane, siloxane, hydrocarbyloxysilane, or chlorosilane groups, with a tri (C J .J Q alkyl) aluminum compound according to known techniques.
• a hydrated alumina or silica material which has optionally been functional ized with silane, siloxane, hydrocarbyloxysilane, or chlorosilane groups
• the treatment of the support material in order to also include optional alumoxane or trialkylaluminum loadings involves contacting the same before, after or simultaneously with addition of the complex or activated catalyst hereunder with the alumoxane or trialkylaluminum compound, especially triethylaluminum or triisobutylaluminum.
• the mixture can also be heated under an inert atmosphere for a period and at a temperature sufficient to fix the alumoxane, trialkylaluminum compound, complex or catalyst system to the support.
• the treated support component containing alumoxane or the trialkylaluminum compound may be subjected to one or more wash steps to remove alumoxane or trialkylaluminum not fixed to the support.
• the alumoxane may be generated in situ by contacting an unhydrolyzed silica or alumina or a moistened silica or alumina with a trialkyl aluminum compound optionally in the presence of an inert diluent.
• a process is well known in the art, having been disclosed in EP-A- 250,600; U.S.-A-4.912,075; and U.S.-A-5,008,228; the teachings of which, or of the corresponding U.S. application, are hereby incorporated by reference.
• Suitable aliphatic hydrocarbon diluents include pentane, isopentane, hexane, heptane, octane, isooctane, nonane, isononane, decane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane and combinations of two or more of such diluents.
• Suitable aromatic hydrocarbon diluents are benzene, toluene, xylene, and other alkyl or halogen substituted aromatic compounds. Most preferably, the diluent is an aromatic hydrocarbon, especially toluene.
• the cocatalysts of the invention may also be used in combination with a tri(hydrocarbyl)aluminum compound having from 1 to 10 carbons in each hydrocarbyl group, an oligomeric or polymeric alumoxane compound, a di(hydrocarbyl)(hydrocarbyloxy)aluminum compound having from 1 to 10 carbons in each hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbyloxy group, or a mixture of the foregoing compounds, if desired.
• These aluminum compounds are usefully employed for their beneficial ability to scavenge impurities such as oxygen, water, and aldehydes from the polymerization mixture.
• Preferred aluminum compounds include C2-6 trialkyl aluminum compounds, especially those wherein the alkyl groups are ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, neopentyl, or isopentyl, and methylalumoxane, modified methylalumoxane and diisobutylalumoxane.
• the molar ratio of aluminum compound to metal complex is preferably from 1 : 10,000 to 1000: 1 , more preferably from 1 :5000 to 100: 1 , most preferably from 1 : 100 to 100: 1.
• solution polymerization takes place under conditions in which the diluent acts as a solvent for the respective components of the reaction, particularly the EP or EPDM polymer.
• Preferred solvents include mineral oils and the various hydrocarbons which are liquid at reaction temperatures.
• Illustrative examples of useful solvents include alkanes such as pentane, isopentane, hexane, heptane, octane and nonane, as well as mixtures of alkanes including kerosene and Isopar ETM, available from Exxon Chemicals Inc.; cycloalkanes such as cyclopentane and cyclohexane; and aromatics such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene and diethylbenzene.
• the individual ingredients as well as the recovered catalyst components must be protected from oxygen and moisture. Therefore, the catalyst components and catalysts must be prepared and recovered in an oxygen and moisture free atmosphere. Preferably, therefore, the reactions are performed in the presence of a dry, inert gas such as, for example, nitrogen.
• a dry, inert gas such as, for example, nitrogen.
• Ethylene is added to the reaction vessel in an amount to maintain a differential pressure in excess of the combined vapor pressure of the ⁇ -olefin and diene monomers.
• the ethylene content of the polymer is determined by the ratio of ethylene differential pressure to the total reactor pressure.
• the polymerization process is carried out with a differentia] pressure of ethylene of from about 10 to about 1000 psi (70 to 7000 kPa), most preferably from about 40 to about 400 psi (30 to 300 kPa).
• the polymerization is generally conducted at a temperature of from 25 to 200°C, preferably from 75 to 170°C, and most preferably from greater than 95 to 140°C.
