Olefin polymerization catalysts

Abstract

The invention is a catalyst system including a Group IV B transition metal component and an alumoxane component which may be employed to polymerize olefins to produce a high molecular weight polymer.

1 . A process for the polymerization of one or more olefins comprising conducting the polymerization in the presence of a catalyst system comprising: 
 (A) a Group IVB transition metal component of the formula:                          wherein “M” is Zr, Hf or Ti;    (C 5 H 5-x R x ) is a cyclopentadienyl ring which is substituted with from zero to five substituent groups R, “x” is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 denoting the degree of substitution, and each R is, independently, a radical selected from a group consisting of C 1 -C 20  hydrocarbyl radicals, C 1 -C 20  substituted hydrocarbyl radicals wherein one or more hydrogen atoms is replaced by a halogen atom, C 1 -C 20  hydrocarbyl-substituted metalloid radicals wherein the metalloid is selected from Group IV-A of the Periodic Table of Elements, and halogen radicals or (C 5 H 5-x R x ) is a cyclopentadienyl ring in which two adjacent R-groups are joined forming a C 4 -C 20  ring to give a saturated or unsaturated polycyclic cyclopentadienyl ligand;    (JR′ z-1 ) is a heteroatom ligand in which “J” is an element with coordination number of three from Group V-A or an element with a coordination number of two from VI-A of the Periodic Table of Elements, each “R′” is, independently a radical selected from a group consisting of C 1 -C 20  hydrocarbyl radicals, substituted C 1 -C 20  hydrocarbyl radicals wherein one or more hydrogen atoms is replaced by a halogen atom, and “z” is the coordination number of the element “J”;    “y” is 1,    T is a covalent bridging group containing a Group IVA or VA element; 
 each “Q” is, independently, any univalent anionic ligand or two “Q′”s are a divalent anionic chelating ligand, provided that “Q” is different from (C 5 H 5-x R x );  
 “L” is a neutral Lewis base where “w” is a number greater than 0 and up to 3;  
 “M′” has the same meaning as “M”; and  
 “Q′” has the same meaning as “Q”; and  
 (B) an alumoxane.  
   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein J is nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulfur.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein Q is a halogen or a hydrocarbyl radical and Q′, if present, is a halogen or a hydrocarbyl radical.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein J is nitrogen.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein M is zirconium or hafnium and M′, if present, is zirconium or hahnium.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the mole ratio of Al:M is form 10:1 to 20,000:1.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein Q is independently halogen, hydride, or a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl, alkoxide, aryl xoide, amide aryl amide, phosphide and arylphosphide.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the olefins are selected from ethylene, alpha-olefin having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the polymerization conducted is a homopolymerization.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the polymerization conducted is a copolymerization.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein alpha-olefin is selected form propylene, butene, styrene, diolefins, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the alpha-olefin is styrene.  
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the process utilized is liquid phase, high pressure fluid phase, or gas phase.  
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the polymerization process is selected from slurry, solution, suspension, or bulk phase polymerization.  
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the process is employed in series.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the process is employed in series.  
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the polymer produced as an Mw/Mn of 4 or less.