Organometal catalyst compositions

A catalyst composition comprising:

• a contact product of an organometal compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a treated solid oxide compound, the catalyst composition being substantially free of aluminoxane compounds and compounds selected from among N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, and triphenylcarbenium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate,
• wherein:
• the organometal compound has the following general formula:
• (X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)M1
• wherein:
• M1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;
• (X1) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;
• the substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted indenyl, and substituted fluorenyl of (X1) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• at least one substituent on (X1) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• (X3) and (X4) are independently halides, hydrides, aliphatic groups, substituted aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, substituted cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, amido groups, substituted amido groups, phosphido groups, substituted phosphido groups, alkyloxide groups, substituted alkyloxide groups, aryloxide groups, substituted aryloxide groups, organometallic groups, or substituted organometallic groups;
• (X2) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, a substituted fluorenyl, a halide, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, a cyclic group, a substituted cyclic group, a combination of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, an amido group, a substituted amido group, a phosphido group, a substituted phosphido group, an alkyloxide group, a substituted alkyloxide group, an aryloxide group, a substituted aryloxide group, an organometallic group, or a substituted organometallic group;
• the substituents on (X2) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• and
• at least one substituent on (X2) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• the organoaluminum compound has the following general formula:
• Al(X5)n(X6)3−n
• wherein:
• (X5) is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• (X6) is a halide, hydride, or alkoxide;
• and
• “n” is a number from 1 to 3 inclusive;
• and
• the treated solid oxide compound comprises fluorine, boron, and silica.

A catalyst composition comprising:

• a contact product of an organometal compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a treated solid oxide compound,
• wherein:
• the organometal compound has the following general formula:
• (X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)M1
• wherein:
• M1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;
• (X1) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;
• the substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted indenyl, and substituted fluorenyl of (X1) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• at least one substituent on (X1) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• (X3) and (X4) are independently halides, hydrides, aliphatic groups, substituted aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, substituted cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, amido groups, substituted amido groups, phosphido groups, substituted phosphido groups, alkyloxide groups, substituted alkyloxide groups, aryloxide groups, substituted aryloxide groups, organometallic groups, or substituted organometallic groups;
• (X2) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, a substituted fluorenyl, a halide, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, a cyclic group, a substituted cyclic group, a combination of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, an amido group, a substituted amido group, a phosphido group, a substituted phosphido group, an alkyloxide group, a substituted alkyloxide group, an aryloxide group, a substituted aryloxide group, an organometallic group, or a substituted organometallic group;
• the substituents on (X2) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• and
• at least one substituent on (X2) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• the organoaluminum compound has the following general formula:
• Al(X5)n(X6)3−n
• wherein:
• (X5) is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• (X6) is a halide, hydride, or alkoxide;
• and
• “n” is a number from 1 to 3 inclusive;
• the treated solid oxide compound comprises fluorine, boron, and silica;
• and
• the catalyst composition has a polymerization activity greater than 100 grams of polymer per gram of treated solid oxide compound per hour under slurry polymerization conditions, using isobutane as a diluent, with a polymerization temperature of 90° C., and an ethylene pressure of 550 psig, the catalyst composition being substantially free of aluminoxane compounds and compounds selected from among N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, and triphenylcarbenium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate.

A catalyst composition comprising:

• a contact product of an organometal compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a calcined treated solid oxide compound, the catalyst composition being substantially free of aluminoxane compounds and compounds selected from among N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, and triphenylcarbenium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate,
• wherein:
• the organometal compound has the following general formula:
• (X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)M1
• wherein:
• M1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;
• (X1) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;
• the substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted indenyl, and substituted fluorenyl of (X1) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• at least one substituent on (X1) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• (X3) and (X4) are independently halides, hydrides, aliphatic groups, substituted aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, substituted cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, amido groups, substituted amido groups, phosphido groups, substituted phosphido groups, alkyloxide groups, substituted alkyloxide groups, aryloxide groups, substituted aryloxide groups, organometallic groups, or substituted organometallic groups;
• (X2) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, a substituted fluorenyl, a halide, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, a cyclic group, a substituted cyclic group, a combination of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, an amido group, a substituted amido group, a phosphido group, a substituted phosphido group, an alkyloxide group, a substituted alkyloxide group, an aryloxide group, a substituted aryloxide group, an organometallic group, or a substituted organometallic group;
• the substituents on (X2) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• and
• at least one substituent on (X2) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• the organoaluminum compound has the following general formula:
• Al(X5)n(X6)3−n
• wherein:
• (X5) is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• (X6) is a halide, hydride, or alkoxide;
• and
• “n” is a number from 1 to 3 inclusive;
• the treated solid oxide compound comprises fluorine, boron, and a solid oxide compound;
• and
• the amount of boron in the treated solid oxide compound, prior to calcining, is in the range of about 0.1 to about 10 millimoles of boron per gram of treated solid oxide.

A catalyst composition comprising:

• a contact product of an organometal compound, an organoaluminum compound, and a calcined treated solid oxide compound,
• wherein:
• the organometal compound has the following general formula:
• (X1)(X2)(X3)(X4)M1
• wherein:
• M1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;
• (X1) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;
• the substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyl, substituted indenyl, and substituted fluorenyl of (X1) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• at least one substituent on (X1) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• (X3) and (X4) are independently halides, hydrides, aliphatic groups, substituted aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, substituted cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, amido groups, substituted amido groups, phosphido groups, substituted phosphido groups, alkyloxide groups, substituted alkyloxide groups, aryloxide groups, substituted aryloxide groups, organometallic groups, or substituted organometallic groups;
• (X2) is a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, a substituted fluorenyl, a halide, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, a cyclic group, a substituted cyclic group, a combination of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, a combination of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, a combination of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, an amido group, a substituted amido group, a phosphido group, a substituted phosphido group, an alkyloxide group, a substituted alkyloxide group, an aryloxide group, a substituted aryloxide group, an organometallic group, or a substituted organometallic group;
• the substituents on (X2) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, haloalkyl groups, halides, hydrogen, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, or organometallic groups, wherein the organometallic groups are substituted silyl derivatives, substituted tin groups, substituted germanium groups, or substituted boron groups;
• and
• at least one substituent on (X2) can be a bridging group which connects (X1) and (X2);
• the organoaluminum compound has the following general formula:
• Al(X5)n(X6)3−n
• wherein:
• (X5) is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms;
• (X6) is a halide, hydride, or alkoxide;
• and
• “n” is a number from 1 to 3 inclusive;
• the treated solid oxide compound comprises fluorine, boron, and a solid oxide compound;
• the amount of boron in the treated solid oxide compound, prior to calcining, is in the range of about 0.1 to about 10 millimoles of boron per gram of treated solid oxide;
• and
• the catalyst composition has a polymerization activity greater than 100 grams of polymer per gram of treated solid oxide compound per hour under slurry polymerization conditions, using isobutane as a diluent, with a polymerization temperature of 90° C., and an ethylene pressure of 550 psig, the catalyst composition being substantially free of aluminoxane compounds and compounds selected from among N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbenium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, and triphenylcarbenium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate.