Supported single-site catalysts useful for olefin polymerization

A method which comprises:

• (a) deprotonating a carbazole in the presence of a C1-C5 alkyllithium compound to produce an anionic ligand precursor;
• (b) reacting the anionic ligand precursor with about 0.5 equivalents of zirconium tetrachloride or titanium tetrachloride at a temperature greater than about 10° C. in the presence of a first hydrocarbon solvent to produce a biscarbazolyl complex-containing mixture;
• (c) reacting the mixture with a methyl alumoxane activator;
• (d) combining the product from step (c) with a slurry of silica in a second hydrocarbon solvent;
• and
• (e) removing the solvents to give a solid, supported catalyst that is useful for polymerizing olefins.

A method which comprises:

• (a) deprotonating a compound selected from the group consisting of indoles, carbazoles, 8-quinolinols, 2-pyridinols, and mixtures thereof to produce an anionic ligand precursor;
• (b) reacting the anionic ligand precursor with about 0.5 equivalents of a Group 4 transition metal compound of the formula ZMX3 wherein M is a Group 4 transition metal, Z is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, and fluorenyl, and X is one or more anionic ligands selected from the group consisting of halide, hydride, C1-C20 alkoxy, siloxy, dialkylamido, or hydrocarbyl, in the presence of a first hydrocarbon solvent to produce an organometallic complex-containing mixture;
• (c) reacting the mixture with an alumoxane activator;
• (d) combining the product from step (c) with a slurry of an inorganic support in a second hydrocarbon solvent;
• and
• (e) removing the solvents to give a solid, supported catalyst that is useful for polymerizing olefins.