Ethylene-Alpha-Olefin-Diene Monomer Copolymers Obtained Using Transition Metal Bis(Phenolate) Catalyst Complexes and Homogeneous Process for Production Thereof

The process of Formula (1) where the catalyst compound represented by the Formula (II):

• wherein:
• M is a group 3, 4, 5, or 6 transition metal or a Lanthanide;
• E and E′ are each independently O, S, or NR9, where R9 is independently hydrogen, a C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, a C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, or a heteroatom-containing group;
• each L is independently a Lewis base;
• each X is independently an anionic ligand;
• n is 1, 2 or 3;
• m is 0, 1, or 2;
• n+m is not greater than 4;
• each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R1′, R2′, R3′, and R4′ is independently hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or one or more of R1 and R2, R2 and R3, R3 and R4, R1′ and R2′, R2′ and R3′, R3′ and R4′ may be joined to form one or more substituted hydrocarbyl rings, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl rings, substituted heterocyclic rings, or unsubstituted heterocyclic rings each having 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms, and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• any two L groups may be joined together to form a bidentate Lewis base;
• an X group may be joined to an L group to form a monoanionic bidentate group;
• any two X groups may be joined together to form a dianionic ligand group;
• each of R5, R6, R7, R8, R5′, R6′, R7′, R1′, R10, R11, and R12 is independently hydrogen, a C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, a C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or one or more of R5 and R6, R6 and R7, R7 and R8, R5′ and R6′, R6′ and R7′, R7′ and R8′, R10 and R11, or R11 and R12 may be joined to form one or more substituted hydrocarbyl rings, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl rings, substituted heterocyclic rings, or unsubstituted heterocyclic rings each having 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms, and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings.

A polymerization process comprising contacting in a homogeneous phase ethylene, a C3-C8 alpha olefin, and 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene with a catalyst system comprising an activator and group 4 bis(phenolate) catalyst compound, wherein the polymerization process takes place at a temperature of 70° C. or higher;

• and obtaining a polymer having:
• 1) 50 to 80 wt % ethylene
• 2) 1 to 20 wt % 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene;
• 3) a shear thinning ratio of greater than 60;
• 4) a phase angle @ complex modulus G*=500 kPa of 40° or less;
• and
• 5) a branching index, g′vis, of 0.94 or less.