WO2020219050A1 - Activateurs de benzimidazolium de type anion non coordonnants - Google Patents

Activateurs de benzimidazolium de type anion non coordonnants Download PDF

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WO2020219050A1
WO2020219050A1 PCT/US2019/029115 US2019029115W WO2020219050A1 WO 2020219050 A1 WO2020219050 A1 WO 2020219050A1 US 2019029115 W US2019029115 W US 2019029115W WO 2020219050 A1 WO2020219050 A1 WO 2020219050A1
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group
substituted
hydrocarbyl
independently
alkyl
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PCT/US2019/029115
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English (en)
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Catherine A. Faler
Margaret T. WHALLEY
John R. Hagadorn
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Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.
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Priority to PCT/US2019/029115 priority Critical patent/WO2020219050A1/fr
Publication of WO2020219050A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020219050A1/fr

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07D235/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazole or hydrogenated 1,3-diazole rings, condensed with other rings
    • C07D235/02—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,3-diazole or hydrogenated 1,3-diazole rings, condensed with other rings condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
    • C07D235/04—Benzimidazoles; Hydrogenated benzimidazoles
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07F—ACYCLIC, CARBOCYCLIC OR HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS CONTAINING ELEMENTS OTHER THAN CARBON, HYDROGEN, HALOGEN, OXYGEN, NITROGEN, SULFUR, SELENIUM OR TELLURIUM
    • C07F5/00—Compounds containing elements of Groups 3 or 13 of the Periodic Table
    • C07F5/02—Boron compounds
    • 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
    • C08F110/00—Homopolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
    • C08F110/04—Monomers containing three or four carbon atoms
    • C08F110/06—Propene
    • 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
    • C08F110/00—Homopolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
    • C08F110/14—Monomers containing five or more carbon atoms
    • 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
    • C08F2/00—Processes of polymerisation
    • C08F2/02—Polymerisation in bulk
    • 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
    • C08F4/65908—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
    • C08F110/00—Homopolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond
    • C08F110/02—Ethene
    • 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
    • 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
    • C08F4/65922—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 containing at least two cyclopentadienyl rings, fused or not
    • C08F4/65927—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 containing at least two cyclopentadienyl rings, fused or not two cyclopentadienyl rings being mutually bridged

Definitions

  • the present disclosure provides borate activators, a process for producing borate activators in aliphatic and alicyclic solvents, catalyst systems comprising such activators, and processes for polymerizing olefins using such activators.
  • non-coordinating anion type activators comprising a benzimidazolium moiety.
  • Polyolefins are widely used commercially because of their robust physical properties. Polyolefins are typically prepared with a catalyst that polymerizes olefin monomers. Therefore, there is interest in finding new catalysts and catalyst systems that provide polymers having improved properties.
  • Catalysts for olefin polymerization are often based on metallocenes as catalyst precursors, which are activated either with an alumoxane or an activator containing a non coordinating anion.
  • a non-coordinating anion such as tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, is capable of stabilizing the resulting metal cation of the catalyst.
  • activators are fully ionized and the corresponding anion is highly non-coordinating, such activators can be effective as olefin polymerization catalyst activators. However, because they are ionic salts, such activators are insoluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons and only sparingly soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons.
  • activators often exist in the form of an oily, intractable material which is not readily handled and metered or precisely incorporated into the reaction mixture.
  • polymer products, such as isotactic polypropylene, formed using such activators can have lower molecular weights (e.g., Mw less than about 100,000) and a high melt temperature (Tm) (e.g., Tm greater than about 110°C).
  • US 5,919,983 discloses polymerization of ethylene and octene using a catalyst system comprising [(Ci8)2MeN)] + [B(PhF5)4] activator having four fluoro-phenyl groups bound to the boron atom and two linear Cie groups bound to the nitrogen, as well as describing other linear groups at column 3, line 51 et seq.
  • US 2003/0013913 discloses various activators such as N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate [0070], and N,N- diethy lbenzy lammoniumtetrakis(pentafluoropheny l)borate [0124] .
  • US 2002/0062011 discloses phenyl dioctadecylammonium(hydroxyphenyl) tris(pentafluorophenyl) borate at paragraph [0200] and (pentafluorophenyl) dioctadecylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate at paragraph [0209]
  • references of interest include: WO 2002/002577; US 7,087,602; US 8,642,497; US 6,121,185; US 8,642,497; US2015/0203602; and USSN 62/662,972 filed April 26, 2018, CAS number 909721-53-5, CAS number 943521-08-2.
  • This invention relates to activator compounds represented by formula (AI):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialky lamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • This invention relates to activator compounds represented by formula (I)
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.
  • This invention also relates to a process to produce an activator compound comprising the step of contacting a compound having the general formula (A) with a metalloid compound having the general formula [M* k+ Q n ] d in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, an alicyclic hydrocarbon solvent or a combination thereof, at a reaction temperature and for a reaction time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (AI) and a salt having the formula M(X);
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialkylamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical;
  • X is halogen
  • M is a Group 1 metal.
  • This invention also relates to a process to produce an activator compound comprising the step of contacting a compound having the general formula (A) with a metalloid compound having the general formula M-(BR 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 ) in a solvent at a reaction temperature and for a reaction time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (I) and a salt having the formula M(X); wherein formula (A) is represented by:
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms
  • X is halogen
  • M is a Group 1 metal.
  • the present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising an activator and a catalyst of the present disclosure.
  • the present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising an activator, a catalyst support, and a catalyst of the present disclosure.
  • the present disclosure provides a polymerization process comprising a) contacting one or more olefin monomers with a catalyst system comprising: i) an activator and ii) a catalyst of the present disclosure.
  • a catalyst system comprising: i) an activator and ii) a catalyst of the present disclosure.
  • the present disclosure provides a polyolefin formed by a catalyst system and or process of the present disclosure.
  • melt temperatures are DSC second melt and are determined using the following DSC procedure according to ASTM D3418-03.
  • Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) data are obtained using a TA Instruments model Q200 machine. Samples weighing about 5 to about 10 mg are sealed in an aluminum hermetic sample pan. The DSC data are recorded by first gradually heating the sample to about 200°C at a rate of about 10°C/minute. The sample is kept at about 200°C for about 2 minutes, then cooled to about -90°C at a rate of about 10° /minute, followed by an isothermal for about 2 minutes and heating to about 200°C at about 10°C/minute. Both the first and second cycle thermal events are recorded. The melting points reported herein are obtained during the second heating/cooling cycle unless otherwise noted.
  • Mw weight average
  • MIR Melt index ratio
  • the specification describes catalysts that can be transition metal complexes.
  • the term complex is used to describe molecules in which an ancillary ligand is coordinated to a central transition metal atom.
  • the ligand is bulky and stably bonded to the transition metal so as to maintain its influence during use of the catalyst, such as polymerization.
  • the ligand may be coordinated to the transition metal by covalent bond and/or electron donation coordination or intermediate bonds.
  • the transition metal complexes are generally subjected to activation to perform their polymerization or oligomerization function using an activator which is believed to create a cation as a result of the removal of an anionic group, often referred to as a leaving group, from the transition metal.
  • Benzimidazole is represented by the structure:
  • o-biphenyl is an ortho-biphenyl moiety represented by the structure
  • dme is 1,2-dimethoxy ethane, Me is methyl, Ph is phenyl, Et is ethyl, Pr is propyl, iPr is isopropyl, n-Pr is normal propyl, cPr is cyclopropyl, Bu is butyl, iBu is isobutyl, tBu is tertiary butyl, p-tBu is para-tertiary butyl, nBu is normal butyl, sBu is sec-butyl, TMS is trimethylsilyl, TIBAL is triisobutylaluminum, TNOAL is tri(n-octyl)aluminum, MAO is methylalumoxane, p-Me is para-methyl, Ph is phenyl, Bn is benzyl (i.e...
  • THF also referred to as thf
  • RT room temperature (and is 25°C unless otherwise indicated)
  • tol is toluene
  • EtOAc is ethyl acetate
  • MeCy is methylcyclohexane
  • Cy is cyclohexyl.
  • substituted means that at least one hydrogen atom has been replaced with at least a non-hydrogen group, such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 , -AsR* 2 , -SbR* 2 , -SR*, -BR* 2 , -SiR*, -SiR* 3 , -GeR*, -GeR* 3 , -SnR*, -SnR* 3 , -PbR* 3 , and the like, where each R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical
  • hydrocarbyl radical is defined to be Ci-Cioo radicals of carbon and hydrogen, that may be linear, branched, or cyclic, and when cyclic, aromatic or non-aromatic.
  • radicals can include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-amyl, hexyl, octyl cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, and the like.
  • Substituted hydrocarbyl radicals are radicals in which at least one hydrogen atom of the hydrocarbyl radical has been replaced with a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 , -AsR* 2 , -SbR* 2 , -SR*, -BR* 2 , -SiR*, -SiR* 3 , -GeR*, -GeR* 3 , -SnR*, -SnR* 3 , -PbR* 3 , and the like, where each R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical, and two or more R* may join together to form a substituted or unsubstituted saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic cyclic or poly
  • Substituted cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl or fluorenyl groups are cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl or fluorenyl groups where at least one hydrogen atom has been replaced with at least a non-hydrogen group, such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 , -AsR* 2 , -SbR* 2 , -SR*, -BR* 2 , -SiR*, -SiR* 3 , -GeR*, -GeR* 3 , -SnR*, -SnR* 3 , , -
  • Halocarbyl radicals are radicals in which one or more hydrocarbyl hydrogen atoms have been substituted with at least one halogen (e.g., F, Cl, Br, I) or halogen-containing group (e.g., CF3).
  • halogen e.g., F, Cl, Br, I
  • halogen-containing group e.g., CF3
  • R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical provided that at least one halogen atom remains on the original halocarbyl radical.
  • R* may j oin together to form a substituted or unsubstituted saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic cyclic or polycyclic ring structure.
  • Hydrocarbylsilyl groups are radicals in which one or more hydrocarbyl hydrogen atoms have been substituted with at least one SiR*3 containing group or where at least one -Si(R*)2- has been inserted within the hydrocarbyl radical where R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical, and two or more R* may join together to form a substituted or unsubstituted saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic cyclic or polycyclic ring structure.
  • Silylcarbyl radicals can be bonded via a silicon atom or a carbon atom.
  • Germylcarbyl radicals are radicals in which one or more hydrocarbyl hydrogen atoms have been substituted with at least one GeR*3 containing group or where at least one -Ge(R*)2- has been inserted within the hydrocarbyl radical where R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical, and two or more R* may join together to form a substituted or unsubstituted saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic cyclic or polycyclic ring structure.
  • Germylcarbyl radicals can be bonded via a germanium atom or a carbon atom.
  • alkyl radical “alkyl moiety”, and“alkyl” are used interchangeably throughout this disclosure.
  • alkyl radicals are defined to be Ci-Cioo alkyls that may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
  • radicals can include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, iso-amyl, hexyl, octyl cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclooctyl, and the like.
  • Substituted alkyl radicals are radicals in which at least one hydrogen atom of the alkyl radical has been substituted with at least a non-hydrogen group, such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 , -AsR* 2 , -SbR* 2 , -SR*, -BR* 2 , -SiR*, -SiR*3, -GeR*, -GeR* 3 , -SnR*, -SnR* 3 , -PbR* 3 , and the like, where each R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical, and two or more R* may join together to form a substituted or unsubstitute
  • branched alkyl means that the alkyl group contains a tertiary or quaternary carbon (a tertiary' carbon is a carbon atom hound to three other carbon atoms. A quaternary ' carbon is a carbon atom bound to four other carbon atoms).
  • 3,5,5 trimethylhexylphenyl is an alkyl group (hexyl) having three methyl branches (hence, one tertiary and one quaternary carbon) and thus is a branched alkyl bound to a phenyl group.
  • alkenyl means a straight-chain, branched-chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. These alkenyl radicals may be substituted. Examples of suitable alkenyl radicals can include ethenyl, propenyl, allyl, 1,4- butadienyl cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctenyl and the like.
  • arylalkenyl means an aryl group where a hydrogen has been replaced with an alkenyl or substituted alkenyl group.
  • styryl indenyl is an indene substituted with an arylalkenyl group (a styrene group).
  • alkoxy means an alkyl ether or aryl ether radical wherein the terms alkyl and aryl are as defined herein.
  • suitable alkyl ether radicals can include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec- butoxy, tert-butoxy, phenoxy, and the like.
  • aryloxy or“aryloxide” means an aryl ether radical wherein the term aryl is as defined herein.
  • aryl or "aryl group” means a carbon-containing aromatic ring such as phenyl.
  • heteroaryl means an aryl group where a ring carbon atom (or two or three ring carbon atoms) has been replaced with a heteroatom, such as N, O, or S.
  • aromatic also refers to pseudoaromatic heterocycles which are heterocyclic substituents that have similar properties and structures (nearly planar) to aromatic heterocyclic ligands but are not by definition aromatic.
  • A“perfluoro” substituted moiety e.g., a perfluoro substituted naphthyl moiety, refers to a radical in which each available hydrogen atom of the radical or moiety is substituted with a fluorine atom.
  • Heterocyclic means a cyclic group where a ring carbon atom (or two or three ring carbon atoms) has been replaced with a heteroatom, such as N, O, or S.
  • a heterocyclic ring is a ring having a heteroatom in the ring structure as opposed to a heteroatom substituted ring where a hydrogen on a ring atom is replaced with a heteroatom.
  • tetrahydrofuran is a heterocyclic ring and 4-N,N-dimethylamino-phenyl is a heteroatom substituted ring.
  • Substituted heterocyclic means a heterocyclic group where at least one hydrogen atom of the heterocyclic radical has been substituted with at least a non-hydrogen group, such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 .
  • a non-hydrogen group such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 .
  • each R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical.
  • a substituted aryl is an aryl group where at least one hydrogen atom of the aryl radical has been substituted with at least a non-hydrogen group, such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 .
  • a non-hydrogen group such as a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 .
  • each R* is independently a hydrocarbyl or halocarbyl radical, and two or more R* may join together to form a substituted or unsubstituted saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic cyclic or polycyclic ring structure, or where at least one heteroatom has been inserted within a hydrocarbyl ring, for example 3,5-dimethylphenyl is a substituted aryl group.
  • substituted phenyl or “substituted phenyl group” means a phenyl group having one or more hydrogen groups replaced by a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heteroatom or heteroatom containing group, such as halogen (such as Br, Cl, F or I) or at least one functional group such as -NR* 2 , -OR*, -SeR*, -TeR*, -PR* 2 , -AsR* 2 , -SbR* 2 , -SR*, -BR* 2 , -SiR*, -SiR*3, -GeR*, -GeR*3, -SnR*, -SnR* 3 , -PbR*3, and the like, where each R* is independently a hydrocarbyl, halogen, or halocarbyl radical.
  • the "substituted phenyl" group is represented
  • each of R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , and R 21 is independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl or C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom, such as halogen, or a heteroatom- containing group (provided that at least one of R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , and R 21 is not H), or a combination thereof.
  • fluorophenyl or "fluorophenyl group” is a phenyl group substituted with one, two, three, four or five fluorine atoms.
  • arylalkyl means an aryl group where a hydrogen has been replaced with an alkyl or substituted alkyl group.
  • 3,5'-di-tert-butyl-phenyl indenyl is an indene substituted with an arylalkyl group.
  • an arylalkyl group is a substituent on another group, it is bound to that group via the aryl.
  • Formula (AI) the aryl portion is bound to E.
  • alkylaryl means an alkyl group where a hydrogen has been replaced with an aryl or substituted aryl group.
  • phenethyl indenyl is an indene substituted with an ethyl group bound to a benzene group.
  • an alkylaryl group is a substituent on another group, it is bound to that group via the alkyl.
  • references to an alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxide, or aryl group without specifying a particular isomer expressly discloses all isomers (e.g., n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, and tert-butyl), unless otherwise indicated.
  • ring atom means an atom that is part of a cyclic ring structure.
  • a“catalyst system” is a combination of at least one catalyst compound, an activator, and an optional support material.
  • the catalyst systems may further comprise one or more additional catalyst compounds.
  • the ionic form of the component is the form that reacts with the monomers to produce polymers.
  • Catalysts of the presented disclosure and activators represented by formula (I) are intended to embrace ionic forms in addition to the neutral forms of the compounds.
  • “Complex” as used herein, is also often referred to as catalyst precursor, precatalyst, catalyst, catalyst compound, transition metal compound, or transition metal complex. These words are used interchangeably.
  • a scavenger is a compound that is typically added to facilitate polymerization by scavenging impurities. Some scavengers may also act as activators and may be referred to as co-activators. A co-activator, that is not a scavenger, may also be used in conjunction with an activator in order to form an active catalyst. In some embodiments a co-activator can be pre mixed with the transition metal compound to form an alkylated transition metal compound.
  • a catalyst may be described as a catalyst precursor, a pre catalyst compound, a catalyst compound or a transition metal compound, and these terms are used interchangeably.
  • a polymerization catalyst system is a catalyst system that can polymerize monomers into polymer.
