Biaryl phenoxy group iv transition metal catalysts for olefin polymerization

A catalyst system comprising a metal-ligand complex according to formula (I):

• where
• M is a metal chosen from titanium, zirconium, or hafnium, the metal having a formal oxidation state of +2, +3, or +4;
• each X is a monodentate or bidentate ligand independently chosen from unsaturated (C2-C50)hydrocarbon, unsaturated (C2-C50)heterohydrocarbon, (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C4-C50)heteroaryl, cyclopentadienyl, substituted cyclopentadienyl, (C4-C12)diene, halogen, —N(RN)2, or —NCORC;
• n is 1, 2, or 3;
• m is 1 or 2;
• the metal-ligand complex has 6 or fewer metal-ligand bonds;
• each Y is independently selected from oxygen or sulfur;
• each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C1-C50)heterohydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C4-C50)heteroaryl, —Si(RC)3, —Ge(RC)3, —P(RP)2, —N(RN)2, —ORC, —SRC, —NO2, —CN, —CF3, RCS(O)—, —P(O)(RP)2, RCS(O)2—, (RC)2C═N—, RCC(O)O—, RCOC(O)—, RCC(O)N(R)—, (RC)2NC(O)—, halogen, and —H;
• each R2 is independently chosen from (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C1-C50)heterohydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C4-C50)heteroaryl, —Si(RC)3, and or —Ge(RC)3;
• for each individual ring containing groups z1 and z2, each of z1 and z2 is independently selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, —N(RR)—, ═N—, and —C(RR)—, provided that at least one of z1 or z2 is —C(RR)—;
• each A is independently chosen from -z3-z4-z5- or —C(R3)C(R4)C(R5)C(R6)—, where:
• each of z3, z4, and z5 is selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, —N(RR)—, and —C(RR)—, provided that exactly one of z3, z4, or z5 is —C(RR)— or that exactly two of z3, z4, or z5 are —C(RR)—;
• and
• each R3, R4, R5, and R6 is independently chosen from (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C1-C50)heterohydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C4-C50)heteroaryl, —Si(RC)3, —Ge(RC)3, —P(RP)2, —N(RN)2, —ORC, —SRC, —NO2, —CN, —CF3, RCS(O)—, RCS(O)2—, (RC)2C═N—, RCC(O)O—, RCOC(O)—, RCC(O)N(R)—, (RC)2NC(O)—, halogen, or —H;
• each RC, RN, and RP in formula (I) is independently a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl;
• and
• each RR is independently chosen from (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C1-C50)heterohydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C4-C50)heteroaryl, —Si(RC)3, —Ge(RC)3, —P(RP)2, —N(RN)2, —ORC, —SRC, —NO2, —CN, —CF3, RCS(O)—, RCS(O)2—, (RC)2C═N—, RCC(O)O—, RCOC(O)—, RCC(O)N(R)—, (RC)2NC(O)—, halogen, or —H, wherein any two RR groups bonded to neighboring atoms are optionally linked.