Ionic liquids for heterogenising metallocene catalysts

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for preparing an heterogeniseded catalyst component comprising the steps of: a) providing a halogenated precursor component of formula (I) —X—[—CH2]—CH3 b) reacting the halogenated precursor with an ionic liquid precursor in a solvent to prepare an ionic liquid; IL+X− c) optionally, reacting the intermediate IL+X− with a salt C+A−, wherein C+ is a cation that can be selected from K+, Na+, NH4+, and A− is an anion that can be selected from PF6−, SbF6−, BF4−, (CF3—SO2)2N−CIO4—, CF3SO3−, NO3— or CF3CO2−. d) using the ionic liquid prepared in step b) to heterogenise a metallocene component of formula (II) R″(CpRm)(Cp′Rn)MQ2 wherein Cp and C′p are independently selected from substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl groups M is a metal selected from Group 4 of the Periodic Table, R″ is a structural bridge imparting stereorigidity between Cp and Cp′ and Q is a halogen or an alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; e) heterogenising the ionic liquid/metal system by addition of an apolar solvent inducing the precipitation reaction; f) retrieving a metallocene catalyst component heterogenised by an ionic liquid. It also discloses an active catalyst system hetero genised by an ionic liquid and its use in the polymerisation of olefins.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.