  • An“anionic ligand” is a negatively charged ligand which donates one or more pairs of electrons to a metal ion.
  • A“neutral donor ligand” is a neutrally charged ligand which donates one or more pairs of electrons to a metal ion.
  • a metallocene catalyst is defined as an organometallic compound with at least one p-bound cyclopentadienyl moiety or substituted cyclopentadienyl moiety (such as substituted or unsubstituted Cp, Ind, or Flu) and more frequently two (or three) p-bound cyclopentadienyl moieties or substituted cyclopentadienyl moieties (such as substituted or unsubstituted Cp, Ind, or Flu).
  • substituted means that a hydrogen group has been replaced with a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group.
  • methyl cyclopentadiene (Cp) is a Cp group substituted with a methyl group.
  • Catalyst productivity is a measure of how many grams of polymer (P) are produced using a polymerization catalyst comprising W g of catalyst (cat), over a period of time of T hours; and may be expressed by the following formula: P/(T x W) and expressed in units of gPgcar'hr 1 .
  • Conversion is the amount of monomer that is converted to polymer product and is reported as mol% and is calculated based on the polymer yield and the amount of monomer fed into the reactor.
  • Catalyst activity is a measure of the level of activity of the catalyst and is reported as the mass of product polymer (P) produced per mole (or mmol) of catalyst (cat) used (kgP/molcat or gP/mmolCat), and catalyst activity can also be expressed per unit of time, for example, per hour (hr), e.g., (Kg/mmol h).
  • an“olefin,” alternatively referred to as“alkene,” is a linear, branched, or cyclic compound comprising carbon and hydrogen having at least one double bond.
  • the olefin present in such polymer or copolymer is the polymerized form of the olefin.
  • a copolymer when a copolymer is said to have a "propylene" content of 35 wt% to 55 wt%, it is understood that the mer unit in the copolymer is derived from propylene in the polymerization reaction and the derived units are present at 35 wt% to 55 wt%, based upon the weight of the copolymer.
  • a“polymer” has two or more of the same or different monomer (“mer”) units.
  • A“homopolymer” is a polymer having mer units that are the same.
  • a “copolymer” is a polymer having two or more mer units that are different from each other.
  • a “terpolymer” is a polymer having three mer units that are different from each other.“Different” in reference to mer units indicates that the mer units differ from each other by at least one atom or are different isomerically. Accordingly, copolymer, as used herein, can include terpolymers and the like.
  • An oligomer is typically a polymer having a low molecular weight, such an Mn of less than 25,000 g/mol, or less than 2,500 g/mol, or a low number of mer units, such as 75 mer units or less or 50 mer units or less.
  • An "ethylene polymer” or “ethylene copolymer” is a polymer or copolymer comprising at least 50 mol% ethylene derived units
  • a "propylene polymer” or “propylene copolymer” is a polymer or copolymer comprising at least 50 mole% propylene derived units, and so on.
  • Mn is number average molecular weight
  • Mw is weight average molecular weight
  • Mz is z average molecular weight
  • wt% is weight percent
  • mol% is mole percent.
  • Molecular weight distribution (MWD) also referred to as polydispersity index (PDI)
  • PDI polydispersity index
  • continuous means a system that operates without interruption or cessation for a period of time, such as where reactants are continually fed into a reaction zone and products are continually or regularly withdrawn without stopping the reaction in the reaction zone.
  • a continuous process to produce a polymer would be one where the reactants are continually introduced into one or more reactors and polymer product is continually withdrawn.
  • a “solution polymerization” means a polymerization process in which the polymerization is conducted in a liquid polymerization medium, such as an inert solvent or monomer(s) or their blends.
  • a solution polymerization is typically homogeneous.
  • a homogeneous polymerization is one where the polymer product is dissolved in the polymerization medium.
  • Such systems are typically not turbid as described in Oliveira, J. V. et al. (2000)“High-Pressure Phase Equilibria for Polypropylene-Hydrocarbon Systems,” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., v.39, pp. 4627-4633.
  • a bulk polymerization means a polymerization process in which the monomers and/or comonomers being polymerized are used as a solvent or diluent using little or no inert solvent or diluent.
  • a small fraction of inert solvent might be used as a carrier for catalyst and scavenger.
  • a bulk polymerization system contains less than about 25 wt% of inert solvent or diluent, such as less than about 10 wt%, such as less than about 1 wt%, such as 0 wt%.
  • the present disclosure relates to activator compounds that can be used in olefin polymerization processes.
  • the present disclosure provides activators, catalyst systems comprising catalyst compounds and activators, and processes for polymerizing olefins using said catalyst systems.
  • activators are described that feature benzimidazolium groups, preferably with N-substituted long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups (i.e., having greater than or equal to 6 carbon atoms) for improved solubility of the activator in aliphatic solvents, as compared to conventional activator compounds.
  • the present disclosure relates to activator compounds that can be used in olefin polymerization processes.
  • the present disclosure provides benzimidazolium borate activators, catalyst systems comprising benzimidazolium borate activators, and processes for polymerizing olefins using benzimidazolium borate activators.
  • activators are described that feature benzimidazolium groups with long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups, preferably long chain (i.e., greater than or equal to 6 carbon atoms) linear alkyl radicals for improved solubility of the activator in aliphatic solvents, as compared to conventional activator compounds.
  • Useful borate groups of the present disclosure include fluoroaryl borates. It has been discovered that activators of the present disclosure having fluorophenyl, or fluoronaphthyl borate anions have improved solubility in aliphatic solvents, as compared to conventional activator compounds, which are typically insoluble in these same aliphatic and alicyclic solvents. Activators of the present disclosure can provide polyolefins having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of about 100,000 or greater and a melt temperature (Tm) of about 110°C or greater. Further, activators having a cation having at least one methyl group, and at least one Cio to C50 linear alkyl group can provide enhanced activity for polymer production.
  • Mw weight average molecular weight
  • Tm melt temperature
  • the present disclosure relates to polymer compositions obtained from the catalysts systems and processes set forth herein.
  • the components of the catalyst systems according to the present disclosure and used in the polymerization processes of the present disclosure, as well as the resulting polymers, are described in more detail herein below.
  • the present disclosure relates to a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator compound of formula (I); to the use of an activator compound of formula (I) for activating a transition metal compound in a catalyst system for polymerizing olefins; and to processes for polymerizing olefins, the process comprising contacting under polymerization conditions one or more olefins with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator compound of formula (I).
  • the present disclosure also relates to processes for polymerizing olefins comprising contacting, under polymerization conditions, one or more olefins with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator compound of formula (I).
  • a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator compound of formula (I).
  • the weight average molecular weight of the polymer formed can increase with increasing monomer conversion at a given reaction temperature.
  • activator compounds of formula (I) will be further illustrated below. Any combinations of cations and non-coordinating anions disclosed herein are suitable to be used in the processes of the present disclosure and are thus incorporated herein.
  • the activator compound is represented by formula (I):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C 1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms; each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms; and at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.
  • At least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 comprises a perfluoro substituted phenyl moiety, a perfluoro substituted naphthyl moiety, a perfluoro substituted biphenyl moiety, a perfluoro substituted triphenyl moiety, or a combination thereof.
  • R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , and R 13 are perfluoro substituted phenyl radicals, or perfluoro substituted naphthyl radicals.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialkylamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • R 2 is a meta- and/or para- substituted phenyl group, where the meta and para substituents are, independently, an optionally substituted Ci to C40 hydrocarbyl group (such as a Ce to C40 aryl group or linear alkyl group, a C 12 to C30 aryl group or linear alkyl group, or a C10 to C20 aryl group or linear alkyl group), an optionally substituted alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted silyl group.
  • an optionally substituted Ci to C40 hydrocarbyl group such as a Ce to C40 aryl group or linear alkyl group, a C 12 to C30 aryl group or linear alkyl group, or a C10 to C20 aryl group or linear alkyl group
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is a fluorinated aryl (such as phenyl or naphthyl) group, and most preferably each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is a perflourinated naphthyl group.
  • suitable [BR 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 ] also include diboron compounds as disclosed in US Patent No. 5,447,895, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is not substituted phenyl, preferably all of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are not substituted phenyl.
  • at least one each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is not perfluorophenyl, preferably all of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are not perfluorophenyl.
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 10 or more carbon atoms, or 20 or more carbon atoms.
  • R 2 is a C 1-C40 alkyl radical, preferably R 2 is a methyl radical, or R 2 is a C6-C22 linear alkyl radical.
  • 1 millimole preferably 5 millimoles, preferably 10 millimoles of the compound in one liter of n-hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, or a combination thereof, forms a clear homogeneous solution at 25°C.
  • a process to produce an activator compound according to the instant disclosure comprises contacting a compound having the general formula (A) with a metalloid compound having the general formula M- (BR 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 ) in a solvent at a reaction temperature and for a reaction time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (I) above, and a salt having the formula M(X); wherein formula (A) is represented by:
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are defined as above,
  • X is halogen, preferably chlorine or bromine, and M is a Group 1 metal, preferably lithium or sodium.
  • the process further comprises the step of filtering the mixture to remove the salt to produce a clear homogeneous solution comprising the activator compound according to formula (I) and optionally removing at least a portion of the solvent.
  • the solvent is hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, or a combination thereof.
  • the reaction temperature is less than or equal to a solvent reflux temperature at reaction pressure and the reaction time is less than or equal to about 24 hours, preferably the reaction temperature is from about 20°C to less than or equal to about 50°C, and the reaction time is less than or equal to about 2 hours.
  • solvent reflux temperature refers to the boiling point of the corresponding solution at reaction pressure.
  • a 1 millimole of the activator compound in one liter of n-hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, or a combination thereof forms a clear homogeneous solution at 25°C.
  • the activators described herein have a solubility of more than 10 mM (or more than 20 mM, or more than 50 mM) at 25°C (stirred 2 hours) in methylcyclohexane.
  • the activators described herein have a solubility of more than 1 mM (or more than 10 mM, or more than 20 mM) at 25 °C (stirred 2 hours) in isohexane.
  • the activators described herein have a solubility of more than 10 mM (or more than 20 mM, or more than 50 mM) at 25°C (stirred 2 hours) in methylcyclohexane and a solubility of more than 1 mM (or more than 10 mM, or more than 20 mM) at 25°C (stirred 2 hours) in isohexane.
  • the present disclosure relates to a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and an activator compound as described herein, to the use of such activator compounds for activating a transition metal compound in a catalyst system for polymerizing olefins, and to processes for polymerizing olefins, the process comprising contacting under polymerization conditions one or more olefins with a catalyst system comprising a transition metal compound and such activator compounds, where aromatic solvents, such as toluene, are absent (e.g. present at zero mol%, alternately present at less than 1 mol%, preferably the catalyst system, the polymerization reaction and/or the polymer produced are free of “detectable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent,” such as toluene.
  • “detectable aromatic hydrocarbon solvent” means 0.1 mg/m 2 or more as determined by gas phase chromatography.
  • “detectable toluene” means 0.1 mg/m 2 or more as determined by gas phase chromatography.
  • the polyolefins produced herein preferably contain 0 ppm of aromatic hydrocarbon.
  • the polyolefins produced herein contain 0 ppm of toluene.
  • the catalyst systems used herein preferably contain 0 ppm of aromatic hydrocarbon.
  • the catalyst systems used herein contain 0 ppm of toluene.
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialky lamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • X is halogen; and M is a Group 1 metal.
  • the process further comprises dissolving a compound according to formula (B) in a solvent and adding a stochiometric excess amount of HX as an ethereal solution to form the compound having the general formula (A), wherein formula (B) is represented by:
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms; and X is halogen.
  • a catalyst system comprises a catalyst and the activator compound according to any embodiment represented by Formula (I).
  • R 2 is a Ce-Cn linear alkyl radical and 1 millimole of the compound in one liter of n-hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, or a combination thereof, forms a clear homogeneous solution at 25°C.
  • the catalyst system further comprises a support material.
  • the catalyst system comprises a catalyst and the activator compound represented by formula (AI):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialky lamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • the catalyst system comprises a catalyst and the activator compound represented by formula (I):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms; each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms; and at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.
  • the catalyst system further comprises a support material, such as silica.
  • the catalyst is represented by formula (II) or formula
  • M is the metal center, and is a Group 4 metal
  • n 0 or 1 ;
  • T is an optional bridging group selected from dialkylsilyl, diarylsilyl, dialkylmethyl, ethyleny] or hydrocarbylethylenyl wherein one, two, three or four of the hydrogen atoms m ethylenyl are substituted by hydrocarbyl;
  • Z is nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus (preferably nitrogen); q is 1 or 2 (preferably q is 1 when Z is N);
  • R' is a C1-C40 alkyl or substituted alkyl group preferably a linear C1-C40 alkyl or substituted alkyl group;
  • Xi and X2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, hydride radicals, hydrocarby! radicals, substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, halocarbyl radicals, substituted halocarbyl radicals, silylcarbyl radicals, substituted silylcarbyl radicals, germylcarbyl radicals, or substituted germylcarbyl radicals; or both Xi and X?. are joined and bound to the metal atom to form a metallacycie ring containing from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms; or both together can be an olefin, diolefin or aryne ligand.
  • the catalyst is one or more of:
  • a process of polymerizing olefins to produce at least one polyolefin comprising contacting at least one olefin with the catalyst system according to the instant disclosure and obtaining the polyolefin.
  • the at least one olefin is propylene and the polyolefin is isotactic polypropylene.
  • the process of polymerizing olefins to produce at least one polyolefin comprises contacting two or more different olefins with the catalyst system according to the instant disclosure; and obtaining a polyolefin, preferably wherein the two or more olefins are ethylene and propylene and/or wherein the two or more olefins further comprise a diene.
  • the polyolefin has an Mw of from about 50,000 to about 300,000 and a melt temperature of from about 120°C to about 140°C, or the polyolefin has an Mw of from about 100,000 to about 300,000 and a melt temperature of from about 125°C to about 135°C.
  • the process is performed in gas phase or slurry phase.
  • NCA Non-Coordinating Anion
  • Noncoordinating anion means an anion either that does not coordinate to the catalyst metal cation or that does coordinate to the metal cation, but only weakly.
  • NCA is also defined to include multicomponent NCA-containing activators, such as alkyl substituted benzimidazolium tetrakis(perfluoronaphthyl)borate, that contain an acidic cationic group and the non-coordinating anion.
  • NCA is also defined to include neutral Lewis acids, such as tris(pentafluoronaphthyl)boron, that can react with a catalyst to form an activated species by abstraction of an anionic group.
  • NCA coordinates weakly enough that a neutral Lewis base, such as an olefinically or acetylenically unsaturated monomer can displace it from the catalyst center.
  • a neutral Lewis base such as an olefinically or acetylenically unsaturated monomer can displace it from the catalyst center.
  • Any metal or metalloid that can form a compatible, weakly coordinating complex may be used or contained in the noncoordinating anion.
  • Suitable metals can include aluminum, gold, and platinum.
  • Suitable metalloids can include boron, aluminum, phosphorus, and silicon.
  • the term non-coordinating anion activator includes neutral activators, ionic activators, and Lewis acid activators.
  • “Compatible” non-coordinating anions can be those which are not degraded to neutrality when the initially formed complex decomposes. Further, the anion will not transfer an anionic substituent or fragment to the cation so as to cause it to form a neutral transition metal compound and a neutral by-product from the anion.
  • Non-coordinating anions useful in accordance with the present disclosure are those that are compatible, stabilize the transition metal cation in the sense of balancing its ionic charge at +1, and yet retain sufficient lability to permit displacement during polymerization.
  • the present disclosure provides activators, which are alkyl substituted benzimidazolium metallate or metalloid activator compounds, comprising benzimidazolium groups with hydrocarbyl substitutions, preferably N substituted long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups combined with metallate or metalloid anions, such as borates or aluminates.
  • activator of the present disclosure is used with a catalyst compound (such as a group 4 metallocene compound) in an olefin polymerization, a polymer can be formed having a higher molecular weight and melt temperature than polymers formed using comparative activators.
  • activator of the present disclosure where R 2 is methyl, preferably having 6 or more carbon atoms, is used with a group 4 metallocene catalyst in an olefin polymerization
  • the catalyst system activity is substantially better than comparative activators and can form polymers having a higher molecular weight and/or melt temperature vs. polymers formed using comparative activators.
  • activators of the present disclosure are soluble in aliphatic and/or alicyclic solvents.
  • the activator is represented by formula (AI):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialkylamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C20 alkyl radical;
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms; preferably 6 or more carbon atoms, preferably 15 or more carbon atoms, such as 18 or more carbon atoms, such as 20 or more carbon atoms, such as 22 or more carbon atoms, such as 25 or more carbon atoms, such as 30 or more carbon atoms, such as 35 or more carbon atoms, such as 40 or more carbon atoms.
  • R 2 is a Ci-C22-alkyl.
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n- decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-butadecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, n-octadecyl, n-nonadecyl, and n-icosyl.
