Ethylene-a-olefin-diene elastomers and methods of making them

A process to produce a branched ethylene-α-olefin diene elastomer (b-EDE) comprising combining a catalyst precursor and an activator with a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 α-olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene to obtain a b-EDE;

• where the catalyst precursor is selected from pyridyldiamide and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes, wherein the pyridyldiamido and quinolinyldiamido transition metal complexes are selected from one of the following structures:
• wherein M is titanium, hafnium or zirconium;
• R1 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, heterohydrocarbyls, and silyl groups;
• R2 and R9 are each, independently, divalent hydrocarbyls or a chemical bond;
• R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• X is an anionic leaving group, where the X groups may be the same or different and any two X groups may be linked to form a dianionic leaving group;
• and
• Z is —(R11)pQJ(R12)q—, wherein Q is carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or silicon, and where J is carbon or silicon, p is 1 or 2;
• and q is 1 or 2;
• and R11 and R12 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, and substituted hydrocarbyls, and wherein adjacent R11 and R12 groups may be joined to form an aromatic or saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings.