Catalyst composition and method of polymerization

Abstract

This invention relates to a composition of matter comprising the catalyst compound comprising a transition metal complexed with a facially coordinating tridentate bisamide ligand. The invention is also directed to a catalyst system or a supported catalyst system comprising this compound and an activator and to a process for using the catalyst system or supported catalyst system in a process for polymerizing olefin(s).

I claim:  
     
         1 . A compound represented by the following formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 M is a group 3, 4 or 5 transition metal or a lanthanide or actinide group metal,  
 each X is independently an anionic leaving group,  
 n is the oxidation state of M,  
 a is 0 or 1,  
 m is the formal charge of the YZL ligand,  
 Y is a group 15 element,  
 Z is a group 15 element,  
 J is a C 1  to C 20  hydrocarbon group, a heteroatom containing group, silicon, germanium, tin, or phosphorus,  
 L is a group comprising a group 15 or 16 element,  
 R 1  and R 2  are independently a C 1  to C 20  hydrocarbon group, a heteroatom containing group, silicon, germanium, tin, or phosphorus,  
 R 1  and R 2  may also be interconnected to each other,  
 R 3  is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group or a heteroatom containing group,  
 R 4  and R 5  are independently an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, a cyclic alkyl group, a substituted cyclic alkyl group, or multiple ring system, and  
 R 6  and R 7  are independently absent or hydrogen, halogen, heteroatom or a hydrocarbyl group, or a heteroatom containing group.  
 
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein the compound has been combined with an activator selected from the group consisting of alumoxanes, modified alumoxanes, non-coordinating anions, non-coordinating group 13 metal or metalliod anions, boranes and borates.  
     
     
         3 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein the compound has been combined with an activator selected from the group consisting of: 
 trimethylammonium tetraphenylborate; triethylammonium tetraphenylborate,  
 tripropylammonium tetraphenylborate; tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate,  
 tri(t-butyl)ammonium tetraphenylborate; N,N-dimethylanilinium tetraphenylborate,  
 N,N-diethylanilinium tetraphenylborate; N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium) tetraphenylborate; trimethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; triethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; tripropylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; tri(sec-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate; N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate; N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate; N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium) tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate, trimethylammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenylborate; triethylammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl) borate; tripropylammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl) borate; tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluoro-phenyl) borate; dimethyl(t-butyl)ammonium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl) borate; N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl) borate; N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluoro-phenyl) borate; N,N-dimethyl-(2,4,6-trimethylanilinium)tetrakis-(2,3,4,6-tetrafluorophenyl) borate; di-(i-propyl) ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate; dicyclohexylammonium tetrakis pentafluorophenyl) borate; triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate; tri(o-tolyl)phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate; tri(2,6-dimethylphenyl) phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate, or mixtures thereof.  
 
     
     
         4 . The compound of  claim 2  wherein the combination further comprises a support.  
     
     
         5 . The compound of  claim 4  wherein the support comprises one or more of silica, fumed silica, alumina, silica-alumina, magnesia, titania, zirconia, magnesium chloride, montmorillonite, phyllosilicate, zeolites, talc, clays, porous acrylic polymers, nanocomposites, aerogels, spherulites, or polymeric beads.  
     
     
         6 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein M is a group 4, 5 or 6 transition metal.  
     
     
         7 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein each X is independently hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a heteroatom or a halogen.  
     
     
         8 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein n is 4.  
     
     
         9 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein L is nitrogen.  
     
     
         10 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein J is a C 1  to C 20  alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group.  
     
     
         11 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein Y is nitrogen.  
     
     
         12 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein Z is nitrogen.  
     
     
         13 . The compound of  claim 1  wherein R 4  and R 5  are independently a group represented by the following formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein 
 R 8  to R 12  are each independently hydrogen, a C 1  to C 40  alkyl group, a heteroatom, a heteroatom containing group containing up to 40 carbon atoms, any two R groups may form a cyclic group and/or a heterocyclic group.  
 
     
     
         14 . The compound of  claim 13  wherein R 9  and R 10  are methyl groups, and R 8 , R 11  and R 12  are hydrogen.  
     
     
         15 . The compound of  claim 11  wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently a C 1  to C 20  alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group.  
     
     
         16 . The compound of  claim 11  wherein R 6  and R 7  are absent.