Catalysts

Abstract

A complex comprising a ligand of formula (I), wherein each R 1 , which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20 hydrocarbyl group, N(R 5 ) 2 , silyl, siloxy; an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group or two R 1 groups on adjacent carbon atoms taken together may form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered fused ring; each R 2 , which may be the same or different is hydrogen, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20 hydrocarbyl group, N(R 5 ) 2 , silyl, siloxy; an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, or an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group; R 3 , which binds to the 6-membered ring of the indenyl group, is —(Si(R 5 ) 2 ) p —, where p is 1 or 2, —(C(R 5 ) 2 )n- where n is an integer of 2 or more; each R 4 which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20 hydrocarbyl group, N(R 5 ) 2 , silyl, siloxy, an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group or two R 4 groups on adjacent carbon atoms taken together can form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered fused carbon ring; each R 5 , which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20 hydrocarbyl group, or two R 5 groups taken together can form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered ring; a is 0 to 3; b is 0 to 3; c is 0 to 4; complexed to a metal ion, M.

1 . A complex comprising a ligand of formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein 
         each R 1 , which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20  hydrocarbyl group, N(R 5 ) 2 , silyl, siloxy; an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group or two R 1  groups on adjacent carbon atoms taken together may form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered fused ring; 
         each R 2 , which may be the same or different is hydrogen, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20  hydrocarbyl group, N(R 5 ) 2 , silyl, siloxy; an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, or an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group; 
         R 3 , which binds to the 6-membered ring of the indenyl group, is —(Si(R 5 ) 2 ) p —, where p is 1 or 2, —(C(R 5 ) 2 )n- where n is an integer of 2 or more; 
         each R 4  which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20  hydrocarbyl group, N(R 5 ) 2 , silyl, siloxy, an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, an optionally substituted heterocyclyl group or two R 4  groups on adjacent carbon atoms taken together can form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered fused carbon ring; 
         each R 5 , which may be the same or different, is hydrogen, an optionally substituted C 1-20  hydrocarbyl group, or two R 5  groups taken together can form an optionally substituted 5- to 8-membered ring; 
         a is 0 to 3; 
         b is 0 to 3 
         c is 0 to 4; 
         complexed to a metal ion, M. 
       
     
     
         2 . A complex comprising formula (II) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 4 , R 5 , a, b and c are as hereinbefore defined and R 7  is —C(R 5 ) 2 —; 
         complexed to a metal ion, M; 
         with the proviso that R 7  binds to the 5 or 6 position of the indenyl ring. 
       
     
     
         3 . A complex as claimed in  claim 1  wherein M is a group 4 to 6 metal ion. 
     
     
         4 . A complex as claimed in  claim 1  wherein M is Zr or Hf. 
     
     
         5 . A complex as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a ligand of formula (V) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 4  and c are as hereinbefore defined, R 1′  is hydrogen or C 1-6 -alkyl, R 2′  is hydrogen or C 1-6 -alkyl and R 3′  is SiMe 2  or CH 2 CH 2 . 
       
     
     
         6 . A complex as claimed in  claim 1  wherein R 4  is methyl, tert butyl, two R 4  groups taken together form an indenyl ring or 4 R 4  groups taken together form a fluorenyl ring. 
     
     
         7 . A complex as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one R 4  group represents a C 1-6  alkyl and two other R 4  groups are taken together to form an optionally substituted 6-membered fused carbon ring. 
     
     
         8 . A complex claimed in  claim 1  which has a substituent in 5-position of the indenyl ligand. 
     
     
         9 . A complex claimed in  claim 1  which has a substituent in 2-position of the indenyl ligand 
     
     
         10 . A complex claimed in  claim 1  which has a tert-butyl substituent in 5-position of the indenyl ligand 
     
     
         11 . A complex claimed in  claim 1  which has a methyl substituent in 2-position of indenyl ligand 
     
     
         12 . A complex claimed in  claim 1  which has the following structure 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         13 . The complex 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         14 . An olefin polymerisation catalyst comprising:
 (i) a complex comprising a metal ion coordinated by at least one ligand of formula (I) or (II); and   (ii) a cocatalyst.   
     
     
         15 . A supported catalyst which contains a complex claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A supported catalyst as claimed in  claim 15  in which the support is contacted in the first stage with cocatalyst and then in the second stage complex is added into cocatalyst treated carrier. 
     
     
         17 . Use in olefin polymerisation of a catalyst as hereinbefore defined, 
     
     
         18 . A process for the polymerisation of at least one olefin comprising reacting said at least one olefin with a catalyst as hereinbefore described. 
     
     
         19 . A compound of formula (III) or (IV) 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , a, b and c are as hereinbefore defined.