Catalysts containing at least one heterocyclic ligand for improving the catalysts' performance of olefin polymerization

A catalyst comprising a complex having Formula II:

• 20
• wherein
• M is a metal selected from Groups 3 to 10 or the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, C6-10 aryl, C7-15 aralkyl, C1-10 alkoxy, C1-10 alkylamino, or C2-20 dialkylamino each of these groups optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, C1-4 alkoxy, or C1-4 alkyl;
• Y is a heteroatom capable of attaching to M;
• and
• La and Lb are each independently an anionic or neutral ligand wherein La and Lb are optionally bridged together with an alkylene or heteroalkylene.

An olefin polymerization process, the process comprising:

• 1) mixing in a reaction vessel a solvent, an activator and a catalyst having formula I:
• 21
• wherein
• M is a metal selected from Groups 3 to 10 or the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, C6-10 aryl, C7-15 aralkyl, C1-10 alkoxy, C1-10 alkylamino, or C2-20 dialkylamino each of these groups optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, C1-4 alkoxy, or C1-4 alkyl;
• Y is a heteroatom capable of attaching to M;
• and
• La and Lb are each independently an anionic or neutral ligand wherein La and Lb are optionally bridged together with an alkylene or heteroalkylene;
• and
• 2) introducing an olefin into the reaction vessel, wherein at least two molecules of the olefin are coupled together.

A process for preparing a catalyst having Formula I:

• 22
• the process comprising reacting a compound with Formula A:
• 23
• with a compound having Formula B or Formula D:
• 24
• wherein
• M is a metal selected from Groups 3 to 10 or the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, C6-10 aryl, C7-15 aralkyl, C1-10 alkoxy, C1-10 alkylamino, or C2-20 dialkylamino each of these groups optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, C1-4 alkoxy, or C1-4 alkyl;
• Z is Li, Na, or K;
• and
• Y is a heteroatom capable of attaching to M;
• La and Lb are each independently an anionic or neutral ligand wherein La and Lb are optionally bridged together with an alkylene or heteroalkylene.

A process for preparing a compound having Formula I:

• 25
• the processing comprising, reacting a compound with Formula C:
• 26
• with a compound having Formula B:
• 27
• wherein
• M is a metal selected from Groups 3 to 10 or the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table;
• R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are independently hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, C6-10 aryl, C7-15 aralkyl, C1-10 alkoxy, C1-10 alkylamino, or C2-20 dialkylamino each of these groups optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, C1-4 alkoxy, or C1-4 alkyl;
• Y is a heteroatom capable of attaching to M;
• and
• La and Lb are each independently an anionic or neutral ligand wherein La and Lb are optionally bridged together with an alkylene or heteroalkylene.

A process for preparing a compound having Formula I:

• 28
• the processing comprising, reacting a compound with Formula A:
• 29
• with a compound having Formula B′:
• 30
• wherein
• M is a metal selected from Groups 3 to 10 or the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table;
• Ar is substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon having a least one phenyl;
• Y is a heteroatom capable of attaching to M;
• and
• La and Lb are each independently an anionic or neutral ligand wherein La and Lb are optionally bridged together with an alkylene or heteroalkylene.