• the polymerization may be carried out as a batchwise or a continuous polymerization process.
• a continuous process is preferred, in which event catalyst, ethylene, ⁇ -olefin, and optionally solvent and diene are continuously supplied to the reaction zone and polymer product continuously removed therefrom.
• continuous and continuous as used in this context are those processes in which there are intermittent additions of reactants and removal of products at small regular intervals, so that, over time, the overall process is continuous.
• one means for carrying out such a polymerization process is as follows: In a stirred-tank reactor propylene monomer is introduced continuously together with solvent, diene monomer and ethylene monomer.
• the reactor contains a liquid phase composed substantially of ethylene, propylene and diene monomers together with any solvent or additional diluent. If desired, a small amount of a "H"-branch inducing diene such as norbornadiene, 1 ,7-octadiene or 1 ,9-decadiene may also be added. Catalyst and cocatalyst are continuously introduced in the reactor liquid phase.
• the reactor temperature and pressure may be controlled by adjusting the solvent/monomer ratio, the catalyst addition rate, as well as by cooling or heating coils, jackets or both.
• the polymerization rate is controlled by the rate of catalyst addition.
• the ethylene content of the polymer product is determined by the ratio of ethylene to propylene in the reactor, which is controlled by manipulating the respective feed rates of these components to the reactor.
• the polymer product molecular weight is controlled, optionally, by controlling other polymerization variables such as the temperature, monomer concentration, or by a stream of hydrogen introduced to the reactor, as is well known in the art.
• the reactor effluent is contacted with a catalyst kill agent such as water.
• the polymer solution is optionally heated, and the polymer product is recovered by flashing off gaseous ethylene and propylene as well as residual solvent or diluent at reduced pressure, and, if necessary, conducting further devolatilization in equipment such as a devolatilizing extruder.
• the mean residence time of the catalyst and polymer in the reactor generally is from about 5 minutes to 8 hours, and preferably from 10 minutes to 6 hours.
• the polymerization is conducted in a continuous solution polymerization system comprising two reactors connected in series or parallel.
• a relatively high molecular weight product Mw from 300,000 to 600,000, more preferably 400,000 to 500,000
• Mw 50,000 to 300,000 a product of a relatively low molecular weight
• the final product is a blend of the two reactor effluents which are combined prior to devolatilization to result in a uniform blend of the two polymer products.
• Such a dual reactor process allows for the preparation of products having improved properties.
• the reactors are connected in series, that is effluent from the first reactor is charged to the second reactor and fresh monomer, solvent and hydrogen is added to the second reactor.
• Reactor conditions are adjusted such that the weight ratio of polymer produced in the first reactor to that produced in the second reactor is from 20:80 to 80:20.
• the temperature of the second reactor is controlled to produce the lower molecular weight product.
• This system beneficially allow for production of EPDM products having a large range of Mooney viscosities, as well as excellent strength and processability.
• the Mooney viscosity (ASTM D 1646-94, ML 1+4 @ 125°C) of the resulting product is adjusted to fall in the range from 1 to 200, preferably from 5 to 150 and most preferably from 10 to 1 10.
• the process of the present invention can be employed to advantage in the gas phase copolymerization of olefins.
• Gas phase processes for the polymerization of olefins, especially the homopolymerization and copolymerization of ethylene and propylene, and the copolymerization of ethylene with higher ⁇ -olefins such as, for example, 1 -butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl- l -pentene are well known in the art.
• Such processes are used commercially on a large scale for the manufacture of high density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and polypropylene.
• the gas phase process employed can be, for example, of the type which employs a mechanically stirred bed or a gas fluidized bed as the polymerization reaction zone.
• Preferred is the process wherein the polymerization reaction is carried out in a vertical cylindrical polymerization reactor containing a fluidized bed of polymer particles supported or suspended above a perforated plate, the fluidization grid, by a flow of fluidization gas.
• the gas employed to fluidize the bed comprises the monomer or monomers to be polymerized, and also serves as a heat exchange medium to remove the heat of reaction from the bed.
• the hot gases emerge from the top of the reactor, normally via a tranquilization zone, also known as a velocity reduction zone, having a wider diameter than the fluidized bed and wherein fine particles entrained in the gas stream have an opportunity to gravitate back into the bed. It can also be advantageous to use a cyclone to remove ultra-fine particles from the hot gas stream.
