Solution process for production of functionalized polyolefins

A process for solution copolymerization to obtain a functionalized polyolefin, the process comprising at least the following steps:

• a) a copolymerization step of copolymerizing at least one olefin monomer and at least one protected functionalized olefin monomer in the presence of a catalyst system, wherein the olefin monomer is represented by CHR1═CHR2, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the protected functionalized olefin monomer is a reaction product of a functionalized olefin monomer and a protecting agent during a protection step and the functionalized olefin monomer is represented by the structure according to Formula (I):
• wherein R3, R4, and R5 are each independently H or a hydrocarbyl with 1 to 16 carbon atoms,
• wherein R6—[X—(R7)n]m is a polar functional group containing m heteroatom-containing functionalities X—(R7)n, in which m is an integer between 1 and 10, X is an atom or group of atom selected from the list —O—, —S— or —CO2—, —N— and n is an entire number between 1 and 2 wherein
• when n is 1, X is —O—, —S— or —CO2— and R7 is H, or
• when n is 2, X is N and at least one R7 is H and the other R7 is H or a hydrocarbyl group with 1 to 16 carbon atoms, wherein R6 is either —C(R8)(R9)— or a plurality of —C(R8)(R9)— groups, wherein R8 and R9 are each independently of H or hydrocarbyl with 1 to 16 carbon atoms and R6 comprises 1 to 10 carbon atoms, wherein X is attached to either the main chain and/or side chain of R6,
• wherein R4 and R6 may together form a ring structure that is functionalized with one or multiple X—(R7)n,
• and wherein the catalyst system comprises:
• a metal—bis-phenolate based ligand complex according to general formula (A):
• wherein:
• M is a group 3, 4, 5, or 6 transition metal or a Lanthanide;
• A1 and A2 are each independently O, S, or NR20—, where R20 is independently hydrogen, C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, or a heteroatom-containing group:
• each of R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27, R28, R29, R30, R31 and R32 is independently hydrogen, a C1-C40 hydrocarbyl, a C1-C40 substituted hydrocarbyl, a heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing group, or one or more of R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27, R28, R29, R30, R31 and R32 may be joined to form one or more substituted hydrocarbyl rings, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl rings,
• Xn is a sigma-bonded ligand;
• and n is 1, 2 or 3, and
• a co-catalyst selected from MAO, DMAO, MMAO, SMAO or ammonium salts or trityl salts of fluorinated tetraarylborates, preferably MAO, MMAO, trityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate dimethylanilinium or tri (alkyl) ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate, and
• optionally, a scavenger selected from the group:
• trimethyl aluminum, triethyl aluminum, triisobutyl aluminum, trihexyl aluminum, or trioctyl aluminum, and optionally, a chain transfer agent selected from dihydrogen or AlR103, BR103 or ZnR102, where each R10 is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl;
• b) a deprotection step where the product obtained by step a) is treated with water or a Brønsted acid or base solution, capable to abstract the residue derived from the protecting agent from the protected functionalized olefin copolymer to obtain the functionalized polyolefin.