  • the activator is represented by formula
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a Ci- C40 alkyl radical;
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms; preferably 6 or more carbon atoms, preferably 15 or more carbon atoms, such as 18 or more carbon atoms, such as 20 or more carbon atoms, such as 22 or more carbon atoms, such as 25 or more carbon atoms, such as 30 or more carbon atoms, such as 35 or more carbon atoms, such as 40 or more carbon atoms.
  • R 2 is a Ci-C22-alkyl.
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n- propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n- tridecyl, n-butadecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, n-octadecyl, n-nonadecyl, and n-icosyl; and each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently phenyl or nap
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably each is a fluorinated aryl (such as phenyl or naphthyl) group, and most preferably each is a perfluorinated aryl (such as phenyl or naphthyl) group.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently a naphthyl comprising one fluorine atom, two fluorine atoms, three fluorine atoms, four fluorine atoms, five fluorine atoms, six fluorine atoms, or seven fluorine atoms, preferably seven fluorine atoms.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently a phenyl comprising one fluorine atom, two fluorine atoms, three fluorine atoms, four fluorine atoms, or five fluorine atoms, preferably five fluorine atoms.
  • cocatalyst and“activator” are used herein interchangeably and are defined to be any compound which can activate any one of the catalyst compounds of the present disclosure by converting the neutral catalyst compound to a catalytically active catalyst compound cation.
  • Catalyst systems of the present disclosure may be formed by combining the catalysts with activators in any suitable manner, including by supporting them for use in slurry or gas phase polymerization.
  • the catalyst systems may also be added to or generated in solution polymerization or bulk polymerization (in the monomer, i.e., little or no solvent).
  • the cation component of the activators described herein is a protonated Lewis base that can be capable of protonating a moiety, such as an alkyl or aryl, from the transition metal compound.
  • a neutral leaving group e.g. an alkane resulting from the combination of a proton donated from the cationic component of the activator and an alkyl substituent of the transition metal compound
  • transition metal cation results, which is the catalytically active species.
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical;
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms, preferably 15 or more carbon atoms, such as 18 or more carbon atoms, such as 20 or more carbon atoms, such as 22 or more carbon atoms, such as 25 or more carbon atoms, such as 30 or more carbon atoms, such as 35 or more carbon atoms, such as 37 or more carbon atoms, such as 40 or more carbon atoms, such as 45 or more carbon atoms.
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are independently substituted or unsubstituted C1-C22 linear alkyl, preferably selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, n- undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-butadecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n-heptadecyl, n- octadecyl, n-nonadecyl, and n-icosyl.
  • R 2 is methyl, or a C 10 to C30 hydrocarby
  • R 2 is Ce to C40 alkyl, such as C10 to C35 linear alkyl, such as n-decyl, n-undecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tridecyl, n-butadecyl, n-pentadecyl, n-hexadecyl, n- heptadecyl, n-octadecyl, n-nonadecyl, n-icosyl, n-henicosyl, n-docosyl, n-tricosyl; n- tetracosyl, n-pentacosyl; n-hexacosyl; n-heptacosyl, n-octacosyl, n-nonacosyl, n-triacontyl.
  • Ce to C40 alkyl such as C10 to C35 linear alkyl, such as n-decyl
  • the cation is represented by the formula:
  • the anion component of the activators described herein includes those represented by the formula [M* k+ Q n ] wherein k is 1, 2, or 3; n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 (preferably 1, 2, 3, or 4), (preferably k is 3; n is 4, 5, or 6, preferably when M is B, n is 4); M* is an element selected from Group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, preferably boron or aluminum, and Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialkylamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, and halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radicals, said Q having up to 20 carbon atoms with the proviso that in not more than 1 occurrence is Q a halide.
  • each Q is a fluorinated hydrocarbyl group, optionally having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably each Q is a fluorinated aryl group, and most preferably each Q is a perfluorinated aryl group.
  • at least one Q is not substituted phenyl, such as perfluorophenyl, preferably all Q are not substituted phenyl, such as perfluorophenyl.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently aryl (such as phenyl or naphthyl), wherein at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with from one to five or from one to seven fluorine atoms.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is phenyl, wherein at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with from one to five fluorine atoms.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is naphthyl, wherein at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with from one to seven fluorine atoms.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently naphthyl comprising one fluorine atom, two fluorine atoms, three fluorine atoms, four fluorine atoms, five fluorine atoms, six fluorine atoms, or seven fluorine atoms.
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently phenyl comprising one fluorine atom, two fluorine atoms, three fluorine atoms, four fluorine atoms, or five fluorine atoms.
  • the borate activator comprises tetrakis(heptafluoronaphth-2- yl)borate.
  • the borate activator comprises tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate.
  • Preferred anions for use in the non-coordinating anion activators described herein include those represented by formula 7 below:
  • M* is a group 13 atom, preferably B or Al, preferably B;
  • each R 11 is, independently, a halide, preferably a fluoride
  • each R 12 is, independently, a halide, a Ce to C20 substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group or a siloxy group of the formula -0-Si-R a , where R a is a Ci to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl group, preferably R 12 is a fluoride or a perfluorinated phenyl group;
  • each R 13 is a halide, a Ce to C20 substituted aromatic hydrocarbyl group or a siloxy group of the formula -O-Si-Ra, where R a is a Ci to C20 hydrocarbyl or hydrocarbylsilyl group, preferably R 13 is a fluoride or a Ce perfluorinated aromatic hydrocarbyl group;
  • R 12 and R 13 can form one or more saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted rings, preferably R 12 and R 13 form a perfluorinated phenyl ring.
  • the anion has a molecular weight of greater than 700 g/mol, and, preferably, at least three of the substituents on the M* atom each have a molecular volume of greater than 180 cubic A.
  • Molecular volume is used herein as an approximation of spatial steric bulk of an activator molecule in solution. Comparison of substituents with differing molecular volumes allows the substituent with the smaller molecular volume to be considered “less bulky” in comparison to the substituent with the larger molecular volume. Conversely, a substituent with a larger molecular volume may be considered “more bulky” than a substituent with a smaller molecular volume. [0117] Molecular volume may be calculated as reported in Girolami, G. S. (1994) "A Simple "Back of the Envelope” Method for Estimating the Densities and Molecular Volumes of Liquids and Solids," Journal of Chemical Education, v.71(ll), pp. 962-964.
  • the Calculated Total MV of the anion is the sum of the MV per substituent, for example, the MV of perfluorophenyl is 183 A 3 , and the Calculated Total MV for tetrakis(perfluorophenyl)borate is four times 183 A 3 , or 732 A 3 .
  • the activators may be added to a polymerization in the form of an ion pair in which the cation reacts with a basic leaving group on the transition metal complex to form a transition metal complex cation and [NCA]-.
  • an activator of the present disclosure when combined with a group 4 metallocene catalyst compound to form an active olefin polymerization catalyst, produces a higher molecular weight polymer (e.g., Mw) than comparative activators that use other borate anions.
  • an activator of the present disclosure where R 2 is methyl when combined with a group 4 metallocene to form an active olefin polymerization catalyst, produces a higher molecular weight polymer (e.g., Mw) than comparative activators that use other borate anions.
  • the typical activator-to-catalyst ratio e.g., all NCA activators-to-catalyst ratio is about a 1: 1 molar ratio.
  • Alternate preferred ranges include from 0.1 : 1 to 100: 1, alternately from 0.5:1 to 200:1, alternately from 1: 1 to 500: 1 alternately from 1 : 1 to 1000: 1.
  • a particularly useful range is from 0.5: 1 to 10: 1, preferably 1 : 1 to 5: 1.
  • catalyst compounds can be combined with combinations of alumoxanes and the activators described herein.
  • the general synthesis of the activators can be performed using a two-step process.
  • the benzimidazolium compound is dissolved in a solvent, preferably hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, and/or methylcyclohexane, and an excess (e.g., 1.2 molar equivalents) of hydrogen chloride or hydrogen bromide is added to form a halide salt.
  • a solvent preferably hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, and/or methylcyclohexane
  • an excess e.g., 1.2 molar equivalents
  • This salt may be isolated by filtration from the reaction medium and dried under reduced pressure.
  • the halide salt is then contacted with about one molar equivalent of an alkali metal (Group 1 metal) metallate or metalloid (such as a borate or aluminate), preferably in an aliphatic or alicyclic solvent (e.g. pentane, hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, and/or methyl cyclohexane), to form the desired borate or aluminate along with byproduct alkali metal halide salt (e.g., NaCl), the latter of which can typically be removed by filtration.
  • an alkali metal (Group 1 metal) metallate or metalloid such as a borate or aluminate
  • an aliphatic or alicyclic solvent e.g. pentane, hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, and/or methyl cyclohexane
  • the benzimidazolium halide is heated to reflux with about one molar equivalent of an alkali metal borate.
  • suitable solvents include aromatic solvents, e.g., toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene and the like.
  • aromatic solvents e.g., toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene and the like.
  • an aliphatic or alicyclic solvent e.g. hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane
  • alkyl substituted benzimidazolium borate along with byproduct alkali metal chloride, the latter of which can typically be removed by filtration.
  • borates include tetrakis(heptafluoronaphth-2-yl)borate and tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
  • the instant benzimidazolium borate activators with long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups may be synthesized in chlorinated solvents such as methylene chloride.
  • an activator of the present disclosure is soluble in an aliphatic solvent at a concentration of about ImM or greater, such as about 5mM or greater, such as about lOmM or greater, such as about 18mM or greater, such as about 20mM or greater, such as about 50mM or greater, such as about lOOmM or greater, such as about 200mM or greater.
  • an activator of the present disclosure dissolves in hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, or methylcyclohexane at 25°C to form a homogeneous (i.e., a clear) solution of at least ImM, or 5 mM, or 10 mM concentration.
  • an activator of the present disclosure is soluble in an aliphatic solvent at a concentration of about 1 millimole per liter (1 mM) or greater, such as about 5 millimoles per liter, or greater, such as about 10 millimoles per liter or greater, such as about 15 millimoles per liter, or greater, such as about 18 millimoles per liter or greater, such as about 20 millimoles per liter or greater, based on the total weight of the activator and the solvent present.
  • an activator of the present disclosure dissolves in an aliphatic and/or alicyclic solvent such as hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, or methylcyclohexane at 25°C to form a clear homogeneous solution of at least 1 millimoles per liter concentration, or 5, or 10, or 15, or 20 millimoles per liter.
  • an aliphatic and/or alicyclic solvent such as hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, or methylcyclohexane
  • the solubility of the borate or aluminate activators of the present disclosure in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents increases with the number of aliphatic carbons in the cation group (i.e., the benzimidazolium).
  • a solubility of at least 1 millimoles per liter is achieved with an activator having a benzimidazolium group substituted with about 10 aliphatic carbon atoms or more, such as about 18 aliphatic carbons atoms or more, such as about 22 aliphatic carbon atoms or more.
  • the solubility of the benzimidazolium borate activators of the present disclosure in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents increases with the number of aliphatic carbons in the benzimidazolium group.
  • a solubility of at least 1 millimoles per liter, or 5 or 10 millimoles per liter is achieved with an activator having a benzimidazolium group of about 10 aliphatic carbon atoms or more, such as about 20 aliphatic carbons atoms or more, such as about 30 carbon atoms or more.
  • a catalyst system of the present disclosure dissolves in an aliphatic and/or alicyclic solvent such as cyclohexane, or methylcyclohexane at 25°C to form a clear homogeneous solution of at least 1 millimole per liter concentration, or 2 millimoles per liter, or 5 millimoles per liter, or 10 millimoles per liter, or 20 millimoles per liter.
  • an aliphatic and/or alicyclic solvent such as cyclohexane, or methylcyclohexane
  • Useful aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent also include isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof.
  • aromatics are present in the solvent at less than 1 wt%, such as less than 0.5 wt%, such as at 0 wt% based upon the weight of the solvents.
  • the activators of the present disclosure can be dissolved in one or more additional solvents. Additional solvent includes ethereal, halogenated and N,N- dimethylformamide solvents. Preferably the solvents have less than 10 ppm water.
  • the aliphatic solvent is hexane or isohexane.
  • the aliphatic solvent is hexane or isohexane. Accordingly, in embodiments a compound according to formula (A), which is the benzimidazolium halide, is contacted with a compound having the general formula M-(M* k+ Q n ] d in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, an alicyclic hydrocarbon solvent or a combination thereof, at a reaction temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (AI) and a salt having the formula M(X);
  • formula (AI) is represented by:
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialky lamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical;
  • X is halogen, preferably chlorine or bromine; and M is a Group 1 metal, preferably lithium or sodium.
  • the process may further comprise filtering or otherwise removing the salt to produce a clear homogeneous solution comprising the activator compound according to formula (AI).
  • a portion of the solvent may also be removed.
  • the reaction temperature is less than or equal to the reflux temperature of the solvent at atmospheric pressure, i.e., less than 101°C, or 81°C, or 68°C, or 60°C for methyl cyclohexane, cyclohexane, hexane and isohexane, respectively.
  • the reaction temperature is less than or equal to about 50°C, or 45°C, or 40°C, or 35°C, or 30°C, with room temperature of about 25°C or 20°C being most preferred.
  • a compound according to formula (A), which is the benzimidazolium halide is contacted with a compound having the general formula M- (BR 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 ) in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, an alicyclic hydrocarbon solvent or a combination thereof, at a reaction temperature and for a period of time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (I) and a salt having the formula M(X);
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical;
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms, preferably more than 6 carbon atoms, preferably from 10 to 40 carbon atoms;
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms; at least one of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms;
  • X is halogen, preferably chlorine or bromine; and
  • M is a Group 1 metal, preferably lithium or sodium.
  • the process may further comprise filtering or otherwise removing the salt to produce a clear homogeneous solution comprising the activator compound according to formula (I).
  • a portion of the solvent may also be removed.
  • the reaction temperature is less than or equal to the reflux temperature of the solvent at atmospheric pressure, i.e., less than 101°C, or 81°C, or 68°C, or 60°C for methyl cyclohexane, cyclohexane, hexane and isohexane, respectively.
  • the reaction temperature is less than or equal to about 50°C, or 45°C, or 40°C, or 35°C, or 30°C, with room temperature of about 25°C or 20°C being most preferred.
  • reaction time is preferably less than or equal to about 24 hours, with less than 12 hours, or less than 5 hours, or less than 3 hours, or less than or equal to about 2 hours, or less than 1 hour being most preferred.
  • Suitable conditions further include agitation via reflux, mechanical, or other forms of mixing during the process.
  • the reaction temperature is from about 20°C to less than or equal to about 50°C, and the reaction time is less than or equal to about 2 hours.
  • the alkyl substituted benzimidazolium moiety and the activator is formed according to the following scheme:
  • the length of the alkyl chain may be controlled by using a Ci-40 alkyl halide. Any base capable of extracting the amino proton may be used, in this case sodium hydride was chosen. In addition, to HC1, HBr or HI may be utilized to form the benzimidazolium halide.
  • scavengers or co-activators may be used.
  • Aluminum alkyl or organoaluminum compounds which may be utilized as scavengers or co activators include, for example, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum, and diethyl zinc.
  • scavenger such as trialkyl aluminum
  • Scavenger can be present at zero mol%, alternately the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of less than 100: 1, such as less than 50: 1, such as less than 15: 1, such as less than 10: 1.
  • Transition metal compound capable of catalyzing a reaction such as a polymerization reaction, upon activation with an activator as described above is suitable for use in polymerization processes of the present disclosure.
  • Transition metal compounds known as metallocenes are exemplary catalyst compounds according to the present disclosure.
  • the present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising a catalyst compound having a metal atom.
  • the catalyst compound can be a metallocene catalyst compound.
  • the metal can be a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom, such as Group 3 through Group 10 metal atoms, or lanthanide Group atoms.
  • the catalyst compound having a Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom can be monodentate or multidentate, such as bidentate, tridentate, or tetradentate, where a heteroatom of the catalyst, such as phosphorous, oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur is chelated to the metal atom of the catalyst.
  • Non- limiting examples include bis(phenolate)s.
  • the Group 3 through Group 12 metal atom is selected from Group 5, Group 6, Group 8, or Group 10 metal atoms.
  • a Group 3 through Group 10 metal atom is selected from Cr, Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, and Ni.
  • a metal atom is selected from Groups 4, 5, and 6 metal atoms.
  • a metal atom is a Group 4 metal atom selected from Ti, Zr, or Hf.
  • the oxidation state of the metal atom can range from 0 to +7, for example +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5, for example +2, +3, or +4.
  • a "metallocene” catalyst compound is preferably a transition metal catalyst compound having one, two or three, typically one or two, substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligands bound to the transition metal.
  • Metallocene catalyst compounds as used herein include metallocenes comprising Group 3 to Group 12 metal complexes, such as, Group 4 to Group 6 metal complexes, for example, Group 4 metal complexes.
