Polymerization catalysts for producing polymers with high comonomer incorporation

A process for manufacturing a product comprising a polyolefin, the process comprising:

• manufacturing a product at least a portion of which comprises a polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin is produced by a method comprising:
• contacting an α-olefin with a catalyst composition under polymerization conditions to form a polymer;
• wherein the catalyst composition comprises the contact product of an ansa-metallocene and an activator, wherein:
• the ansa-metallocene comprises a compound having the formula:
• (X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)M1, wherein:
• M1 comprises titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;
• X1 and X2 independently comprise a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;
• one substituent on X1 and X2 comprises a bridging group having the formula E(Cyc), wherein E is a carbon atom, a silicon atom, a germanium atom, or a tin atom, and E is bonded to both X1 and X2, and wherein Cyc is a substituted or an unsubstituted carbon chain of from 4 to 6 carbon atoms in length with each end connected to E to form a ring structure;
• one substituent on X1 or X2 comprises a substituted or an unsubstituted alkenyl group;
• X3 and X4 independently comprise:
• F, Cl, Br, or I;
• a hydrocarbyl group, H, or BH4;
• a hydrocarbyloxide group, a hydrocarbylamino group, or a trihydrocarbylsilyl group;
• OBRA2 or SO3RA, wherein RA is an alkyl group or an aryl group;
• and
• the activator comprises:
• an activator-support comprising a solid oxide treated with an electron-withdrawing anion, a layered mineral, an ion-exchangeable activator-support, or any combination thereof;
• an organoaluminoxane compound;
• an organoboron compound or an organoborate compound;
• or
• any combination thereof;
• and
• forming the polyolefin into a final product.

A method of making a catalyst composition, comprising:

• contacting an ansa-metallocene and an activator, wherein:
• the ansa-metallocene comprises a compound having the formula:
• (X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)M1, wherein:
• M1 comprises titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;
• X1 and X2 independently comprise a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;
• one substituent on X1 and X2 comprises a bridging group having the formula E(Cyc), wherein E is a carbon atom, a silicon atom, a germanium atom, or a tin atom, and E is bonded to both X1 and X2, and wherein Cyc is a substituted or an unsubstituted carbon chain of from 4 to 6 carbon atoms in length with each end connected to E to form a ring structure;
• one substituent on X1 or X2 comprises a substituted or an unsubstituted alkenyl group;
• X3 and X4 independently comprise:
• F, Cl, Br, or I;
• a hydrocarbyl group, H, or BH4;
• a hydrocarbyloxide group, a hydrocarbylamino group, or a trihydrocarbylsilyl group;
• OBRA2 or SO3RA, wherein RA is an alkyl group or an aryl group;
• and
• the activator comprises:
• an activator-support comprising a solid oxide treated with an electron-withdrawing anion, a layered mineral, an ion-exchangeable activator-support, or any combination thereof;
• an organoaluminoxane compound;
• an organoboron compound or an organoborate compound;
• or
• any combination thereof.