Self-assembled olefin polymerization catalyst

A self-assembled olefin polymerization catalyst having a linear or macrocyclic structure, comprising a transition metal compound according to formula (I)

• LqMmXn (I)
• wherein
• M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Sm, Yb and mixtures thereof;
• X is independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, CN, optionally substituted N(Ra)2, OH, optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C1-C20 alkoxy, wherein Ra is independently selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted C6-C20 aryl and halogen;
• q is an integer of at least 2;
• m is an integer of at least 2;
• n is an integer making (I) electrically neutral;
• L is independently a ligand which has at least two linked coordination units,
• wherein each coordination unit binds to a different transition metal atom, and
• wherein said ligand L has the following formula (II)
• wherein
• each WY unit forms a coordination unit, wherein WY is
• r is an integer of at least 2;
• Z is a bridging spacer selected from the group consisting of bis-linkers, tri-linkers, tetrakis-linkers, multi-linkers having five or more than five linking sites, and macro polymeric multi-linkers, wherein Z has a size, length and angle so that each coordination units WY binds to a different transition metal;
• and wherein the his-linker is selected from the group consisting of
• wherein the tri-linker is selected from the group consisting of
• wherein the tetrakis-linker is selected from the group consisting of
• wherein R1 to R20 may be the same or different and are each selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C2-C20 alkenyl, optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C2-C20 alkynyl, optionally substituted C6-C20 aryl, optionally substituted C6-C20 heteroaryl, halogen, OH, NO2, and CN, wherein two or more of R1 to R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring, and s is an integer from 1 to 20.

A compound according to the following formula (II)

• wherein
• each WY unit forms a coordination unit, wherein WY is
• r is an integer of at least 2;
• Z is a bridging spacer selected from the group consisting of bis-linkers, tri-linkers, tetrakis-linkers, multi-linkers having five or more than five linking sites, and macro polymeric multi-linkers, wherein Z has a size, length and angle so that each coordination unit WY may bind to different transition metal atom;
• and wherein the bis-linker is selected from the group consisting of,
• wherein the tri-linker is selected from the group consisting of
• wherein the tetrakis-linker is selected from the group consisting of
• wherein R1 to R20 may be the same or different and are each selected from the group consisting of H, optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1-C20 alkyl, optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C2-C20 alkenyl, optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C2-C20 alkynyl, optionally substituted C6-C20 aryl, optionally substituted C6-C20 heteroaryl, halogen, OH, NO2, and CN, wherein two or more of R1 to R7 may be bonded to each other to form a ring;
• and s is an integer from 1 to 20.