  • the metallocene catalyst compound of catalyst systems of the present disclosure may be unbridged metallocene catalyst compounds represented by the formula: Cp A Cp B M'X' n , wherein each Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl ligands (for example, Cp, Ind, or Flu) and ligands isolobal to cyclopentadienyl, one or both Cp A and Cp B may contain heteroatoms, and one or both Cp A and Cp B may be substituted by one or more R" groups; M' is selected from Groups 3 through 12 atoms and lanthanide Group atoms; X' is an anionic leaving group; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; each R" is independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, heteroalkynyl, alkoxy,
  • each Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, indacenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, cyclopentaphenanthreneyl, benzindenyl, fluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, cyclooctatetraenyl, cyclopentacyclododecene, phenanthrindenyl, 3,4-benzofluorenyl, 9-phenylfluorenyl, 8-H-cyclopent[a]acenaphthylenyl, 7-H-dibenzofluorenyl, indeno[l,2-9]anthrene, thiophenoindenyl, thiophenofluorenyl, hydrogenated and substituted versions thereof.
  • Each Cp A and Cp B may independently be indacenyl or tetrahydroindenyl,
  • the metallocene catalyst compound may be a bridged metallocene catalyst compound represented by the formula: Cp A (T)Cp B M'X' n , wherein each Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl ligands (for example, Cp, Ind, or Flu) and ligands isolobal to cyclopentadienyl, where one or both Cp A and Cp B may contain heteroatoms, and one or both Cp A and Cp B may be substituted by one or more R" groups; M' is selected from Groups 3 through 12 atoms and lanthanide Group atoms, preferably Group 4; X' is an anionic leaving group; n is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; (T) is a bridging group selected from divalent alkyl, divalent substituted alkyl, divalent heteroalkyl, divalent alkenyl, divalent substituted alkenyl, divalent heteroalkenyl, divalent
  • R" is selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, heteroalkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, heteroalkynyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkylthio, arylthio, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, aralkylene, alkaryl, alkarylene, haloalkyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkynyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, a heteroatom-containing group, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, silyl, boryl, phosphino, phosphine, amino, amine, germanium, ether, and thioether.
  • each of Cp A and Cp B is independently selected from cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, cyclopentaphenanthreneyl, benzindenyl, fluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, cyclooctatetraenyl, cyclopentacyclododecene, phenanthrindenyl, 3,4-benzofluorenyl, 9-phenylfluorenyl, 8-H-cyclopent[a]acenaphthylenyl, 7-H- dibenzofluorenyl, indeno[l,2-9]anthrene, thiophenoindenyl, thiophenofluorenyl, hydrogenated, and substituted versions thereof, preferably cyclopentadienyl, n- propylcyclopentadienyl, indenyl, pentamethylcyclopent
  • (T) is a bridging group containing at least one Group 13, 14, 15, or 16 element, in particular boron or a Group 14, 15 or 16 element, preferably (T) is O, S, NR', or SiR'2, where each R' is independently hydrogen or C1-C20 hydrocarbyl.
  • the metallocene catalyst compound is represented by the formula:
  • Cp is independently a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand (for example, substituted or unsubstituted Cp, Ind, or Flu) or substituted or unsubstituted ligand isolobal to cyclopentadienyl;
  • M is a Group 4 transition metal
  • G is a heteroatom group represented by the formula JR*z where J is N, P, O or S, and R* is a linear, branched, or cyclic C1-C20 hydrocarbyl; z is 1 or 2;
  • J is N
  • R* is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, cyclooctyl, cyclododecyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, adamantyl or an isomer thereof.
  • the catalyst compound is represented by formula (II) or formula (III):
  • M is the metal center and is a Group 4 metal, such as titanium, zirconium or hafnium, such as zirconium or hafnium when Li arid L2 are present and titanium when Z is present; n is 0 or 1 ;
  • T is an optional bridging group which, if present, is a bridging group containing at least one Group 13, 14, 15, or 16 element, in particular boron or a Group 14, 15 or 16 element (preferably T is selected from dialky Isily 1, diarylsilyl, di alkyl methyl, ethylenyl (— CH2— CH2— ) or hydrocarbylethylenyi wherein one, two, three or four of the hydrogen atoms in ethylenyl are substituted by hydrocarbyi, where hydrocarbyl can be independently Ci to Ci6 alkyl or phenyl, tolyl, xyiyl and the like), and when T is present, the catalyst represented can be in a racemic or a meso form;
  • Li and L2 are independently cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl or fluorenyl, optionally substituted, that are each bonded to M, or Li and 1,2 are independently cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, tetrahydroindenyl or fluorenyl, which are optionally substituted, in which any two adjacent substituents on L 1 and L 2 are optionally joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aromatic cyclic or polycyclic substituent;
  • Z is nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus
  • q is 1 or 2, preferably 2 when Z is nitrogen;
  • R' is a cyclic, linear or branched Ci to Cro alkyl or substituted alkyl group (such as Z— R: form a cydododecylaniido group);
  • Xi and X2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, hydride radicals, hydrocarbyl radicals, substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, haiocarbyi radicals, substituted haiocarbyi radicals, silylcarbyl radicals, substituted silylcarbyl radicals, germylcarbyl radicals, or substituted germylcarby! radicals; or Xi and X2 are j oined and bound to the metal atom to form a nietallacycle ring containing from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms; or both together can be an olefin, diolefin or ar ne ligand.
  • T in any formula herein is present and is a bridging group containing at least one Group 13, 14, 15, or 16 element, in particular a Group 14 element.
  • Preferred examples for the bridging group T include CEE, CH2CH2, SiMe2, SiPh2, SiMePh, Si(CH 2 ) 3 , Si(CH 2 )4, O, S, NPh, PPh, NMe, PMe, NEt, NPr, NBu, PEt, PPr, Me 2 SiOSiMe 2 , and PBu.
  • T is represented by the formula R3 ⁇ 4J or (R a 2J)2, where J is C, Si, or Ge, and each R a is, independently, hydrogen, halogen, Ci to C20 hydrocarbyl (such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, or dodecyl) or a Ci to C20 substituted hydrocarbyl, and two R a can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially saturated, or saturated cyclic or fused ring system.
  • Ci to C20 hydrocarbyl such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, or dodecyl
  • two R a can form a cyclic structure including aromatic, partially
  • T is a bridging group comprising carbon or silica, such as dialkylsilyl, preferably T is selected from CH2, CH2CH2, C(CH3)2, SiMe2, SiPh2, SiMePh, silylcyclobutyl (Si(CH2)3), (Ph)2C, (p-(Et)3SiPh)2C, Me2SiOSiMe2, and cyclopentasilylene (Si(CH2)4).
  • the catalyst compound has a symmetry that is C2 symmetrical.
  • the metallocene catalyst component may comprise any combination of any “embodiment” described herein.
  • Suitable metallocenes useful herein include, but are not limited to, the metallocenes disclosed and referenced in the US patents cited above, as well as those disclosed and referenced in US Patents 7,179,876; 7,169,864; 7,157,531 ; 7,129,302; 6,995,109; 6,958,306; 6,884,748; 6,689,847; US Patent publication 2007/0055028, and published PCT Applications WO 97/22635; WO 00/699/22; WO 01/30860; WO 01/30861; WO 02/46246; WO 02/50088; WO 04/026921 ; and WO 06/019494, all fully incorporated herein by reference.
  • Additional catalysts suitable for use herein include those referenced in US Patents 6,309,997; 6,265,338; US Patent publication 2006/019925, and the following articles: Resconi, L. et al. (2000) “Selectivity in Propene Polymerization with Metallocene Catalysts,” Chem. Rev., v.100, pp. 1253-1345; Gibson, V. C. et al. (2003)“Advances in Non-Metallocene Olefin Polymerization Catalysis,” Chem. Rev. , v.103, pp. 283-315; Nakayama, Y. et al.
  • Exemplary metallocene compounds useful herein are include:
  • the catalyst compound may be selected from:
  • the catalyst is one or more of:
  • the catalyst compound is one or more of:
  • dimethylsilyl (tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(t-butylamido)titanium dimethyl; dimethylsilyl (tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)(t-butylamido)titanium dimethyl;
  • the catalyst is rac-dimethylsilyl-bis(indenyl)hafhium dimethyl and or 1, r-bis(4-triethylsilylphenyl)methylene-(cyclopentadienyl)(3, 8-di-tertiary- butyl- 1 -fluorenyl)hafnium dimethyl.
  • the catalyst compound is one or more of:
  • Transition metal complexes for polymerization processes can include any olefin polymerization catalyst.
  • Suitable catalyst components may include “non-metallocene complexes” that are defined to be transition metal complexes that do not feature a cyclopentadienyl anion or substituted cyclopentadienyl anion donors (e.g., cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, methylcyclopentadienyl).
  • families of non-metallocene complexes can include late transition metal pyridylbisimines (e.g., US 7,087,686), group 4 pyridyldiamidos (e.g., US 7,973,116), quinobnyldiamidos (e.g., US Pub. No. 2018/0002352 Al), pyridylamidos (e.g., US 7,087,690), phenoxyimines (e.g., Makio, H. et al.
  • Catalyst complexes that are suitable for use in combination with the activators described herein include: pyridyldiamido complexes; quinobnyldiamido complexes; phenoxyimine complexes; bisphenolate complexes; cyclopentadienyl-amidinate complexes; and iron pyridyl bis(imine) complexes or any combination thereof, including any combination with metallocene complexes.
  • pyridyldiamido complex or “pyridyldiamide complex” or “pyridyldiamido catalyst” or“pyridyldiamide catalyst” refers to a class of coordination complexes described in US Pat. No.
  • quinolinyldiamido complex or “quinolinyldiamido catalyst” or “quinolinyldiamide complex” or“quinolinyldiamide catalyst” refers to a related class of pyridyldiamido complex/catalyst described in US 2018/0002352 where a quinolinyl moiety is present instead of a pyridyl moiety.
  • phenoxyimine complex or“phenoxyimine catalyst” refers to a class of coordination complexes described in EP 0874005 that feature a monoanionic bidentate ligand that is coordinated to a metal center through one neutral Lewis basic donor atom (e.g., an imine moiety) and an anionic aryloxy (i.e., deprotonated phenoxy) donor.
  • a monoanionic bidentate ligand that is coordinated to a metal center through one neutral Lewis basic donor atom (e.g., an imine moiety) and an anionic aryloxy (i.e., deprotonated phenoxy) donor.
  • two of these bidentate phenoxyimine ligands are coordinated to a group 4 metal to form a complex that is useful as a catalyst component.
  • bisphenolate complex or“bisphenolate catalyst” refers to a class of coordination complexes described in US 6,841,502, WO 2017/004462, and WO 2006/020624 that feature a dianionic tetradentate ligand that is coordinated to a metal center through two neutral Lewis basic donor atoms (e.g., oxygen bridge moieties) and two anionic aryloxy (i.e., deprotonated phenoxy) donors.
  • neutral Lewis basic donor atoms e.g., oxygen bridge moieties
  • anionic aryloxy i.e., deprotonated phenoxy
  • cyclopentadienyl-amidinate complex or“cyclopentadienyl-amidinate catalyst” refers to a class of coordination complexes described in US 8,188,200 that typically feature a group 4 metal bound to a cyclopentadienyl anion, a bidentate amidinate anion, and a couple of other anionic groups.
  • iron pyridyl bis(imine) complex refers to a class of iron coordination complexes described in US 7,087,686 that typically feature an iron metal center coordinated to a neutral, tridentate pyridyl bis(imine) ligand and two other anionic ligands.
  • Non-metallocene complexes can include iron complexes of tridentate pyridylbisimine ligands, zirconium and hafnium complexes of pyridylamido ligands, zirconium and hafnium complexes of tridentate pyridyldiamido ligands, zirconium and hafnium complexes of tridentate quinolinyldiamido ligands, zirconium and hafnium complexes of bidentate phenoxyimine ligands, and zirconium and hafnium complexes of bridged bi aromatic ligands.
  • Suitable non-metallocene complexes can include zirconium and hafnium non metallocene complexes.
  • non-metallocene complexes for the present disclosure include group 4 non-metallocene complexes including two anionic donor atoms and one or two neutral donor atoms.
  • Suitable non- metallocene complexes for the present disclosure include group 4 non-metallocene complexes including an anionic amido donor.
  • Suitable non-metallocene complexes for the present disclosure include group 4 non metallocene complexes including an anionic aryloxide donor atom.
  • Suitable non-metallocene complexes for the present disclosure include group 4 non-metallocene complexes including two anionic aryloxide donor atoms and two additional neutral donor atoms.
  • a catalyst compounds can be a quinolinyldiamido (QDA) transition metal complex represented by formula (BI), such as by formula (BII), such as by formula (Bill):
  • BI quinolinyldiamido
  • M is a group 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 metal, such as a group 4 metal;
  • J is group including a three-atom-length bridge between the quinoline and the amido nitrogen, such as a group containing up to 50 non-hydrogen atoms;
  • E is carbon, silicon, or germanium
  • X is an anionic leaving group, (such as a hydrocarbyl group or a halogen);
  • L is a neutral Lewis base
  • R 1 and R 13 are independently selected from the group including of hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, and silyl groups;
  • R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 10’ , R 11 , R 11’ , R 12 , and R 14 are independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, substituted hydrocarbyl, halogen, or phosphino;
  • n 1 or 2;
  • n 0, 1, or 2
  • n+m is not greater than 4.
  • any two R groups may be joined to form a substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted heterocyclic, or unsubstituted heterocyclic, saturated or unsaturated ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
  • any two X groups may be joined together to form a dianionic group
  • any two L groups may be joined together to form a bidentate Lewis base; and any X group may be joined to an L group to form a monoanionic bidentate group.
  • M is a group 4 metal, such as zirconium or hafnium, such as M is hafnium.
  • Non-metallocene transition metal compounds usable for forming poly(alpha-olefm)s of the present disclosure also include tetrabenzyl zirconium, tetra bis(trimethylsilymethyl) zirconium, oxotris(trimethlsilylmethyl) vanadium, tetrabenzyl hafnium, tetrabenzyl titanium, bis(hexamethyl disilazidojdimethyl titanium, tris(trimethyl silyl methyl) niobium dichloride, and tris(trimethylsilylmethyl) tantalum dichloride.
  • J is an aromatic substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl having from 3 to 30 non-hydrogen atoms, such as J is represented by the formula:
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 10' , R 11 , R 11' , R 12 , R 14 and E are as defined above, and any two R groups (e.g., R 7 & R 8 , R 8 & R 9 , R 9 & R 10 , R 10 & R 11 , etc.) may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms (such as 5 or 6 atoms), and said ring may be saturated or unsaturated (such as partially unsaturated or aromatic), such as J is an arylalkyl (such as arylmethyl, etc.) or dihydro- lH-indenyl, or tetrahydronaphthalenyl group.
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 10' , R 11 , R 11' , R 12 , R 14 and E are as
  • J is selected from the following structures:
  • E is carbon
  • X may be an alkyl (such as alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, and isomers thereof), aryl, hydride, alkylsilane, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, triflate, carboxylate, amido (such as NMe2), or alkylsulfonate.
  • alkyl such as alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, and isomers thereof
  • alkyl such as alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pent
  • L is an ether, amine or thioether.
  • R 10 and R 11 may be joined to form a five-membered ring with the joined R 10 R n group being -CH2CH2-.
  • R 10 and R 11 are joined to form a six-membered ring with the joined R 10 R n group being -CH2CH2CH2-.
  • R and R may be independently selected from phenyl groups that are variously substituted with between zero to five substituents that include F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, NO2, alkoxy, dialkylamino, aryl, and alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, and isomers thereof.
  • the QDA transition metal complex represented by the formula (II) above where:
  • M is a group 4 metal (such hafnium);
  • E is selected from carbon, silicon, or germanium (such as carbon);
  • X is an alkyl, aryl, hydride, alkylsilane, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, triflate, carboxylate, amido, alkoxo, or alkylsulfonate;
  • L is an ether, amine, or thioether;
  • R 1 and R 13 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, and silyl groups (such as aryl);
  • R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , and R 12 are independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, substituted hydrocarbyls, halogen, and phosphino; n is 1 or 2;
  • n 0, 1, or 2;
  • n+m is from 1 to 4.
  • two X groups may be joined together to form a dianionic group
  • two L groups may be joined together to form a bi dentate Lewis base
  • an X group may be joined to an L group to form a monoanionic bidentate group
  • R 10 and R 11 may be joined to form a ring (such as a five-membered ring with the joined R 10 R n group being -CH2CH2-, a six-membered ring with the joined R 10 R n group being -CH2CH2CH2-).
  • R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are independently selected from the group including hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R 4 and R 5 and/or R 5 and R 6 ) are joined to form a substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heterocyclic ring or substituted 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.
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are independently selected from the group including hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R 7 and R 8 and/or R 9 and R 10 ) may be joined to form a saturated, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heterocyclic ring or substituted heterocyclic 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.
  • R 2 and R 3 are each, independently, selected from the group including hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, and substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, halogen, and phosphino, R 2 and R 3 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 2 and R 3 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 11 and R 12 are each, independently, selected from the group including hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, and substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, halogen, and phosphino, R 11 and R 12 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 11 and R 12 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, or R 11 and R 10 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 1 and R 13 are independently selected from phenyl groups that are variously substituted with between zero to five substituents that include F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, NO2, alkoxy, dialky lamino, aryl, and alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbons, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, and isomers thereof.
