Hafnium transition metal catalyst compounds and catalyst systems

Abstract

The present invention relates to a Group 15 containing hafnium catalyst compound, a catalyst system and a supported catalyst system thereof and to a process for polymerizing olefin(s) utilizing them.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A supported catalyst system comprising a Group 15 containing hafnium catalyst compound, an activator and a carrier, wherein the Group 15 containing hafnium compound is represented by the formulae:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       Wherein M is hafnium;  
       each X is independenly a leaving group;  
       y is 0 or 1;  
       n is the oxidation state of M;  
       M is the formal charge of Y, Z and L or of Y, Z and L′;  
       L is a Group 15 element;  
       L′ is a Group 15 element;  
       Y is a Group 15 element;  
       Z is a Group 15 element;  
       R 1  and R 2  are independently a C 1  to C 20  hydrocarbon group, heteroaton containing group having up to twenty carbon atoms, silicon, germanium,tin, lead, or phosphorus;  
       R 3  is absent, a hydrocarbon group, hydrogen,or heteroaton containing group;  
       R 4  is and R 5  are independenly an substituted cyclic alkyl group, a cyclic arylalkyl group,a substituted cyclyc alkyl group, a subtituted cyclic alkyl group, a cyclic arylalkyl group, subtituted cyclic arylalkyl group or a multiple ring system;  
       R 1  and R 2  may be interconnected to each other,and/or R 4  and R 5  may be interconnected to each other;  
       R 6  and R 7  are independently absent, hydrogen, an alkyl group, heteroatom or a hydrocarbyl group; and  
       R* is absent, hydrogen, a Group 14 atom contaning group, halogen, or a heteroatom containing group.  
     
     
         2 . The supported caralyst system of  claim 1  wherein the group 15 containing hafnium catalyst compound is contacted with the activator to form a reactoin product that is then contacted with the carrier.  
     
     
         3 . The supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein R 1  and R 2  are selected from the group, consisting of a C 1  to C 20  hydrocarbon group, a heteroatom containing Group, silicon, germanium, tin, lead, and phosphorus.  
     
     
         4 . the supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein L or L′ are bound to nothing, a hydrogen, a Group 14 atom containing group, a halogen, or a heteroatom containing group, and wherein each of the two 15 atoms are bound to a cyclic group and may optionally be bound to hydrogen, a halogen, a heterroatom, a hydrocarbyl group, or a heteroatom containig group.  
     
     
         5 . The supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein R 1  and R 5  are represented by the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 8  to R 12  are each independently hydrogen, a C 1  to C 40  alkyl group, a halide, a heteroatom, or a heteroatom containing group containing up to 40 carbon atoms, wherein any two R groups may form a cyclic group and/or a heterocyclic group, and wherein the cyclic groups may be aromatic.  
     
     
         6 . The supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein R 9 , R 10  and R 12  are independently a methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl group and X is an aryl substituted alkyl group having greater than 10 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         7 . The supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein R 9 , R 10  and R 12  are methyl groups, and R 8  and R 11  are hydrogen and X is a alkyl substituted with an aryl group.  
     
     
         8 . The supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein L, Y, and Z are nitrogen, R 1  and R 2  are a hydrocarbon radical, R 3  is hydrogen, and R 6  and R 7  are absent.  
     
     
         9 . The supported catalyst system of  claim 1  wherein L and Z are independently nitrogen, L′ is a hydrocarbyl radical, and R 6  and R 7  are absent.