Phosphinimine/heteroatom catalyst component
AssigneeNOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
InventorsStephen John Brown, Xiaoliang Gao, Qinyan Wang, Peter Zoricak, Rupert Edward von Haken Spence, Wei Xu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Organometallic complexes having a phosphinimine ligand, a (non-phosphinimine) heteroligand and at least one activatable ligand are catalyst components for olefin polymerization. Preferred polymerization systems are prepared by combining the organometallic complexes with an ionic activator and/or an alumoxane. Preferred catalyst components contain Ti, Zr or Hf and are activated with an ionic activator to provide ethylene polymerization catalysts.
Claims19
A catalyst component for olefin polymerization which is an unbridged organometallic complex described by the formula:
- ##STR23## wherein M is a metal selected from group 3-10 metals;
- PI is a phosphinimine ligand defined by the formula:
- ##STR24## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of (a) a hydrogen atom, (b) a halogen atom, (c) C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbyl radicals which are unsubstituted by or further substituted by a halogen atom, (d) a C.sub.1-8 alkoxy radical, (e) a C.sub.6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, (f) an amido radical, (g) a silyl radical of the formula:
- --Si--(R.sup.2).sub.3
- wherein each R.sup.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C.sub.1-8 alkyl or alkoxy radical, C.sub.6-10 aryl or aryloxy radicals, and (h) a germanyl radical of the formula:
- Ge--(R .sup.2).sub.3
- wherein R2 is as defined above;
- H is a heteroligand characterized by (a) containing a heteroatom selected from N, S, B, O or P, and (b) being bonded to M through a sigma or pi bond with the proviso that H is not a phosphinimine ligand as defined above;
- L is an activatable ligand;
- n is 1, 2 or 3 depending upon the valence of M with the proviso that L is not a cyclopentadienyl, indenyl or fluorenyl ligand.
A process for the polymerization of ethylene and optionally, a minor amount of at least one additional alpha olefin having from three to ten carbon atoms, characterized in that said process is conducted in the presence of:
- (a) a catalyst component for olefin polymerization which is an unbridged organometallic complex described by the formula:
- ##STR26## wherein M is a metal selected from group 3-10 metals;
- PI is a phosphinimine ligand defined by the formula:
- ##STR27## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of (a) a hydrogen atom, (b) a halogen atom, (c) C.sub.1-20 hydrocarbyl radicals which are unsubstituted by or further substituted by a halogen atom, (d) a C.sub.1-8 alkoxy radical, (e) a C.sub.6-10 aryl or aryloxy radical, (f) an amido radical, (g) a silyl radical of the formula:
- --Si--(R.sup.2).sub.3
- wherein each R.sup.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a C.sub.1-8 alkyl or alkoxy radical, C.sub.6-10 aryl or aryloxy radicals, and (h) a germanyl radical of the formula:
- Ge--(R.sup.2).sub.3
- wherein R.sup.2 is as defined above;
- H is a heteroligand characterized by (a) containing a heteroatom selected from N, S, B, O or P, and (b) being bonded to M through a sigma or pi bond with the proviso that H is not a phosphinimine ligand as defined above;
- L is an activatable ligand;
- n is 1, 2 or 3 depending upon the valence of M with the proviso that L is not a cyclopentadienyl, indenyl or fluorenyl ligand;
- and
- (b) an activator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.