  • suitable R 12 -E-R n groups include CH 2 , CMe 2 , SiMe 2 , SiEri, SiPr 2 , SiBu 2 , SiPh 2 , Si(aiyl) 2 , Si(alkyl) 2 , CH(aiyl), CH(Ph), CH(alkyl), and CH(2-isopropylphenyl), where alkyl is a Ci to C40 alkyl group (such as Ci to C 2 o alkyl, such as one or more of methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, and isomers thereol), aryl is a C5 to C40 aryl group (such as a Ce to C 2 o aryl group, such as phenyl or
  • R 11 , R 12 , R 9 , R 14 , and R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R 10 and R 14 , and/or R 11 and R 14 , and/or R 9 and R 10 ) may be joined to form a saturated, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heterocyclic ring or substituted heterocyclic 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.
  • the R groups above (i.e., any of R 2 to R 14 ) and other R groups mentioned hereafter may contain from 1 to 30, such as 2 to 20 carbon atoms, such as from 6 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • the R groups above (i.e., any of R 2 to R 14 ) and other R groups mentioned hereafter, may be independently selected from the group including hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, trimethylsilyl, and -CH2-Si(Me)3.
  • the quinolinyldiamide complex is linked to one or more additional transition metal complex, such as a quinolinyldiamide complex or another suitable non-metallocene, through an R group in such a fashion as to make a bimetallic, trimetallic, or multimetallic complex that may be used as a catalyst component for olefin polymerization.
  • the linker R-group in such a complex may contain 1 to 30 carbon atoms.
  • E is carbon and R 11 and R 12 are independently selected from phenyl groups that are substituted with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 substituents selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, CF3, NO2, alkoxy, dialkylamino, hydrocarbyl, and substituted hydrocarbyl groups with from one to ten carbons.
  • R 11 and R 12 are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, -CH2- Si(Me)3, and trimethylsilyl.
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, phenyl, cyclohexyl, fluoro, chloro, methoxy, ethoxy, phenoxy, -CH2-Si(Me)3, and trimethylsilyl.
  • R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, silyl, amino, substituted hydrocarbyls, and halogen.
  • R 10 , R 11 and R 14 are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, -CH2-Si(Me)3, and trimethylsilyl.
  • each L is independently selected from Et20, MeOtBu, Et3N, PhNMe2, MePh2N, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethylsulfide.
  • each X is independently selected from methyl, benzyl, trimethylsilyl, neopentyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, hydrido, chloro, fluoro, bromo, iodo, dimethylamido, diethylamido, dipropylamido, and diisopropylamido.
  • R 1 is 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl, 2,6-diisopropyl-4-methylphenyl, 2.6-diethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-isopropylphenyl, 2,6-bis(3-pentyl)phenyl,
  • R 13 is phenyl
  • J is dihydro- lH-indenyl and R 1 is
  • R 1 is 2,6-diisopropylphenyl and R 13 is a hydrocarbyl group containing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 carbon atoms.
  • An exemplary catalyst used for polymerizations of the present disclosure is (QDA- l)HfMe 2 , as described in US Pub. No. 2018/0002352 Al.
  • the catalyst compound is a bis(phenolate) catalyst compound represented by formula (Cl):
  • M is a Group 4 metal, such as Hf or Zr.
  • X 1 and X 2 are independently a univalent C1-C20 hydrocarbyl, C 1-C20 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or X 1 and X 2 join together to form a C4-C62 cyclic or polycyclic ring structure.
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is independently hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, C 1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or two or more of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , or R 10 are joined together to form a C4-C62 cyclic or polycyclic ring structure, or a combination thereof;
  • Q is a neutral donor group;
  • J is heterocycle, a substituted or unsubstituted C7-C60 fused polycyclic group, where at least one ring is aromatic and where at least one ring, which may or may not be aromatic, has at least five ring atoms’
  • G is as defined for J or may be hydrogen, C2-C60 hydrocarbyl, C 1-C60 substituted hydrocar
  • the catalyst compound represented by formula (Cl) is represented by formula (CII) or formula (CIII):
  • M is Hf, Zr, or Ti.
  • X 1 , X 2 , R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , and Y are as defined for formula (Cl).
  • R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , R 19 , R 20 , R 21 , R 22 , R 23 , R 24 , R 25 , R 26 , R 27 , and R 28 is independently a hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, C 1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a functional group comprising elements from Groups 13 to 17, or two or more of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 ,
  • the catalyst is an iron complex represented by formula (IV):
  • A is chlorine, bromine, iodine, -CF3 or -OR 11 ;
  • each of R 1 and R 2 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22- aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or five-, six- or seven-membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom selected from the group consisting of N, P, O and S;
  • each of R 1 and R 2 is optionally substituted by halogen, -NR n 2, -OR 11 or -
  • R 1 optionally bonds with R 3
  • R 2 optionally bonds with R 5 , in each case to independently form a five-, six- or seven-membered ring
  • R 7 is a C1-C20 alkyl
  • each of R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 15 , R 16 , and R 17 is independently hydrogen, C1-C22- alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, -NR n 2, -OR 11 , halogen, -SiR 12 3 or five-, six- or seven- membered heterocycle comprising at least one atom selected from the group consisting of N, P, O, and S; wherein R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 15 , R 16 , and R 17 are optionally substituted by halogen, -NR n 2, -OR 11 or -SiR 12 3;
  • R 3 optionally bonds with R 4 , R 4 optionally bonds with R 5 , R 7 optionally bonds with R 10 , R 10 optionally bonds with R 9 , R 9 optionally bonds with R 8 , R 17 optionally bonds with R 16 , and R 16 optionally bonds with R 15 , in each case to independently form a five-, six- or seven-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, the heterocyclic ring comprising at least one atom from the group consisting of N, P, O and S;
  • R 13 is Ci-C2o-alkyl bonded with the aryl ring via a primary or secondary carbon atom;
  • R 14 is chlorine, bromine, iodine, -CF3 or -OR 11 , or Ci-C2o-alkyl bonded with the aryl ring;
  • each R 11 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or -SiR 12 3, wherein R 11 is optionally substituted by halogen, or two R 11 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • each R 12 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C22-alkyl, C2-C22-alkenyl, C6-C22-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or two R 12 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • each of E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 is independently carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus;
  • each u is independently 0 if E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 is nitrogen or phosphorus and is 1 if E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 is carbon;
  • each X is independently fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C 10-alkenyl, C6-C2o-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, -NR 18 , -OR 18 , -SR 18 , -SO3R 18 , -OC(0)R 18 , -CN, -SCN, b- diketonate, -CO, -BF4 , -PFr, or bulky non-coordinating anions, and the radicals X can be bonded with one another;
  • each R 18 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C2o-alkenyl, C6-C2o-aryl, arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or -SiR 19 3, wherein R 18 can be substituted by halogen or nitrogen- or oxygen-containing groups and two R 18 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring;
  • each R 19 is independently hydrogen, Ci-C2o-alkyl, C2-C2o-alkenyl, C6-C2o-aryl or arylalkyl where alkyl has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and aryl has from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein R 19 can be substituted by halogen or nitrogen- or oxygen-containing groups or two R 19 radicals optionally bond to form a five- or six-membered ring; s is 1, 2, or 3;
  • D is a neutral donor
  • t 0 to 2.
  • the catalyst is a phenoxyimine compound represented by the formula (VII):
  • M represents a transition metal atom selected from the groups 3 to 11 metals in the periodic table;
  • k is an integer of 1 to 6;
  • m is an integer of 1 to 6;
  • R a to R f may be the same or different from one another and each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a heterocyclic compound residue, an oxygen-containing group, a nitrogen-containing group, a boron-containing group, a sulfur-containing group, a phosphorus -containing group, a silicon-containing group, a germanium-containing group or a tin-containing group, among which 2 or more groups may be bound to each other to form a ring; when k is 2 or more, R a groups, R b groups, R c groups, R d groups, R e groups, or R f groups may be the same or different from one another, one group of R a to R f contained in one ligand and one group of R a to R f contained in
  • R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, or an inert functional group;
  • R 4 and R 5 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, an inert functional group or substituted hydrocarbyl;
  • R 6 is formula
  • R 7 is formula (X):
  • R 8 and R 13 are each independently hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group
  • R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 14 , R 15 and R 16 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group;
  • R 12 and R 17 are each independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl or an inert functional group;
  • R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 and R 17 that are adjacent to one another, together may form a ring.
  • the catalyst compound is represented by the formula
  • M 1 is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten. In at least one embodiment, M 1 is zirconium.
  • Each of Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 is independently oxygen or sulfur. In at least one embodiment, at least one of Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 is oxygen, alternately all of Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 are oxygen.
  • R 1 and R 2 are independently hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl (such as Ci-Cio alkyl, Ci-Cio alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C6-C 10 aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen).
  • R 1 and R 2 can be a halogen selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine.
  • R 1 and R 2 are chlorine.
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be joined together to form an alkanediyl group or a conjugated C4-C40 diene ligand which is coordinated to M 1 .
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be identical or different conjugated dienes, optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the dienes having up to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen and/or forming a p-complex with M 1 .
  • Exemplary groups suitable for R 1 and or R 2 can include 1,4-diphenyl, 1,3-butadiene,
  • R 1 and R 2 can be identical and are C1-C3 alkyl or alkoxy, C6-C10 aryl or aryloxy, C2-C4 alkenyl, C7-C10 arylalkyl, C7-C12 alkylaryl, or halogen.
  • Each of R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , and R 19 is independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl or C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl (such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C6-C10 aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7- C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n- nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • R 11 and R 12 are Ce- C10 aryl such as phenyl or naphthyl optionally substituted with C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, such as Ci- C10 hydrocarbyl.
  • R 6 and R 17 are Ci-40 alkyl, such as C1-C10 alkyl.
  • each of R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 17 , R 18 , and R 19 is independently hydrogen or C1-C40 hydrocarbyl.
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • each of R 6 and R 17 is C1-C40 hydrocarbyl and R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 13 , R 14 , R 15 , R 16 , R 18 , and R 19 is hydrogen.
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n-nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • R 3 is a C 1-C40 unsaturated alkyl or substituted C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl (such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C6-C 10 aryloxy, C2-C 10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen).
  • C1-C10 alkyl such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C6-C 10 aryloxy, C2-C 10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl,
  • R 3 is a hydrocarbyl comprising a vinyl moiety.
  • “vinyl” and“vinyl moiety” are used interchangeably and include a terminal alkene, e.g., represented
  • Hydrocarbyl of R 3 may be further substituted (such as C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C 10 alkoxy, C6-C20 aryl, C6-C10 aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C40 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, or conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl) silyl or tri(hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl, the diene having up to 30 atoms other than hydrogen).
  • R 3 is C1-C40 unsaturated alkyl that is vinyl or substituted C 1-C40 unsaturated alkyl that is vinyl.
  • C1-C40 hydrocarbyl is selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, sec-pentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl, sec-hexyl, n-heptyl, isoheptyl, sec-heptyl, n-octyl, isooctyl, sec-octyl, n- nonyl, isononyl, sec-nonyl, n-decyl, isodecyl, and sec-decyl.
  • R 3 is 1-propenyl, 1-butenyl, 1-pentenyl, 1-hexenyl, 1-heptenyl, 1-octenyl, 1-nonenyl, or 1-decenyl.
  • the catalyst is a Group 15-containing metal compound represented by formulas (XII) or (XIII):
  • M is a Group 3 to 12 transition metal or a Group 13 or 14 main group metal, a Group 4, 5, or 6 metal.
  • M is a Group 4 metal, such as zirconium, titanium, or hafnium.
  • Each X is independently a leaving group, such as an anionic leaving group.
  • the leaving group may include a hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom, a halogen, or an alkyl; y is 0 or 1 (when y is 0 group L' is absent).
  • the term 'h' is the oxidation state of M.
  • n is +3, +4, or +5. In many embodiments, n is +4.
  • 'm' represents the formal charge of the YZL or the YZL' ligand, and is 0, -1, -2 or -3 in various embodiments. In many embodiments, m is -2.
  • L is a Group 15 or 16 element, such as nitrogen or oxygen; L' is a Group 15 or 16 element or Group 14 containing group, such as carbon, silicon or germanium.
  • Y is a Group 15 element, such as nitrogen or phosphorus. In many embodiments, Y is nitrogen.
  • Z is a Group 15 element, such as nitrogen or phosphorus. In many embodiments, Z is nitrogen.
  • R 1 and R 2 are, independently, a Ci to C20 hydrocarbon group, a heteroatom containing group having up to twenty carbon atoms, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, or phosphorus.
  • R 1 and R 2 are a C2 to C20 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, such as a C2 to C20 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, or a C2 to C20 hydrocarbon group.
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be interconnected to each other.
  • R 3 may be absent or may be a hydrocarbon group, a hydrogen, a halogen, a heteroatom containing group.
  • R 3 is absent, for example, if L is an oxygen, or a hydrogen, or a linear, cyclic, or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • R 4 and R 5 are independently an alkyl group, an aryl group, substituted aryl group, a cyclic alkyl group, a substituted cyclic alkyl group, a cyclic aralkyl group, a substituted cyclic aralkyl group, or multiple ring system, often having up to 20 carbon atoms.
  • R 4 and R 5 have between 3 and 10 carbon atoms, or are a Ci to C20 hydrocarbon group, a Ci to C20 aryl group or a Ci to C20 aralkyl group, or a heteroatom containing group.
  • R 4 and R 5 may be interconnected to each other.
  • R 6 and R 7 are independently absent, hydrogen, an alkyl group, halogen, heteroatom, or a hydrocarbyl group, such as a linear, cyclic or branched alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
  • R 6 and R 7 are absent.
  • R* may be absent, or may be a hydrogen, a Group 14 atom containing group, a halogen, or a heteroatom containing group.
  • R 1 and R 2 may also be interconnected” it is meant that R 1 and R 2 may be directly bound to each other or may be bound to each other through other groups.
  • R 4 and R 5 may also be interconnected” it is meant that R 4 and R 5 may be directly bound to each other or may be bound to each other through other groups.
  • An alkyl group may be linear, branched alkyl radicals, alkenyl radicals, alkynyl radicals, cycloalkyl radicals, aryl radicals, acyl radicals, aroyl radicals, alkoxy radicals, aryloxy radicals, alkylthio radicals, dialky lamino radicals, alkoxy carbonyl radicals, aryloxy carbonyl radicals, carbomoyl radicals, alkyl- or dialkyl- carbamoyl radicals, acyloxy radicals, acylamino radicals, aroylamino radicals, straight, branched or cyclic, alkylene radicals, or combination thereof.
  • An aralkyl group is defined to be a substituted aryl group.
  • R 4 and R 5 are independently a group represented by structure (XIV):
  • R 8 to R 12 are each independently hydrogen, a Ci to C40 alkyl group, a halide, a heteroatom, a heteroatom containing group containing up to 40 carbon atoms.
  • R 8 to R 12 are a Ci to C20 linear or branched alkyl group, such as a methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl group. Any two of the R groups may form a cyclic group and/or a heterocyclic group.
  • the cyclic groups may be aromatic.
  • R 9 , R 10 and R 12 are independently a methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl group (including all isomers).
  • R 9 , R 10 and R 12 are methyl groups, and R 8 and R 11 are hydrogen.
  • R 4 and R 5 are both a group represented by structure (XV):
  • M is a Group 4 metal, such as zirconium, titanium, or hafnium. In at least one embodiment, M is zirconium.
  • M is zirconium.
  • Each of L, Y, and Z may be a nitrogen.
  • Each of R 1 and R 2 may be -CH2-CH2-.
  • R 3 may be hydrogen, and R 6 and R 7 may be absent.
  • PCT/US2018/051345 filed September 17, 2018 may be used with the activators described herein, particularly the catalyst compounds described at Page 16 to Page 32 of the application as filed.
  • a co-activator is combined with the catalyst compound (such as halogenated catalyst compounds described above) to form an alkylated catalyst compound.
  • Organoaluminum compounds which may be utilized as co-activators include, for example, trialkyl aluminum compounds, such as trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum, and the like, or alumoxanes.
  • two or more different catalyst compounds are present in the catalyst system used herein. In some embodiments, two or more different catalyst compounds are present in the reaction zone where the process(es) described herein occur.
  • the two transition metal compounds are preferably chosen such that the two are compatible.
  • a simple screening method such as by 3 ⁇ 4 or 13 C NMR, known to those of ordinary skill in the art, can be used to determine which transition metal compounds are compatible. It is preferable to use the same activator for the transition metal compounds; however, two different activators can be used in combination.
  • transition metal compounds contain an anionic ligand as a leaving group which is not a hydride, hydrocarbyl, or substituted hydrocarbyl, then the alumoxane or other alkyl aluminum is typically contacted with the transition metal compounds prior to addition of the non-coordinating anion activator.
  • the two transition metal compounds may be used in any ratio.
