Bridged metallocene catalyst component, method of making, polyolefin catalyst having C1, C2, or Cs symmetry, methods of making, methods of polymerizing, olefins and products made thereof

Abstract

Bridged metallocene catalyst component in which a bridge spans two cyclopentadienyl groups, which Cp groups are attached to same or different heteroatoms of the bridge, which heteroatoms are also bonded to the metal. A catalyst systems is made by contacting the bridged component with a cocatalyst. Polymerization of olefins in catalyzed by the system.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A bridged metallocene compound having the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein M is a metal; each X is an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to M and may be the same or different; R 1  and R 2  may be the same or each may be different and are substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl rings; R B  is a structural bridge between the cyclopentadienyl rings R 1  and R 2  and imparts stereorigidity to the rings, and comprises at least one heteroatom bonded to M, with each of R 1  and R 2  bonded to the same or different heteroatom of R B  which heteroatom is also bonded to M; Z is the coordination number of M and is greater than or equal to 4; m is the number of bonds between M and heteroatoms of R 1  and to impart sterorigidity m≧2; because the number of bonds around M cannot exceed its coordination number m+2≦Z; and with R 1 , R 2  and R B  selected to provide a catalyst component that is chiral with C 1 , C 2  or C S  symmetry.  
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of transition metals and lanthanide metals, wherein the heteroatoms are selected from the group consisting of O, N, S, and P,  
     
     
         3 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein R B  comprises three heteroatoms bonded to M, and wherein R 1  is bonded to one of the three heteroatoms, and R 2  is bonded to a different one of the three heteroatoms.  
     
     
         4 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein M is selected from among Fe, Co and Ni.  
     
     
         5 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein M is Fe, R B  comprises three heteroatoms bonded to M, and wherein R 1  is bonded to one of the three heteroatoms, and R 2  is bonded to a heteroatom different than the heteroatom to which R 1  is bonded; M is selected from among Fe, Co and Ni.  
     
     
         6 . The compound of  claim 5 , wherein each X is independently selected from among halides and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyls.  
     
     
         7 . A method of making a bridged metallocene compound comprising contacting a metal compound of the formula M(X) 2  with a bridged compound R B  of the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein M is a metal; each X is an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to M and may be the same or different; R 1  and R 2  may be the same or each may be different and are substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl rings; R B  is a structural bridge between the cyclopentadienyl rings R 1  and R 2  and imparts stereorigidity to the rings, and comprises at least one heteroatom suitable for bonding to M, with each of R 1  and R 2  bonded to the same or different heteroatom of R B  which heteroatom; Z is the coordination number of M and is greater than or equal to 4; and with R 1 , R 2  and R B  selected to provide a bridged metallocene compound that is chiral with C 1 , C 2  or C S  symmetry.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of transition metals and lanthanide metals, wherein the heteroatoms are selected from the group consisting of O, N, S, and P,  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein R B  comprises three heteroatoms suitable for bonding to M, and wherein R 1  is bonded to one of the three heteroatoms, and R 2  is bonded to a different one of the three heteroatoms.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein M is selected from among Fe, Co and Ni.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein M is Fe, R B  comprises three heteroatoms suitable for bonding to M, and wherein R 1  is bonded to one of the three heteroatoms, and R 2  is bonded to a heteroatom different than the heteroatom to which R 1  is bonded; M is selected from among Fe, Co and Ni.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each X is independently selected from among halides and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyls.  
     
     
         13 . A catalyst system comprising an activated bridged metallocene compound having the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein M is a metal; each X is an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to M and may be the same or different; R 1  and R 2  may be the same or each may be different and are substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl rings; R B  is a structural bridge between the cyclopentadienyl rings R 1  and R 2  and imparts stereorigidity to the rings, and comprises at least one heteroatom bonded to M, with each of R 1  and R 2  bonded to the same or different heteroatom of R B  which heteroatom is also bonded to M; Z is the coordination number of M and is greater than or equal to 4; m is the number of bonds between M and heteroatoms of R B  and to impart sterorigidity m≧2; because the number of bonds around M cannot exceed its coordination number m+2≦Z; and with R 1 , R 2  and R B  selected to provide a catalyst component that is chiral with C 1 , C 2  or C S  symmetry.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein M is selected from the group consisting of transition metals and lanthanide metals, wherein the heteroatoms are selected from the group consisting of O, N, S and P,  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein R B  comprises three heteroatoms bonded to M, and wherein R 1  is bonded to one of the three heteroatoms, and R 2  is bonded to a different one of the three heteroatoms.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein M is selected from among Fe, Co and Ni.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein M is Fe, R B  comprises three heteroatoms bonded to M, and wherein R 1  is bonded to one of the three heteroatoms, and R 2  is bonded to a heteroatom different than the heteroatom to which R 1  is bonded; M is selected from among Fe, Co and Ni.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein each X is independently selected from among halides and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyls.  
     
     
         19 . A method of making a catalyst system comprising contacting an activator with a bridged metallocene compound having the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein M is a metal; each X is an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to M and may be the same or different; R 1  and R 2  may be the same or each may be different and are substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl rings; R B  is a structural bridge between the cyclopentadienyl rings R 1  and R 2  and imparts stereorigidity to the rings, and comprises at least one heteroatom bonded to M, with each of R 1  and R 2  bonded to the same or different heteroatom of R B  which heteroatom is also bonded to M; Z is the coordination number of M and is greater than or equal to 4; m is the number of bonds between M and heteroatoms of R B  and to impart sterorigidity m≧2; because the number of bonds around M cannot exceed its coordination number m+2≦Z; and with R 1 , R 2  and R B  selected to provide a catalyst component that is chiral with C 1 , C 2  or C S  symmetry.  
     
     
         20 . A method of forming polyolefins comprising contacting olefin monomer or mixture of monomers in the presence of an activated bridged metallocene compound having the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein M is a metal; each X is an atom or group covalently or ionically bonded to M and may be the same or different; R 1  and R 2  may be the same or each may be different and are substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl rings; R B  is a structural bridge between the cyclopentadienyl rings R 1  and R 2  and imparts stereorigidity to the rings, and comprises at least one heteroatom bonded to M, with each of R 1  and R 2  bonded to the same or different heteroatom of R B  which heteroatom is also bonded to M; Z is the coordination number of M and is greater than or equal to 4; m is the number of bonds between M and heteroatoms of R B  and to impart sterorigidity m≧2; because the number of bonds around M cannot exceed its coordination number m+2≦Z; and with R 1 , R 2  and R B  selected to provide a catalyst component that is chiral with C 1 , C 2  or C S  symmetry.