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

A catalyst precursor that is a pyridyldiamido transition metal complex or a quinolinyldiamido transition metal complex and that, when combined with an activator and a feed comprising ethylene, C3 to C12 a-olefins, and a dual-polymerizable diene, yields a branched ethylene-a-olefin diene elastomer (b-EDE), wherein the pyridyldiamido transition metal complex or the quinolinyldiamido transition metal complex is 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 a bicyclic hydrocarbyl comprising a C6 aromatic cyclic portion and a C4 to C6 saturated cyclic portion.

An activated catalyst formed by combining a catalyst precursor with an activator, wherein the catalyst precursor is a pyridyldiamido transition metal complex or a quinolinyldiamido transition metal complex 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 a bicyclic hydrocarbyl comprising a C6 aromatic cyclic portion and a C4 to C6 saturated cyclic portion.