Bidentate diimine nickel and palladium complexes and polymerization catalysts obtained therefrom

A process for preparing a catalyst component comprising the following steps;

• (a) reacting, under anhydrous conditions and an inert atmosphere, a solution comprising at least one complex of a bidentate diimino ligand with a support material at a temperature between −20° C. and 90° C. to yield a product;
• (b) filtering and washing the product of step (a) with a solvent, wherein the solvent is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof;
• wherein the complex is represented by the formula:
• wherein:
• M is nickel or palladium;
• n is 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• m is 1, 2, or 3;
• each X, equal to or different from each other, is selected from a group consisting of:
• halogen, hydrogen, OR, N(R2), and R;
• wherein R is selected from the group consisting of:
• C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl;
• wherein two X's taken together can also form an aromatic or aliphatic divalent ligand containing two equal or different donor atoms belonging to groups 14 16 of the periodic table of the elements;
• each R1, equal to or different from each other, is selected from the group consisting of:
• hydrogen, a monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group, each hydrocarbon group optionally containing heteroatoms of groups 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements or boron;
• with the proviso that at least one R1 group is represented by the formula
• R4OSi(R7)3;
• wherein:
• each R7, equal to or different trait each other, is selected from the group consisting of:
• C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C7-C20 arylalkyl, C7-C20 alkylaryl, C8-C20 arylalkenyl, and C8-C20 alkenylaryl;
• each R4, equal to different from each other, is a divalent aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally containing from 1 to 5 heteroatoms of groups 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and boron;
• each R2, equal to or different from each other, is a radical which contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
• R2 optionally contains heteroatoms of groups 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and/or boron;
• each R3, equal to or different from each other, is hydrogen or a radical which contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms;
• R3 optionally contains heteroatoms of groups 14 to 16 of the periodic table of elements and/or boron;
• two or more R1, R2, R3, and R4 can also unite to form a from 4 to 15 membered aliphatic or aromatic ring, the ring optionally containing heteroatoms of groups 14 to 16 of the periodic table of the elements and/or boron.