  • Preferred molar ratios of (A) transition metal compound to (B) transition metal compound fall within the range of (A:B) 1 : 1000 to 1000: 1, alternatively 1 : 100 to 500: 1, alternatively 1: 10 to 200: 1, alternatively 1: 1 to 100: 1, and alternatively 1: 1 to 75: 1, and alternatively 5: 1 to 50: 1.
  • the particular ratio chosen will depend on the exact pre-catalysts chosen, the method of activation, and the end product desired.
  • useful mole percents are 10 to 99.9% A to 0.1 to 90% B, alternatively 25 to 99% A to 0.5 to 50% B, alternatively 50 to 99% A to 1 to 25% B, and alternatively 75 to 99% A to 1 to 10%B.
  • the catalyst system may comprise a support material.
  • the support material is a porous support material, for example, talc, or inorganic oxides.
  • Other support materials include zeolites, clays, organoclays, or any other suitable organic or inorganic support material and the like, or mixtures thereof.
  • the support material is an inorganic oxide.
  • Suitable inorganic oxide materials for use in catalyst systems herein include Groups 2, 4, 13, and 14 metal oxides, such as silica, alumina, and mixtures thereof.
  • Other inorganic oxides that may be employed either alone or in combination with the silica, or alumina are magnesia, titania, zirconia, and the like.
  • Other suitable support materials can be used, for example, functionalized polyolefins, such as polypropylene. Supports include magnesia, titania, zirconia, montmorillonite, phyllosilicate, zeolites, talc, clays, and the like.
  • support materials may be used, for example, silica-chromium, silica-alumina, silica-titania, and the like.
  • Support materials include AI2O3, Zr02, S1O2, S1O2/AI2O3, Si02/Ti02, silica clay, silicon oxide/clay, or mixtures thereof.
  • the support material such as an inorganic oxide, can have a surface area of from 10 m 2 /g to 700 m 2 /g, pore volume in the range of from 0.1 cc/g to 4.0 cc/g and average particle size in the range of from 5 pm to 500 pm.
  • the surface area of the support material is in the range of from 50 m 2 /g to 500 m 2 /g, pore volume of from 0.5 cc/g to 3.5 cc/g and average particle size of from 10 pm to 200 pm.
  • the surface area of the support material is in the range is from 100 m 2 /g to 400 m 2 /g, pore volume from 0.8 cc/g to 3.0 cc/g and average particle size is from 5 pm to 100 pm.
  • the average pore size of the support material useful in the present disclosure is in the range of from 10 A to 1000 A, such as 50 A to 500 A, such as 75 A to 350 A.
  • Exemplary silicas are marketed under the tradenames of DAVISON 952 or DAVISON 955 by the Davison Chemical Division of W.R. Grace and Company. In other embodiments DAVISON 948 is used.
  • the support material should be dry, that is, substantially free of absorbed water. Drying of the support material can be effected by heating or calcining at 100°C to 1,000°C, such as at least about 600°C. When the support material is silica, it is heated to at least 200°C, such as 200°C to 850°C, such as at about 600°C; and for a time of 1 minute to about 100 hours, from 12 hours to 72 hours, or from 24 hours to 60 hours.
  • the calcined support material should have at least some reactive hydroxyl (OH) groups to produce supported catalyst systems of the present disclosure.
  • the calcined support material is then contacted with at least one polymerization catalyst comprising at least one catalyst compound and an activator.
  • the support material having reactive surface groups, typically hydroxyl groups, is slurried in a non-polar solvent and the resulting slurry is contacted with a solution of a catalyst compound and an activator.
  • the slurry of the support material is first contacted with the activator for a period of time in the range of from 0.5 hours to 24 hours, from 2 hours to 16 hours, or from 4 hours to 8 hours.
  • the solution of the catalyst compound is then contacted with the isolated support/activator.
  • the supported catalyst system is generated in situ.
  • the slurry of the support material is first contacted with the catalyst compound for a period of time in the range of from 0.5 hours to 24 hours, from 2 hours to 16 hours, or from 4 hours to 8 hours.
  • the slurry of the supported catalyst compound is then contacted with the activator solution.
  • the mixture of the catalyst, activator and support is heated to 0°C to 70°C, such as to 23°C to 60°C, such as at room temperature.
  • Contact times typically range from 0.5 hours to 24 hours, from 2 hours to 16 hours, or from 4 hours to 8 hours.
  • Suitable non-polar solvents are materials in which all of the reactants used herein, e.g., the activator, and the catalyst compound, are at least partially soluble and which are liquid at room temperature.
  • Non-limiting example non-polar solvents are alkanes, such as isopentane, hexane, n-heptane, octane, nonane, and decane, cycloalkanes, such as cyclohexane, aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene.
  • the support material comprises a support material treated with an electron-withdrawing anion.
  • the support material can be silica, alumina, silica- alumina, silica-zirconia, alumina-zirconia, aluminum phosphate, heteropolytungstates, titania, magnesia, boria, zinc oxide, mixed oxides thereof, or mixtures thereof; and the electron- withdrawing anion is selected from fluoride, chloride, bromide, phosphate, triflate, bisulfate, sulfate, or any combination thereof.
  • the electron-withdrawing component used to treat the support material can be any component that increases the Lewis or Bronsted acidity of the support material upon treatment (as compared to the support material that is not treated with at least one electron-withdrawing anion).
  • the electron-withdrawing component is an electron- withdrawing anion derived from a salt, an acid, or other compound, such as a volatile organic compound, that serves as a source or precursor for that anion.
  • Electron-withdrawing anions can be sulfate, bisulfate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate, fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, phospho-tungstate, or mixtures thereof, or combinations thereof.
  • An electron-withdrawing anion can be fluoride, chloride, bromide, phosphate, triflate, bisulfate, or sulfate, or any combination thereof, at least one embodiment of this disclosure.
  • the electron-withdrawing anion is sulfate, bisulfate, fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide, fluorosulfate, fluoroborate, phosphate, fluorophosphate, trifluoroacetate, triflate, fluorozirconate, fluorotitanate, or combinations thereof.
  • the support material suitable for use in the catalyst systems of the present disclosure can be one or more of fluorided alumina, chlorided alumina, bromided alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, chlorided silica-alumina, bromided silica- alumina, sulfated silica-alumina, fluorided silica-zirconia, chlorided silica-zirconia, bromided silica-zirconia, sulfated silica-zirconia, fluorided silica-titania, fluorided silica-coated alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, phosphated silica-coated alumina, or combinations thereof.
  • the activator-support can be, or can comprise, fluorided alumina, sulfated alumina, fluorided silica-alumina, sulfated silica-alumina, fluorided silica-coated alumina, sulfated silica-coated alumina, phosphated silica-coated alumina, or combinations thereof.
  • the support material includes alumina treated with hexafluorotitanic acid, silica-coated alumina treated with hexafluorotitanic acid, silica-alumina treated with hexafluorozirconic acid, silica-alumina treated with trifluoroacetic acid, fluorided boria-alumina, silica treated with tetrafluoroboric acid, alumina treated with tetrafluoroboric acid, alumina treated with hexafluorophosphoric acid, or combinations thereof.
  • any of these activator-supports optionally can be treated with a metal ion.
  • Nonlimiting examples of cations suitable for use in the present disclosure in the salt of the electron-withdrawing anion include anilinium, trialkyl anilinium, tetraalkyl anilinium, or combinations thereof.
  • combinations of one or more different electron-withdrawing anions can be used to tailor the specific acidity of the support material to a desired level.
  • Combinations of electron-withdrawing components can be contacted with the support material simultaneously or individually, and in any order that provides a desired chemically- treated support material acidity.
  • two or more electron- withdrawing anion source compounds in two or more separate contacting steps.
  • one example of a process by which a chemically-treated support material is prepared is as follows: a selected support material, or combination of support materials, can be contacted with a first electron- withdrawing anion source compound to form a first mixture; such first mixture can be calcined and then contacted with a second electron-withdrawing anion source compound to form a second mixture; the second mixture can then be calcined to form a treated support material.
  • the first and second electron-withdrawing anion source compounds can be either the same or different compounds.
  • the method by which the oxide is contacted with the electron-withdrawing component can include gelling, co-gelling, impregnation of one compound onto another, or combinations thereof.
  • the contacted mixture of the support material, electron- withdrawing anion, and optional metal ion can be calcined.
  • the support material can be treated by a process comprising: (i) contacting a support material with a first electron- withdrawing anion source compound to form a first mixture; (ii) calcining the first mixture to produce a calcined first mixture; (iii) contacting the calcined first mixture with a second electron-withdrawing anion source compound to form a second mixture; and (iv) calcining the second mixture to form the treated support material.
  • the present disclosure provides polymerization processes where monomer (such as propylene or ethylene), and optionally comonomer, are contacted with a catalyst system comprising an activator and at least one catalyst compound, as described above.
  • the catalyst compound and activator may be combined in any order and are combined typically prior to contacting with the monomer.
  • a polymerization process includes a) contacting one or more olefin monomers with a catalyst system comprising: i) an activator and ii) a catalyst compound of the present disclosure.
  • the activator is a non-coordination anion activator.
  • the one or more olefin monomers may be propylene and/or ethylene and the polymerization process further comprises heating the one or more olefin monomers and the catalyst system to 70°C or more to form propylene polymers or ethylene polymers, such as propylene polymers.
  • Monomers useful herein include substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C40 alpha olefins, such as C2 to C20 alpha olefins, such as C2 to C 12 alpha olefins, such as ethylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene and isomers thereof.
  • C2 to C40 alpha olefins such as C2 to C20 alpha olefins, such as C2 to C 12 alpha olefins, such as ethylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene and isomers thereof.
  • the monomer comprises propylene and an optional comonomers comprising one or more propylene or C4 to C40 olefins, such as C4 to C20 olefins, such as Ce to C12 olefins.
  • the C4 to C40 olefin monomers may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
  • the C4 to C40 cyclic olefins may be strained or unstrained, monocyclic or polycyclic, and may optionally include heteroatoms and/or one or more functional groups.
  • the monomer comprises propylene and an optional comonomers comprising one or more C3 to C40 olefins, such as C4 to C20 olefins, such as Ce to C12 olefins.
  • the C3 to C40 olefin monomers may be linear, branched, or cyclic.
  • the C3 to C40 cyclic olefins may be strained or unstrained, monocyclic or polycyclic, and may optionally include heteroatoms and/or one or more functional groups.
  • Exemplary C2 to C40 olefin monomers and optional comonomers include propylene, propylene, butene, pentene, hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, undecene, dodecene, norbomene, norbomadiene, dicyclopentadiene, cyclopentene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, cyclooctadiene, cyclododecene, 7-oxanorbomene, 7-oxanorbomadiene, substituted derivatives thereof, and isomers thereof, such as hexene, heptene, octene, nonene, decene, dodecene, cyclooctene, 1,5-cyclooctadiene, l-hydroxy-4-cyclooctene, l-acetoxy-4-cyclooc
  • one or more dienes are present in the polymer produced herein at up to 10 wt%, such as at 0.00001 to 1.0 wt%, such as 0.002 to 0.5 wt%, such as 0.003 to 0.2 wt%, based upon the total weight of the composition.
  • 500 ppm or less of diene is added to the polymerization, such as 400 ppm or less, such as 300 ppm or less.
  • at least 50 ppm of diene is added to the polymerization, or 100 ppm or more, or 150 ppm or more.
  • Diene monomers include any hydrocarbon structure, such as C4 to C30, having at least two unsaturated bonds, wherein at least two of the unsaturated bonds are readily incorporated into a polymer by either a stereospecific or a non-stereospecific catalyst(s).
  • the diene monomers can be selected from alpha, omega-diene monomers (i.e. di -vinyl monomers).
  • the diolefm monomers are linear di-vinyl monomers, such as those containing from 4 to 30 carbon atoms.
  • dienes examples include butadiene, pentadiene, hexadiene, heptadiene, octadiene, nonadiene, decadiene, undecadiene, dodecadiene, tridecadiene, tetradecadiene, pentadecadiene, hexadecadiene, heptadecadiene, octadecadiene, nonadecadiene, icosadiene, heneicosadiene, docosadiene, tricosadiene, tetracosadiene, pentacosadiene, hexacosadiene, heptacosadiene, octacosadiene, nonacosadiene, triacontadiene, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,8 -nonadiene, 1,9-decadiene, 1,10-unde
  • Cyclic dienes include cyclopentadiene, vinylnorbomene, norbomadiene, ethylidene norbomene, divinylbenzene, dicyclopentadiene or higher ring containing diolefms with or without substituents at various ring positions.
  • Polymerization processes of the present disclosure can be carried out in any suitable manner. Any suitable suspension, homogeneous, bulk, solution, slurry, or gas phase polymerization process can be used. Such processes can be run in a batch, semi-batch, or continuous mode. Homogeneous polymerization processes and slurry processes can be performed. (A useful homogeneous polymerization process is one where at least 90 wt% of the product is soluble in the reaction media.) A bulk homogeneous process can be used.
  • the process is a slurry polymerization process.
  • slurry polymerization process means a polymerization process where a supported catalyst is employed, and monomers are polymerized on the supported catalyst particles. At least 95 wt% of polymer products derived from the supported catalyst are in granular form as solid particles (not dissolved in the diluent).
  • Suitable diluents/solvents for polymerization include non-coordinating, inert liquids.
  • examples include straight and branched-chain hydrocarbons, such as isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof, such as can be found commercially (IsoparTM); perhalogenated hydrocarbons, such as perfluorinated C4-C 10 alkanes, chlorobenzene, and aromatic and alkylsubstituted aromatic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, mesitylene, and xylene.
  • straight and branched-chain hydrocarbons such as isobut
  • Suitable solvents also include liquid olefins which may act as monomers or comonomers including ethylene, propylene, 1 -butene, 1 -hexene, 1-pentene, 3- methyl-l-pentene, 4-methyl- 1-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene, and mixtures thereof.
  • the solvent is not aromatic, such that aromatics are present in the solvent at less than 1 wt%, such as less than 0.5 wt%, such as less than 0 wt% based upon the weight of the solvents.
  • the feed concentration of the monomers and comonomers for the polymerization is 60 vol% solvent or less, such as 40 vol% or less, such as 20 vol% or less, based on the total volume of the feedstream.
  • the polymerization can be performed in a bulk process.
  • Polymerizations can be performed at any temperature and/or pressure suitable to obtain the desired polymers, such as ethylene and or propylene polymers.
  • Typical temperatures and/or pressures include a temperature in the range of from 0°C to 300°C, such as 20°C to 200°C, such as 35°C to 150°C, such as 40°C to 120°C, such as 45°C to 80°C, for example about 74°C, and at a pressure in the range of from 0.35 MPa to 10 MPa, such as 0.45 MPa to 6 MPa, such as 0.5 MPa to 4 MPa.
  • the run time of the reaction is up to 300 minutes, such as in the range of from 5 to 250 minutes, such as 10 to 120 minutes.
  • hydrogen is present in the polymerization reactor at a partial pressure of 0.001 to 50 psig (0.007 to 345 kPa), such as from 0.01 to 25 psig (0.07 to 172 kPa), such as 0.1 to 10 psig (0.7 to 70 kPa).
  • the activity of the catalyst is from 50 gP/mmolCat/hour to 200,000 gP/mmolCat/hr, such as from 10,000 gP/mmolCat/hr to 150,000 gP/mmolCat/hr, such as from 40,000 gP/mmolCat/hr to 100,000 gP/mmolCat/hr, such as about 50,000 gP/mmolCat/hr or more, such as 70,000 gP/mmolCat/hr or more.
  • the conversion of olefin monomer is at least 10%, based upon polymer yield and the weight of the monomer entering the reaction zone, such as 20% or more, such as 30% or more, such as 50% or more, such as 80% or more.
  • a catalyst system of the present disclosure is capable of producing a polyolefin.
  • a polyolefin is a homopolymer of ethylene or propylene or a copolymer of ethylene such as a copolymer of ethylene having from 0.1 to 25 wt% (such as from 0.5 to 20 wt%, such as from 1 to 15 wt%, such as from 5 to 17 wt%) of ethylene with the remainder balance being one or more C3 to C20 olefin comonomers (such as C3 to C12 alpha-olefin, such as propylene, butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as propylene, butene, hexene, octene).
  • a polyolefin can be a copolymer of propylene such as a copolymer of propylene having from 0.1 to 25 wt% (such as from 0.5 to 20 wt%, such as from 1 to 15 wt%, such as from 3 to 10 wt%) of propylene and from 99.9 to 75 wt% of one or more of C2 or C4 to C20 olefin comonomer (such as ethylene or C4 to C 12 alpha-olefin, such as butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as ethylene, butene, hexene, octene).
  • C2 or C4 to C20 olefin comonomer such as ethylene or C4 to C 12 alpha-olefin, such as butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as ethylene, but
  • a catalyst system of the present disclosure is capable of producing polyolefins, such as polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or ethylene-octene copolymers, having an Mw from 40,000 to 1,500,000, such as from 70,000 to 1,000,000, such as from 90,000 to 500,000, such as from 90,000 to 250,000, such as from 90,000 to 200,000, such as from 90,000 to 110,000.