• the gas is then normally recycled to the bed by means of a blower or compressor and one or more heat exchangers to strip the gas of the heat of polymerization.
• a preferred method of cooling of the bed is to feed a volatile liquid to the bed to provide an evaporative cooling effect, often referred to as operation in the condensing mode.
• the volatile liquid employed in this case can be, for example, a volatile inert liquid, for example, a saturated hydrocarbon having about 3 to about 8, preferably 4 to 6, carbon atoms.
• the monomer or comonomer itself is a volatile liquid, or can be condensed to provide such a liquid, this can suitably be fed to the bed to provide an evaporative cooling effect.
• olefin monomers which can be employed in this manner are olefins containing about three to about eight, preferably three to six carbon atoms.
• the volatile liquid evaporates in the hot fluidized bed to form gas which mixes with the fluidizing gas. If the volatile liquid is a monomer or comonomer, it will undergo some polymerization in the bed.
• the evaporated liquid then emerges from the reactor as part of the hot recycle gas, and enters the compression/heat exchange part of the recycle loop.
• the recycle gas is cooled in the heat exchanger and, if the temperature to which the gas is cooled is below the dew point, liquid will precipitate from the gas. This liquid is desirably recycled continuously to the fluidized bed.
• the polymerization reaction occurring in the gas fluidized bed is catalyzed by the continuous or semi-continuous addition of catalyst.
• catalyst can be supported on an inorganic or organic support material as described above.
• the catalyst can also be subjected to a prepolymerization step, for example, by polymerizing a small quantity of olefin monomer in a liquid inert diluent, to provide a catalyst composite comprising catalyst particles embedded in olefin polymer particles.
• the polymer is produced directly in the fluidized bed by catalyzed copolymerization of the monomer and one or more comonomers on the fluidized particles of catalyst, supported catalyst or prepolymer within the bed.
• Start-up of the polymerization reaction is achieved using a bed of preformed polymer particles, which are preferably similar to the target polyolefin, and conditioning the bed by drying with inert gas or nitrogen prior to introducing the catalyst, the monomers and any other gases which it is desired to have in the recycle gas stream, such as a diluent gas, hydrogen chain transfer agent, or an inert condensable gas when operating in gas phase condensing mode.
• the produced polymer is discharged continuously or discontinuously from the fluidized bed as desired.
• the gas phase processes suitable for the practice of this invention are preferably continuous processes which provide for the continuous supply of reactants to the reaction zone of the reactor and the removal of products from the reaction zone of the reactor, thereby providing a steady-state environment on the macro scale in the reaction zone of the reactor.
• the fluidized bed of the gas phase process is operated at temperatures greater than 50°C, preferably from about 60°C to about 1 10°C, more preferably from about 70°C to about 1 10°C.
• the molar ratio of comonomer to monomer used in the polymerization depends upon the desired density for the composition being produced and is about 0.5 or less. Desirably, when producing materials with a density range of from about 0.91 to about 0.93 the comonomer to monomer ratio is less than 0.2, preferably less than 0.05, even more preferably less than 0.02, and may even be less than 0.01. Typically, the ratio of hydrogen to monomer is less than about 0.5, preferably less than 0.2, more preferably less than 0.05, even more preferably less than 0.02 and may even be less than 0.01.
• the catalysts may be used to polymerize ethylenically and or acetylenically unsaturated monomers having from 2 to 100,000 carbon atoms either alone or in combination.
• Preferred monomers include the C2-20 ⁇ -olefins especially ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 3-methyl-l-pentene, 4-methyl-l-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene, long chain macromolecular ⁇ -olefins, and mixtures thereof.
• styrene C j .4 alkyl substituted styrene, tetrafluoroethylene, vinylbenzocyclobutane, ethylidenenorbornene, 1 ,4-hexadiene, 1,7-octadiene, vinylcyclohexane, 4-vinylcyclohexene, divinylbenzene, and mixtures thereof with ethylene.
• Long chain macromolecular ⁇ -olefins are vinyl terminated polymeric remnants formed in situ during continuous solution polymerization reactions.
