Active non-metallocene pre-catalyst and method for tactic catalytic polymerization of alpha-olefin monomers

Abstract

An active non-metallocene pre-catalyst featuring a diamine diphenolate complex and a corresponding method for catalytic polymerization, in general, and, tactic catalytic polymerization, in particular, of alpha-olefin monomers using the disclosed pre-catalyst. General formulas of the non-metallocene diamine diphenolate pre-catalyst are [{OR5R6R7R8(C6)1(CHR3)NR1YNR2(CHR4)(C6)2R9R10R11R12O}MX1X] and [{OR5R6R7R8(C6)1(CHR3)NR1YNR2(CHR4)(C6)2R9R10R11R12O}MX3], where M is a metal atom covalently bonded to each oxygen atom, O, and, bonded to each nitrogen atom, N, with varying degrees of covalency and coordination; X1 and X2 are each a univalent anionic ligand covalently bonded to the metal atom; X3 is a single univalent or a divalent anionic ligand covalently bonded to the metal atom; R1 and R2 are each a univalent radical covalently bonded to a different one of the two nitrogen atoms; R3 is a univalent radical covalently bonded to the carbon atom of the —CHR3— of the (C6)1—CHR3—N— bridging unit; R4 is a univalent radical covalently bonded to the carbon atom of the —CHR4— of the —N—CHR4—(C6)2 bridging unit; R5 through R8 are each a univalent radical covalently bonded to a different carbon atom in the first aromatic group, (C6)1; R9 through R12 are each a univalent radical covalently bonded to a different carbon atom in the second aromatic group, (C6)2; and, Y is a divalent radical covalently bonded to and bridging between the two nitrogen atoms. The diamine diphenolate pre-catalyst, when activated by a co-catalyst under mild reaction conditions, is active for isotactic (isospecific) and living polymerization of a variety of alpha-olefin monomers, such as 1-hexene, for forming poly(alpha-olefin) products, such as poly(1-hexene), having classifiable degree of tacticity, high molecular weight and low molecular weight distribution.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.