  • polypropylene e.g., iPP
  • ethylene-octene copolymers having an Mw from 40,000 to 1,500,000, such as from 70,000 to 1,000,000, such as from 90,000 to 500,000, such as from 90,000 to 250,000, such as from 90,000 to 200,000, such as from 90,000 to 110,000.
  • a catalyst system of the present disclosure is capable of producing polyolefins, such as polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or ethylene-octene copolymers, having an Mn from 5,000 to 1,000,000, such as from 20,000 to 160,000, such as from 30,000 to 70,000, such as from 40,000 to 70,000.
  • a catalyst system of the present disclosure is capable of producing propylene polymers having an Mw/Mn value from 1 to 10, such as from 1.5 to 9, such as from 2 to 7, such as from 2 to 4, such as from 2.5 to 3, for example about 2.
  • a catalyst system of the present disclosure is capable of producing polyolefins, such as polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or ethylene-octene copolymers, having a melt temperature (Tm) of from 100°C to 150°C, such as 110°C to 140°C, such as 120°C to 135°C, such as 130°C to 135°C.
  • Tm melt temperature
  • scavenger such as trialkyl aluminum
  • Scavenger can be present at zero mol%, alternately the scavenger is present at a molar ratio of scavenger metal to transition metal of less than 100: 1, such as less than 50: 1, such as less than 15: 1, such as less than 10: 1.
  • the polymerization 1) is conducted at temperatures of 0 to 300°C (such as 25 to 150°C, such as 40 to 120°C, such as 70 to 110°C, such as 85 to 100°C); 2) is conducted at a pressure of atmospheric pressure to 10 MPa (such as 0.35 to 10 MPa, such as from 0.45 to 6 MPa, such as from 0.5 to 4 MPa); 3) is conducted in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (such as isobutane, butane, pentane, isopentane, hexanes, isohexane, heptane, octane, dodecane, and mixtures thereof; cyclic and alicyclic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, cycloheptane, methylcyclohexane, methylcycloheptane, and mixtures thereof, where aromatics are present in the solvent at less than 1 wt%, such as less than 0.5 w
  • the catalyst system used in the polymerization comprises no more than one catalyst compound.
  • a "reaction zone” also referred to as a "polymerization zone” is a vessel where polymerization takes place, for example a batch reactor. When multiple reactors are used in either series or parallel configuration, each reactor is considered as a separate polymerization zone. For a multi-stage polymerization in both a batch reactor and a continuous reactor, each polymerization stage is considered as a separate polymerization zone. In at least one embodiment, the polymerization occurs in one reaction zone.
  • additives may also be used in the polymerization, as desired, such as one or more scavengers, promoters, modifiers, chain transfer agents (such as diethyl zinc), reducing agents, oxidizing agents, hydrogen, aluminum alkyls, or silanes.
  • Useful chain transfer agents are typically alkylalumoxanes, a compound represented by the formula AIR3, ZnR.2 (where each R is, independently, a C i-Cx aliphatic radical, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, hexyl, octyl or an isomer thereol) or a combination thereof, such as diethyl zinc, methylalumoxane, trimethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, or a combination thereof.
  • a gaseous stream containing one or more monomers is continuously cycled through a fluidized bed in the presence of a catalyst under reactive conditions.
  • the gaseous stream is withdrawn from the fluidized bed and recycled back into the reactor.
  • polymer product is withdrawn from the reactor and fresh monomer is added to replace the polymerized monomer.
  • a slurry polymerization process generally operates between 1 to about 50 atmosphere pressure range (15 psi to 735 psi, 103 kPa to 5,068 kPa) or even greater and temperatures in the range of 0°C to about 120°C.
  • a suspension of solid, particulate polymer is formed in a liquid polymerization diluent medium to which monomer and comonomers, along with catalysts, are added.
  • the suspension including diluent is intermittently or continuously removed from the reactor where the volatile components are separated from the polymer and recycled, optionally after a distillation, to the reactor.
  • the liquid diluent used in the polymerization medium is typically an alkane having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, such as a branched alkane.
  • the medium employed should be liquid under the conditions of polymerization and relatively inert.
  • propane medium When a propane medium is used, the process must be operated above the reaction diluent critical temperature and pressure.
  • a hexane or an isobutane medium is employed.
  • a polymerization process is a particle form polymerization, or a slurry process, where the temperature is kept below the temperature at which the polymer goes into solution.
  • the temperature in the particle form process can be from about 85°C to about 110°C.
  • Two example polymerization methods for the slurry process are those using a loop reactor and those utilizing a plurality of stirred reactors in series, parallel, or combinations thereof.
  • Non-limiting examples of slurry processes include continuous loop or stirred tank processes.
  • other examples of slurry processes are described in US Pat. No. 4,613,484, which is herein fully incorporated by reference.
  • the slurry process is carried out continuously in a loop reactor.
  • the catalyst as a slurry in isohexane or as a dry free flowing powder, is injected regularly to the reactor loop, which is itself filled with circulating slurry of growing polymer particles in a diluent of isohexane containing monomer and optional comonomer.
  • Hydrogen optionally, may be added as a molecular weight control.
  • hydrogen is added from 50 ppm to 500 ppm, such as from 100 ppm to 400 ppm, such as 150 ppm to 300 ppm.
  • the reactor may be maintained at a pressure of 2,000 kPa to 5,000 kPa, such as from 3,620 kPa to 4,309 kPa, and at a temperature of from about 60°C to about 120°C depending on the desired polymer melting characteristics. Reaction heat is removed through the loop wall since much of the reactor is in the form of a double-jacketed pipe.
  • the slurry is allowed to exit the reactor at regular intervals or continuously to a heated low-pressure flash vessel, rotary dryer and a nitrogen purge column in sequence for removal of the isohexane diluent and all unreacted monomer and comonomer.
  • the resulting hydrocarbon free powder is then compounded for use in various applications.
  • additives may also be used in the polymerization, as desired, such as one or more scavengers, promoters, modifiers, chain transfer agents (such as diethyl zinc), reducing agents, oxidizing agents, hydrogen, aluminum alkyls, or silanes.
  • Useful chain transfer agents are typically alkylalumoxanes, a compound represented by the formula AIR3, ZnR2 (where each R is, independently, a C i-Cx hydrocarbyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, penyl, hexyl octyl or an isomer thereol).
  • R is, independently, a C i-Cx hydrocarbyl, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, penyl, hexyl octyl or an isomer thereol.
  • Examples can include diethyl zinc, methylalumoxane, trimethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, or a combination thereof.
  • a solution polymerization is a polymerization process in which the polymer is dissolved in a liquid polymerization medium, such as an inert solvent or monomer(s) or their blends.
  • a solution polymerization is typically homogeneous.
  • a homogeneous polymerization is one where the polymer product is dissolved in the polymerization medium.
  • Such systems are typically not turbid as described in Oliveira, J. V. et al. (2000)“High-Pressure Phase Equilibria for Polypropylene-Hydrocarbon Systems” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., ⁇ .39. pp. 4627-4633.
  • solution polymerization involves polymerization in a continuous reactor in which the polymer formed, and the starting monomer and catalyst materials supplied, are agitated to reduce or avoid concentration gradients and in which the monomer acts as a diluent or solvent or in which a hydrocarbon is used as a diluent or solvent.
  • Suitable processes typically operate at temperatures from about 0°C to about 250°C, such as about 10°C to about 150°C, such as about 40°C to about 140°C, such as about 50°C to about 120°C, and at pressures of about 0.1 MPa or more, such as 2 MPa or more.
  • the upper pressure limit is not critically constrained but typically can be about 200 MPa or less, such as 120 MPa or less.
  • Temperature control in the reactor can generally be obtained by balancing the heat of polymerization and with reactor cooling by reactor jackets or cooling coils to cool the contents of the reactor, auto refrigeration, pre-chilled feeds, vaporization of liquid medium (diluent, monomers or solvent) or combinations of all three. Adiabatic reactors with pre-chilled feeds can also be used. The purity, type, and amount of solvent can be optimized for the maximum catalyst productivity for a particular type of polymerization.
  • the solvent can be also introduced as a catalyst carrier.
  • the solvent can be introduced as a gas phase or as a liquid phase depending on the pressure and temperature.
  • the solvent can be kept in the liquid phase and introduced as a liquid.
  • Solvent can be introduced in the feed to the polymerization reactors.
  • compositions of matter which can be produced by the processes described herein.
  • a polyolefin is a propylene homopolymer, an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene copolymer, such as propylene-ethylene and/or ethylene- alphaolefin (such as C4 to C20) copolymer (such as an ethylene-hexene copolymer or an ethylene-octene copolymer).
  • a polyolefin can have an Mw/Mn of greater than 1 to 4 (such as greater than 1 to 3).
  • a polyolefin is a homopolymer of ethylene or propylene or a copolymer of ethylene such as a copolymer of ethylene having from 0.1 to 25 wt% (such as from 0.5 to 20 wt%, such as from 1 to 15 wt%, such as from 5 to 17 wt%) of ethylene with the remainder balance being one or more C3 to C20 olefin comonomers (such as C3 to C12 alpha- olefin, such as propylene, butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as propylene, butene, hexene, octene).
  • C3 to C20 olefin comonomers such as C3 to C12 alpha- olefin, such as propylene, butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as propy
  • a polyolefin can be a copolymer of propylene such as a copolymer of propylene having from 0.1 to 25 wt% (such as from 0.5 to 20 wt%, such as from 1 to 15 wt%, such as from 3 to 10 wt%) of propylene and from 99.9 to 75 wt% of one or more of C2 or C4 to C20 olefin comonomer (such as ethylene or C4 to C12 alpha-olefin, such as butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as ethylene, butene, hexene, octene).
  • C2 or C4 to C20 olefin comonomer such as ethylene or C4 to C12 alpha-olefin, such as butene, hexene, octene, decene, dodecene, such as ethylene, but
  • a polyolefin such as a polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or an ethylene-octene copolymer
  • a polypropylene e.g., iPP
  • ethylene-octene copolymer has an Mw from 40,000 to 1,500,000, such as from 70,000 to 1,000,000, such as from 90,000 to 500,000, such as from 90,000 to 250,000, such as from 90,000 to 200,000, such as from 90,000 to 110,000.
  • a polyolefin such as a polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or an ethylene-octene copolymer
  • Mn from 5,000 to 1,000,000, such as from 20,000 to 160,000, such as from 30,000 to 70,000, such as from 40,000 to 70,000.
  • a polyolefin, such as a polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or an ethylene-octene copolymer has an Mw/Mn value from 1 to 10, such as from 1.5 to 9, such as from 2 to 7, such as from 2 to 4, such as from 2.5 to 3, for example about 2.
  • a polyolefin such as a polypropylene (e.g., iPP) or an ethylene-octene copolymer, has a melt temperature (Tm) of from 100°C to 150°C, such as 110°C to 140°C, such as 120°C to 135°, such as 130°C to 135°C.
  • Tm melt temperature
  • a polymer of the present disclosure has a g’vis of greater than 0.9, such as greater than 0.92, such as greater than 0.95.
  • the polymer is an ethylene copolymer
  • the comonomer is octene, at a comonomer content of from 1 wt% to 18 wt% octene, such as from 5 wt% to 15 wt%, such as from 8 wt% to 13 wt%, such as from 9 wt% to 12 wt%.
  • the polymer produced herein has a unimodal or multimodal molecular weight distribution as determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC).
  • GPC Gel Permeation Chromatography
  • unimodal is meant that the GPC trace has one peak or inflection point.
  • multimodal is meant that the GPC trace has at least two peaks or inflection points.
  • An inflection point is that point where the second derivative of the curve changes in sign (e.g., from negative to positive or vice versus).
  • the polymer produced herein has a composition distribution breadth index (CDBI) of 50% or more, such as 60% or more, such as 70 % or more.
  • CDBI is a measure of the composition distribution of monomer within the polymer chains and is measured by the procedure described in PCT publication WO 93/03093, published February 18, 1993, specifically columns 7 and 8 as well as in Wild, L. et al. (1982)“Determination of Branching Distributions in Polyethylene and Ethylene Copolymers,” J. Poly. ScL, Poly. Phys. Ed, v.20, pp. 441-455 and US Patent No. 5,008,204, including that fractions having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) below 15,000 are ignored when determining CDBI.
  • Mw weight average molecular weight
  • Copolymer of the present disclosure can have a reversed comonomer index.
  • the reversed-co-monomer index (RCI,m) is computed from ?;2 (mol% co-monomer C3, C4, Ce, Cx. etc.), as a function of molecular weight, where x2 is obtained from the following expression in which U is the number of carbon atoms in the comonomer (3 for C3, 4 for C4, 6 for Ce, etc.):
  • the RCI,m is then computed as:
  • a reversed-co-monomer index (RCI,w) is also defined on the basis of the weight fraction co-monomer signal (wZ/tQQ) and is computed as follows:
  • w2(Mw) is the % weight co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of Mw
  • w2(Mz) is the % weight co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of Mz
  • w2[(Mw+Mn)/2)] is the % weight co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of (Mw+Mn)/2
  • w2[(Mz+Mw)/2] is the % weight co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of Mz+Mw/2
  • Mw is the weight-average molecular weight
  • Mn is the number-average molecular weight
  • Mz is the z-average molecular weight.
  • the co-monomer distribution ratios can be also defined utilizing the % mole co-monomer signal, CDR-l,m, CDR-2,m, CDR-3,m, as:
  • x2(Mw) is the % mole co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of Mw
  • x2(Mz) is the % mole co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of Mz
  • x2[(Mw+Mn)/2)] is the % mole co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of (Mw+Mn)/2
  • x2[(Mz+Mw)/2] is the % mole co-monomer signal corresponding to a molecular weight of Mz+Mw/2
  • Mw is the weight-average molecular weight
  • Mn is the number-average molecular weight
  • Mz is the z-average molecular weight.
  • the polymer produced by the processes described herein includes ethylene and one or more comonomers and the polymer has: 1) an RCI,m of 30 or more (alternatively from 30 to 250).
  • the polymer (such as the polyethylene or polypropylene) produced herein is combined with one or more additional polymers prior to being formed into a film, molded part or other article.
  • additional polymers include polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, highly isotactic polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene, random copolymer of propylene and ethylene, and/or butene, and/or hexene, poly butene, ethylene vinyl acetate, low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene methyl acrylate, copolymers of acrylic acid, polymethylmethacrylate or any other polymers polymerizable by a high-pressure free radical process, polyvinylchloride, polybutene-1, isotactic poly butene, ABS resins, ethylene- propylene rubber (EPR), vulcanized EPR, EPDM
  • the polymer (such as polyethylene or polypropylene) is present in the above blends, at from 10 to 99 wt%, based upon the weight of the polymers in the blend, such as 20 to 95 wt%, such as at least 30 to 90 wt%, such as at least 40 to 90 wt%, such as at least 50 to 90 wt%, such as at least 60 to 90 wt%, such as at least 70 to 90 wt%.
  • the blends described above may be produced by mixing the polymers of the present disclosure with one or more polymers (as described above), by connecting reactors together in series to make reactor blends or by using more than one catalyst in the same reactor to produce multiple species of polymer.
  • the polymers can be mixed together prior to being put into the extruder or may be mixed in an extruder.
  • the blends may be formed using conventional equipment and methods, such as by dry blending the individual components and subsequently melt mixing in a mixer, or by mixing the components together directly in a mixer, such as, for example, a Banbury mixer, a Haake mixer, a Brabender internal mixer, or a single or twin-screw extruder, which may include a compounding extruder and a side-arm extruder used directly downstream of a polymerization process, which may include blending powders or pellets of the resins at the hopper of the film extruder. Additionally, additives may be included in the blend, in one or more components of the blend, and/or in a product formed from the blend, such as a film, as desired.
  • a mixer such as, for example, a Banbury mixer, a Haake mixer, a Brabender internal mixer, or a single or twin-screw extruder, which may include a compounding extruder and a side-arm extruder used directly downstream of a polymerization
  • additives are well known in the art, and can include, for example: fillers; antioxidants (e.g., hindered phenolics such as IRGANOXTM 1010 or IRGANOXTM 1076 available from Ciba-Geigy); phosphites (e.g., IRGAFOSTM 168 available from Ciba-Geigy); anti-cling additives; tackifiers, such as polybutenes, terpene resins, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon resins, alkali metal and glycerol stearates, and hydrogenated rosins; UV stabilizers; heat stabilizers; anti-blocking agents; release agents; anti-static agents; pigments; colorants; dyes; waxes; silica; fillers; and talc.
  • antioxidants e.g., hindered phenolics such as IRGANOXTM 1010 or IRGANOXTM 1076 available from Ciba-Geigy
  • One or more of the foregoing polymers may be used in a variety of end-use applications. Such applications include, for example, mono- or multi-layer blown, extruded, and/or shrink films. These films may be formed by any number of well-known extrusion or coextrusion techniques, such as a blown bubble film processing technique, wherein the composition can be extruded in a molten state through an annular die and then expanded to form a uni-axial or biaxial orientation melt prior to being cooled to form a tubular, blown film, which can then be axially slit and unfolded to form a flat film.