• Such long chain macromolecular units are readily polymerized into the polymer product along with ethylene and other short chain olefin monomers to give small quantities of long chain branching in the resulting polymer.
• the catalysts may also be utilized in combination with at least one additional homogeneous or heterogeneous polymerization catalyst in the same or in separate reactors connected in series or in parallel to prepare polymer blends having desirable properties.
• An example of such a process is disclosed in WO 94/00500, equivalent to U.S. Serial Number 07/904,770, as well as U.S. Serial Number 08/10958, filed January 29, 1993, the teachings or which are hereby inco ⁇ orated by reference herein
• the highly prefered complexes of this invention have a nitrogen heteroatom bond to the 3-posit ⁇ on of the cyclopentadienyl group.
• an unusual blue color is observed. This can be due to the formation of a radical cation in which the titanium is in a formal oxidation state of (III), which may exist in a diamagnetic or paramagnetic form as shown below
• the long chain branch is longer than the short chain branch that results from the inco ⁇ oration of one or more ⁇ -olefin comonomers into the polymer backbone
• the empirical effect of the presence of long chain branching in the copolymers of this invention is manifested as enhanced rheological properties which are indicated by higher flow activation energies, and greater I 2 -/I 2 than expected trom the other structural properties of the compositions
• polyolefin copolymer compositions of this invention have reverse molecular architecture, that is, there is a molecular weight maximum which occurs in that 50 percent by weight of the composition which has the highest weight percent comonomer content
• polyolefin copolymer compositions which also have long chain branches along the polymer backbone, especially when produced with a catalyst system of this invention having a single metallocene complex of this invention in a single reactor in a process for the polymerization of an ⁇ -olefin monomer with one or more olefin comonomers, more especially when the process is a continuous process
• the comonomer content as a function of molecular weight was measured by coupling a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) to a Wateis 150°C Gel Permeation Chromatograph (GPC)
• FTIR Fourier transform infrared spectrometer
• GPC Gel Permeation Chromatograph
• the comonomer partitioning factor C p f is calculated from GPC FTIR data. It characterizes the ratio of the average comonomer content of the higher molecular weight fractions to the average comonomer content of the lower molecular weight fractions. Higher and lower molecular weight are defined as being above or below the median molecular weight respectively, that is, the molecular weight distribution is divided into two parts of equal weight.
• C p f is calculated from the following equation.
• ⁇ ⁇ normalized weight fraction as determined by GPC/FTIR for the n FTIR data points above the median molecular weight, c; is the mole fraction comonomer content and w , is the normalized weight fraction as determined by GPC/FTIR for the m FTIR data points below the median molecular weight. Only those weight fractions, w, or w. which have associated mole fraction comonomer content values are used to calculate Cpf. For a valid calculation, it is required that n and m are greater than or equal to 3 FTIR data corresponding to molecular weight fractions below 5,000 are not included in the calculation due to the uncertainties present in such data
• C p f desirably is equal to or greater than 1.10, more desirably is equal to or greater than 1.15, even more desirably is equal to or greater than 1.20, preferably is equal to or greater than 1.30, more preferably is equal to or greater than 1.40, even more preferably is equal to or greater than 1.50, and still more preferably is equal to or greater than 1.60.
• ATREF-DV ATREF-DV
• ATREF-DV has been described in U S Patent No 4,798,081, which is hereby inco ⁇ orated by reference, and in "Determination of Short-Chain Branching Distributions of Ethylene copolymers by Automated Analytical Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation" (Auto-ATREF), J of Appl Pol Sci Applied Polymer
• ATREF-DV is a dual detector analytical system that is capable of fractionating semi-crystalline polymers like Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) as a function of crystallization temperature while simultaneously estimating the molecular weight of the fractions
• LLDPE Linear Low Density Polyethylene
• ATREF-DV is analogous to Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (TREF) analysis that have been published in the open literature over the past 15 years
• a typical liquid chromatographic (LC) mass detector such as an infrared single frequency detector, is used to quantify the crystallinity distribution as a function of elution temperature
• LC liquid chromatographic
• This distribution can then be transformed to any number of alternative domains such as short branching frequency, comonomer distribution or possibly density
• this transformed distribution can then be inte ⁇ reted according to some structural variable like comonomer content, although routine use of ATREF for comparisons
• a commercially available viscometer especially adapted for LC analysis such as a ViskotekTM is coupled with the IR mass detector Together these two LC detectors can be used to calculate the intrinsic viscosity of the ATREF-DV eluant
• the viscosity average molecular weight of a given fraction can then be estimated using appropriate Mark Houwink constants, the corresponding intrinsic viscosity, and suitable coefficients to estimate the fractions concentration (dl/g) as it passes through the detectors
• a typical ATREF-DV report will provide the weight fraction polymer and viscosity average molecular weight as a function of elution temperature M p f is then calculated using the equation given Molecular Weight Partitioning Factor
• the molecular weight partitioning factor M p f is calculated from TREF/DV data. It characterizes the ratio of the average molecular weight of the fractions with high comonomer content to the average molecular weight of the fractions with low comonomer content. Higher and lower comonomer content are defined as being below or above the median elution temperature of the TREF concentration plot respectively, that is, the TREF data is divided into two parts of equal weight.
