Catalyst Components, Process for Their Preparation and Their Use as Catalyst Components in Polymerization of Olefins

Abstract

Catalyst compositions having Cs symmetry and processes utilizing Cs symmetric catalyst components for the polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers to produce polymers, including copolymers or homopolymers. Monomers, which are polymerized or copolymerized include ethylene, C 3+ alpha olefins and substituted vinyl compounds, such as styrene and vinyl chloride. The catalyst component is characterized by the formula: wherein M is a Group 4-11 transition metal, n is an integer of from 1-3, Q is halogen or a C 1 -C 2 alkyl group, PY is a pyridinyl group, R′ and R″ are each C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbyl group, A 1 is a mononuclear aromatic group, and A 2 is a polynuclear aromatic group, such as a terphenyl group. The catalyst component is used with an activating co-catalyst component such as an alumoxane. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of a pyridinyl-linked bis-amino ligand suitable for use in forming the catalyst component.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 24  wherein said ethylenically unsaturated monomer is ethylene, a C 3+  alpha olefin, or a C 4+  conjugated diene. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 24  wherein said ethylenically unsaturated monomer is ethylene. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein ethylene and a C 3+  alpha olefin are supplied to said reaction zone to produce an ethylene alphaolefin copolymer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said C 3+  alpha olefin is propylene to produce an ethylene-propylene copolymer. 
     
     
         14 . A polymer product produced by the process of  claim 24 . 
     
     
         15 . The polymer product of  claim 14  comprising an ethylene homopolymer or an ethylene alphaolefin copolymer. 
     
     
         16 . An article of manufacture formed from the polymer product of  claim 15  wherein said product is a product produced by injection molding, a product produced by blow molding, or a product produced by extrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16  comprising a film produced by extrusion molding. 
     
     
         18 . A process for the polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising:
 (a) providing a transition metal catalyst component having Cs symmetry characterized by the formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         (a) Q is a halogen or a C 1 -C 2  alkyl group; 
         (b) R 1  is a H or C 1 -C 4  alkyl group 
         (c) R 2  is an isopropylene group; 
         (d) R 3  is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4  alkyl group; 
         (e) R 5  is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4  alkyl group which can be the same as or different from R 3 ; 
         (f) R 4  is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4  alkyl group; and 
         (g) wherein M is a transition metal selected from Groups 8-10 of the Periodic Table of Elements. 
         (b) providing an activating co-catalyst component; 
         (c) contacting said catalyst component and said co-catalyst component in a polymerization reaction zone with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer product by polymerization of said monomer; and 
         (d) recovering said polymer product from said reaction zone. 
       
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18  wherein M is iron or cobalt. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18  wherein activating co-catalyst is an alkylalumoxane. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 18  wherein said alkylalumoxane comprises methylalumoxane or tri-isobutylalumoxane or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A process for the polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising:
 (a) providing a transition metal catalyst component having Cs symmetry characterized by the formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           (i) wherein Q is a halogen or a C 1 -C 2  alkyl group; 
           (ii) R 1  is a hydrogen or methyl group; 
           (iii) R 2  is a methyl or ethyl group; 
           (iv) R 4  are the same and are each a C 2 -C 4  alkyl group having a higher molecular weight than R 2 ; 
         
         (b) providing an activating co-catalyst component; 
         (c) contacting said catalyst component and said co-catalyst component in a polymerization reaction zone with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer product by polymerization of said monomer; and 
         (d) recovering said polymer product from said reaction zone. 
       
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein the substituents R 2  are a methyl group and the substituents R 4  are the same and are isopropyl or tertiary butyl groups. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 24 , wherein R 4  are tertiary butyl groups, R 1  is a methyl group, and Q is chlorine.