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 titanium, zirconium, or hafnium having a formal oxidation state of +2, +3, or +4;
• each X is a monodentate or bidentate ligand independently selected from the group consisting of unsaturated (C2-C50)hydrocarbon, unsaturated (C2-C50)heterohydrocarbon, (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C6-C50)heteroaryl, cyclopentadienyl, substituted cyclopentadienyl, (C4-C12)diene, halogen, —N(RN)2, and —NCORC;
• n is 1, 2, or 3;
• the metal-ligand complex has 6 or fewer metal-ligand bonds;
• each Y is independently 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;
• Q is (C2-C12)alkylene, (C2-C12)heteroalkylene, (C6-C50)arylene, (C4-C50)heteroarylene, (—CH2Si(RC)2CH2—), (—CH2CH2Si(RC)2CH2CH2—), (—CH2Ge(RC)2CH2—), or (—CH2CH2Ge(RC)2CH2CH2—);
• 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 selected from the group consisting of -z3-z4-z5- and —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 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)—, RCS(O)2—, (Rc)2C═N—, RCC(O)O—, RCOC(O)—, RCC(O)N(R)—, (Rc)2NC(O)—, halogen, and —H;
• each RC, RN, and RP in formula (I) is independently a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl;
• and
• each RR 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)—, RCS(O)2—, (RC)2C═N—, RCC(O)O—, RCOC(O)—, RCC(O)N(R)—, (RC)2NC(O)—, halogen, and —H, wherein any two RR groups bonded to neighboring atoms are optionally linked.