• M p f is calculated from the following equation:
• Mj is the viscosity average molecular weight and wj is m l it .
• Mj is the viscosity average molecular weight
• w is the normalized weight fraction as determined by ATREF- DV for the m data points in the fractions above the median elution temperature. Only those weight fractions, w * or w; which have associated viscosity average molecular weights greater than zero are used to calculate M p f. For a valid calculation, it is required that n and m are greater than or equal to 3.
• M p f desirably is equal to or greater than 1.15, more desirably is equal to or greater than 1.30, even more desirably is equal to or greater than 1.40, preferably is equal to or greater than 1.50, more preferably is equal to or greater than 1.60. even more preferably is equal to or greater than 1.70.
• a two-liter Parr reactor was charged with 740 g of Isopar-ETM mixed alkanes solvent (available from Exxon Chemicals Inc.) and 1 18 g of 1-octene comonomer. Hydrogen was added as a molecular weight control agent by differential pressure expansion from a 75 mL addition tank at 25 psi (2070 kPa). The reactor was heated to the polymerization temperature of 140°C and saturated with ethylene at 500 psig (3.4 MPa). The appropriate amount of catalyst and cocatalyst as 0.005M solutions in toluene were premixed in the drybox. After the desired premix time, the solution was transferred to a catalyst addition tank and injected into the reactor.
• Catalyst 1 [(N-t-Butylamino)(dimethyl)( l -N- pyrrolidineindenyl)silane)] Titanium Dimethyl
• Catalyst 2 [(N-t-Butylamino)(dimethyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl) silane)] Titanium Dimethyl
• Equimolar amounts of catalyst and cocatalyst were premixed together c grams polymer per gram Ti d melt index (dg/min)
• reaction mixture decanted over crushed ice careful to leave behind a smaller and denser oily phase.
• the upper phase of the reaction mixture was then transferred to an extraction funnel and washed with 1 M HCl ( 1 x 200 mL), saturated NaHCO 3 (2 x 200 mL), and H2O ( 1 x 200 mL).
• MeMgl (3.0 M) was added dropwise while stirring over a 5 minute period. The solution changed color from black to dark red. After the addition of MeMgl was completed, the solution was stirred for 1 hour. Then the Et2 ⁇ was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted with hexane (2 x 20 mL), the solution was filtered, the filtrate was evaporated to dryne.ss under reduced pressure to give 0.35 g (65 percent yield) of black solid.
• N-( 1 , 1-dimethylethyl)- 1 .1 -dimethyl- 1 -(2-methyl-3-( 1 - pyrrolidinyl)- 1 H-inden- 1 -yl)silanamine (26).
• N-( 1 , 1 -dimethylethyl)- 1 -chloro- 1 ,1 -dimethyl-silanamine (4.27 g, 25.75 mmol) in 100 mL of THF (2-methyl- l-(l-pyrrolidinyl)-lH-indenyl)lithium (3.52 g, 17. 17 mmol) dissolved in 50 mL of THF was added within 3 minutes.
• MeMgl (3.0 M) was added dropwise while stirring over a 5 minute period.
• Et O was removed under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted with hexane (2 x 20 L), the solution was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give 0.45 g (78 percent yield) of brown-red sticky residue

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