  • extrusion or coextrusion techniques such as a blown bubble film processing technique
  • Films may be subsequently unoriented, uniaxially oriented, or biaxially oriented to the same or different extents.
  • One or more of the layers of the film may be oriented in the transverse and/or longitudinal directions to the same or different extents.
  • the uniaxially orientation can be accomplished using typical cold drawing or hot drawing methods.
  • Biaxial orientation can be accomplished using tenter frame equipment or a double bubble processes and may occur before or after the individual layers are brought together.
  • a polyethylene layer can be extrusion coated or laminated onto an oriented polypropylene layer or the polyethylene and polypropylene can be coextruded together into a film then oriented.
  • oriented polypropylene could be laminated to oriented polyethylene or oriented polyethylene could be coated onto polypropylene then optionally the combination could be oriented even further.
  • the films are oriented in the Machine Direction (MD) at a ratio of up to 15, such as between 5 and 7, and in the Transverse Direction (TD) at a ratio of up to 15, such as 7 to 9.
  • MD Machine Direction
  • TD Transverse Direction
  • the film is oriented to the same extent in both the MD and TD directions.
  • the films may vary in thickness depending on the intended application; however, films of a thickness from 1 pm to 50 pm are usually suitable. Films intended for packaging are usually from 10pm to 50 pm thick. The thickness of the sealing layer is typically 0.2 pm to 50 pm. There may be a sealing layer on both the inner and outer surfaces of the film, or the sealing layer may be present on only the inner or the outer surface.
  • one or more layers may be modified by corona treatment, electron beam irradiation, gamma irradiation, flame treatment, or microwave.
  • one or both of the surface layers is modified by corona treatment.
  • This invention further relates to:
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialky lamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.
  • R 10 , R 11 , R 12 , and R 13 comprises a perfluoro substituted phenyl moiety, a perfluoro substituted naphthyl moiety, a perfluoro substituted biphenyl moiety, a perfluoro substituted triphenyl moiety, or a combination thereof.
  • PI 1 The compound of any one of paragraphs PI through P10, wherein a 1 millimole per liter, preferably a 10 millimole per liter mixture of the compound in n-hexane, isohexane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, or a combination thereof, forms a clear homogeneous solution at 25 °C.
  • a process to produce the activator compound of any of paragraphs PI to P10 comprising; i) contacting an indolinium compound having the general formula (A) with a metalloid compound having the general formula [M* k+ Q n ] d in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent, an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, an alicyclic hydrocarbon solvent, or a combination thereof, at a reaction temperature and for a reaction time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (AI) and a salt having the formula M(X); wherein formula (A) is represented by:
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialkylamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical
  • X is halogen
  • M is a Group 1 metal.
  • a process to produce the activator compound of any of paragraphs PI to P10 comprising:i) contacting a compound having the general formula (A) with a metalloid compound having the general formula M-(BR 7 R 8 R 9 R 10 ) in a solvent at a reaction temperature and for a reaction time sufficient to produce a mixture comprising the activator compound according to formula (I) and a salt having the formula M(X); wherein formula (A) is represented by the formula:
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical;
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms, preferably 6 or more carbon atoms, preferably 10 or more carbon atoms;
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms
  • X is halogen
  • M is a Group 1 metal.
  • PI 8 The process of any one of paragraphs P 12 through PI 7, wherein the reaction temperature is from about 20°C to less than or equal to about 50°C, and the reaction time is less than or equal to about 2 hours.
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical
  • R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms, preferably 6 or more carbon atoms, preferably 10 or more carbon atoms;
  • X is halogen
  • a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and the activator compound according to any one of paragraphs PI through PI 1.
  • P22 A catalyst system comprising a catalyst and the activator compound represented by formula (AI):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • M* is an element selected from group 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; and each Q is independently a hydride, bridged or unbridged dialky lamido, halide, alkoxide, aryloxide, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, or halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl radical.
  • a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and the activator compound represented by formula (I):
  • each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C40 alkyl radical; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 together comprise 1 or more carbon atoms;
  • each of R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 independently comprise an aromatic hydrocarbon having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms;
  • R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.
  • P24 The catalyst system of any one of paragraphs P21 through P23, wherein R 2 is a C6-C22 linear alkyl radical; and
  • M is the metal center, and is a Group 4 metal
  • n 0 or 1
  • T is an optional budging group selected from dialkylsilyl, diary Isilyl, dialkyimethyi, ethylenyl or hydrocarbylethylenyl wherein one, two, three or four of the hydrogen atoms in ethylenyl are substituted by hydrocarbyl;
  • Z is nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus
  • q is 1 or 2, preferably 2 when Z is nitrogen;
  • R' is a C1-C40 alkyl or substituted alkyl group, preferably a linear C1-C40 alkyl or substituted alkyl group;
  • Xi and X2 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, hydride radicals, hydrocarbyl radicals, substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, halocarbyl radicals, substituted halocarbyi radicals, silylcarbyl radicals, substituted silylcarbyl radicals, germylcarbyl radicals, or substituted germylcarbyl radicals; or both Xi and X2 are joined and bound to the metal atom to form a metallacyele ring containing from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms; or both together can be an olefin, diolefin or aryne ligand.
  • M is selected from Ti, Zr, and Hf; and R is selected from halogen or Ci to Cs alkyl.
  • a process of polymerizing olefins to produce at least one polyolefin comprising contacting at least one olefin with the catalyst system of any one of paragraphs P21 through P28 and obtaining the polyolefin.
  • N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(heptafluoronaphthalen-2-yl)borate (DMAH- BF28) was purchased from Grace Davison and converted to sodium tetrakis(heptafluoronaphthalen-2-yl)borate (Na-BF28) by reaction with sodium hydride in toluene.
  • Lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate etherate (Li-BF20) was purchased from Boulder Scientific.
  • N,N-Dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (DMAH-BF20) was purchased from Albemarle Corporation, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
  • A-methyl-4-nonadecyl- N-octadecylanilinium tetrakis(heptafluoronaphthalen-2-yl)borate (NOMAH-BF28) and N- methyl-4-nonadecyl-N-octadecylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate (NOMAH- BF20) were prepared from iV-methy 1-4-nonadecyl-N-octadecy land ini um chloride and their corresponding borates by procedures similar to those described below. All other reagents and solvents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker 500 or 400 NMR with chemical shifts referenced to residual solvent peaks (CDCb: 7.27 ppm for 3 ⁇ 4, 77.23 ppm for 13 C).
  • MBH-BF28 1-Methylbenzimidazole (2.00 g, 15.1 mmol) was dissolved in 100 mL of hexane. A 2 M ethereal solution of HC1 (7.6 mL, 15 mmol) was added slowly, which caused a white precipitate to form. After stirring for 16 hours, the white solid was collected, washed with fresh hexane, and dried under vacuum to give the benzimidazolium salt in 88% yield. The 1 -methylbenzimidazolium HC1 salt (500 mg, 2.97 mmol) was dissolved in 100 mL of dichloromethane and combined with Na-BF28 (3.10 g, 2.97 mmol).
  • l-octadecyl-lH-benzo[d]imidazole Benzimidazole (5.0 g, 42 mmol) was dissolved in 250 mL of THF and cooled to 0°C. Sodium hydride (1.28 g, 51 mmol) was added slowly and the reaction allowed to warm to ambient temperature over 45 min. The reaction was cooled back to 0°C and bromooctadecane (14.11 g, 42 mmol) was added. The solution was heated at 70°C for 2 hours, then allowed to stir at ambient overnight.
  • the 1-octadecylbenzimidazolium HC1 salt (500 mg, 1.23 mmol) was dissolved in 100 mL of cyclohexane and combined withNa-BF28 (1.29 g, 1.23 mmol). The mixture was heated at reflux for 1.5 hours, then cooled to ambient and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to give the product as a white solid in 15% yield.
  • 1-Hexene polymerization A series of 1 -hexene polymerizations were performed in 20 mL scintillation vials. In these examples, the metallocene rac-dimethylsilyl- bis(indenyl)hafhium dimethyl (MCN-1) was used with various ammonium borate activators. These data and run conditions are shown in Table 3.
  • the general polymerization conditions utilized 2 mis 1 -hexene, 500 nanomoles MCN-1 catalyst, 550 nanomoles of the indicated activator, and 10 micromoles tri(n- octyljaluminum as a scavenger in a total volume of 10 ml isohexane.
  • Solubility study of the activators A saturated solution of the activator was prepared by slowly adding the solvent to a pre-weighed amount of the activator. The final volume was determined as the minimum amount of solvent required to convert the heterogenous mixture into a homogeneous solution. The concentration of the saturated solution is presented in millimoles of activator per liter of solution (mM). Alternatively, a mixture of the activator was prepared by adding the solvent to an excess amount of activator. The resulting heterogeneous mixture was separated from the undissolved solids by decanting the supemate mixture into a tared vial. Solvent was then added dropwise until the mixture became a homogeneous solution. The mass of the final solution was measured and then the solvent was evaporated to dryness to obtain the mass of the activator. The concentration of the saturated solution is presented in millimoles of activator per liter of solution (mM).
  • Tri-n- octylaluminum (TNOAL, neat, AkzoNobel) was typically used as a scavenger. Concentration of the TNOAL solution in toluene ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 mmol/L.
  • Ethylene-Octene Copolymerization (EO). A pre-weighed glass vial insert, and disposable stirring paddle were fitted to each reaction vessel of the reactor, which contains 48 individual reaction vessels. The reactor was then closed and purged with ethylene. Each vessel was charged with enough solvent (typically isohexane) to bring the total reaction volume, including the subsequent additions, to the desired volume, typically 5 mL. 1-octene, if required, was injected into the reaction vessel and the reactor was heated to the set temperature and pressurized to the predetermined pressure of ethylene, while stirring at 800 rpm. The aluminum compound (such as tri-n-octylaluminum) in toluene was then injected as scavenger followed by addition of the activator solution (typically 1.0-1.2 molar equivalents).
  • solvent typically isohexane
  • the catalyst (and activator solutions for Run A) were all prepared in toluene.
  • the catalyst solution typically 0.020-0.080 pmol of metal complex
  • the catalyst solution was injected into the reaction vessel and the polymerization was allowed to proceed until a pre-determined amount of ethylene (quench value typically 20 psi) had been used up by the reaction.
  • the reaction may be allowed to proceed for a set amount of time (maximum reaction time typically 30 minutes).
  • Ethylene was added continuously (through the use of computer controlled solenoid valves) to the autoclaves during polymerization to maintain reactor gauge pressure (P setpt, +/-2 psig) and the reactor temperature (T) was monitored and typically maintained within +/-1°C.
  • the reaction was quenched by pressurizing the vessel with compressed air. After the reactor was vented and cooled, the glass vial insert containing the polymer product and solvent was removed from the pressure cell and the inert atmosphere glove box, and the volatile components were removed using a Genevac HT-12 centrifuge and Genevac VC3000D vacuum evaporator operating at elevated temperature and reduced pressure. The vial was then weighed to determine the yield of the polymer product. The resultant polymer was analyzed by Rapid GPC (see below) to determine the molecular weight, by FT-IR (see below) to determine percent octene incorporation, and by DSC (see below) to determine melting point (T m ).
  • Polymer sample solutions were prepared by dissolving polymer in 1, 2, 4-tri chlorobenzene (TCB, 99+% purity from Sigma- Aldrich) containing 2,6-di- tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT, 99% from Aldrich) at 165°C in a shaker oven for approximately 3 hours.
  • the typical concentration of polymer in solution was between 0.1 to 0.9 mg/mL with a BHT concentration of 1.25 mg BHT/mL of TCB.
  • the system was operated at an eluent flow rate of 2.0 mL/minutes and an oven temperature of 165°C. 1 ,2, 4-tri chlorobenzene was used as the eluent.
  • the polymer samples were dissolved in 1,2, 4-tri chlorobenzene at a concentration of 0.28 mg/mL and 400 uL of a polymer solution was injected into the system.
  • the concentration of the polymer in the eluent was monitored using an evaporative light scattering detector.
  • the molecular weights presented are relative to linear polystyrene standards and are uncorrected, unless indicated otherwise.
  • DSC Differential Scanning Calorimetry
  • the weight percent of ethylene incorporated in polymers was determined by rapid FT-IR spectroscopy on a Bruker Equinox 55+ IR in reflection mode. Samples were prepared in a thin film format by evaporative deposition techniques. FT-IR methods were calibrated using a set of samples with a range of known wt% ethylene content. For ethylene- 1-octene copolymers, the wt% octene in the copolymer was determined via measurement of the methyl deformation band at -1375 cm 1 . The peak height of this band was normalized by the combination and overtone band at -4321 cm 1 , which corrects for path length differences.
  • Ethylene-octene copolymerization (EO). A series of ethylene-octene polymerizations were performed in the parallel pressure reactor according to the procedure described above. In these examples, rac-dimethylsilyl-bis(indenyl)hafnium dimethyl (MCN- 1) was used as the catalyst along with ammonium borate activators.
  • Catalyst and activator were used in a 1 : 1.1 ratio. Each reaction was performed at a specified temperature range between 50 and 120°C, typically 80°C, while applying about 75 psig of ethylene (monomer) gas. Each reaction was allowed to run for about 20 minutes (-1,200 seconds) or until approximately 20 psig of ethylene gas uptake was observed, at which point the reactions were quenched with air (-300 psig). When sufficient polymer yield was attained (e.g, at least -10 mg), the polyethylene product was analyzed by Rapid GPC, described below.
  • RUN B Ethylene homopolymerization (PE).
  • PE Ethylene homopolymerization
  • Catalyst and activator were used in a 1 : 1.1 ratio. Each reaction was performed at a specified temperature range between 50 and 120°C, typically 80°C, while applying about 75 psig of ethylene (monomer) gas. Each reaction was allowed to run for about 20 minutes (-1,200 seconds) or until approximately 20 psig of ethylene gas uptake was observed, at which point the reactions were quenched with air (-300 psig). When sufficient polymer yield was attained (e.g., at least -10 mg), the polyethylene product was analyzed using the rapid GPC procedure described below.
  • the percent incorporation of 1-octene was also increased from a range of 48-50 % from the polymer produced by NOMAH-BF28 to 61-65% produced by MBH-BF28. This resulted in a decrease in the peak melt temperature of the polymer from a range of 30-36°C to 26-31°C. Polymers produced by the activator/catalysts system with OdBH-BF28 showed similar trends, with increased molecular weight range of 770-800 kg/mol, 59-64% octene, and 26-27°C melting point.
  • activators, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide improved solubility in aliphatic solvents, as compared to conventional activator compounds and catalyst systems.
  • compositions, an element or a group of elements are preceded with the transitional phrase“comprising,” it is understood that we also contemplate the same composition or group of elements with transitional phrases“consisting essentially of,”“consisting of,”“selected from the group of consisting of,” or“is” preceding the recitation of the composition, element, or elements and vice versa.

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Abstract

La présente invention concerne des activateurs de benzimidazolium borate comprenant des cations de benzimidazolium ayant des groupes alkyle linéaires, des systèmes de catalyseur les comprenant, et des procédés de polymérisation d'oléfines à l'aide de tels activateurs. En particulier, la présente invention concerne des composés activateurs de polymérisation qui peuvent être préparés dans des solvants hydrocarburés aliphatiques et alicycliques et qui sont solubles dans ceux-ci.
PCT/US2019/029115 2019-04-25 2019-04-25 Activateurs de benzimidazolium de type anion non coordonnants WO2020219050A1 (fr)

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WO2010014344A2 (fr) * 2008-08-01 2010-02-04 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Système de catalyseur et processus pour la polymérisation des oléfines
US20120316303A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2012-12-13 Martin John Hanton Oligomerisation of olefinic compounds with reduced polymer formation
US20150094434A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2015-04-02 Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Process for producing olefin polymer
US20160346774A1 (en) * 2015-06-01 2016-12-01 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Supported catalyst for aldehyde coupling reaction , method for performing aldehyde coupling reaction, and method for regenerating supported catalyst for aldehyde coupling reaction
WO2018182860A1 (fr) * 2017-03-27 2018-10-04 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Procédé de préparation de copolymères d'éthylène en solution

Patent Citations (6)

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US20090318644A1 (en) * 2008-06-20 2009-12-24 Patrick Brant High Vinyl Terminated Propylene Based Oligomers
WO2010014344A2 (fr) * 2008-08-01 2010-02-04 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Système de catalyseur et processus pour la polymérisation des oléfines
US20120316303A1 (en) * 2009-10-19 2012-12-13 Martin John Hanton Oligomerisation of olefinic compounds with reduced polymer formation
US20150094434A1 (en) * 2012-04-26 2015-04-02 Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Process for producing olefin polymer
US20160346774A1 (en) * 2015-06-01 2016-12-01 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Supported catalyst for aldehyde coupling reaction , method for performing aldehyde coupling reaction, and method for regenerating supported catalyst for aldehyde coupling reaction
WO2018182860A1 (fr) * 2017-03-27 2018-10-04 Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc. Procédé de préparation de copolymères d'éthylène en solution

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