Bidentate biarylphenoxy group iv transition metal catalysts for olefin polymerization with chain transfer agents

A process of polymerizing olefins, the process comprising contacting ethylene, a (C3-C40)alpha-olefin comonomer, and a solvent in the presence of a chain transfer agent and a catalyst system, the catalyst system comprising a metal-ligand complex according to formula (I):

• where
• M is a metal chosen from titanium, zirconium, or hafnium, the metal having a formal oxidation state of +2, +3, or +4;
• each X is a monodentate or bidentate ligand independently chosen from 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;
• m is 1 or 2;
• the metal-ligand complex has 6 or fewer metal-ligand bonds;
• each Y is independently selected from 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;
• each R2 is independently chosen from (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C1-C50)heterohydrocarbyl, (C6-C50)aryl, (C4-C50)heteroaryl, —Si(RC)3, and —Ge(RC)3;
• each A is independently chosen from -z3-z4-z5- or —C(R3)C(R4)C(R5)C(R6)—, where:
• z3, z4, and z5 are selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, —N(RA)—, and —C(RA)—, provided that exactly one of z3, z4, or z5 is —C(RA)— or that exactly two of z3, z4, or z5 are —C(RA)—;
• and
• R3, R4, R5, and R6 are independently chosen from (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, (C1-C50)heterohydrocarbyl, halogen, or —H;
• each B is independently chosen from -z6-z7- or —C(R7)C(R8)C(R9)—, where:
• z6 and z7 are selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, —N(RB)—, and —C(RB)—, provided that z6 and z7 are not both —C(RB)—;
• and
• R7, R8, and R9 are independently chosen from (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, or —H;
• each RA is independently chosen from (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, or —H, wherein any two RA groups bonded to neighboring atoms are optionally linked;
• each RB is independently chosen from (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, or —H, wherein any two RB groups bonded to neighboring atoms are optionally linked;
• and
• each RC, RN, and RP in formula (I) is independently a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl;