Process for controlling molecular weight of polyolefins prepared using pyridyl diamide catalyst systems

A catalyst system comprising optionally an activator, dialkyl aluminum oxide scavenger and a pyridyldiamido transition metal complex represented by the formula (I) or (II):

• wherein:
• M is a Group 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 metal;
• R1 and R11 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, and silyl groups;
• R2 and R10 are each, independently, -E(R12)(R13)— with E being carbon, silicon, or germanium, and each R12 and R13 being independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, halogen, and phosphino, R12 and R13 may be joined to form a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 4, 5, 6, or 7 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, or R12 and R13 may be joined to form a saturated heterocyclic ring, or a saturated substituted heterocyclic ring where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R3 & R4 and/or R4 & R5) may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• R6, R7, R8, R9, R15, and R16 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R6 & R7, and/or R7 & R15, and/or R16 & R15, and/or R8 & R9) may be joined to form a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• L is an anionic leaving group, where the L groups may be the same or different and any two L groups may be linked to form a dianionic leaving group;
• n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• L′ is neutral Lewis base;
• w is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• and
• wherein n+w is no greater than 4.

A catalyst system comprising an activator, dialkylaluminum oxide scavenger and a pyridyldiamido transition metal complex represented by the formula (I) or (II):

• wherein:
• M is a Group 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 metal;
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, and silyl groups;
• R11 is a phenyl group substituted at the 2 position and which is not substituted at the 3, 5, and/or 6 positions provided that the 4 position can be substituted with a group 17 element or a C1-C20 alkyl group;
• R2 and R10 are each, independently, -E(R12)(R13)— with E being carbon, silicon, or germanium, and each R12 and R13 being independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, halogen, and phosphino, R12 and R13 may be joined to form a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl ring, where the ring has 4, 5, 6, or 7 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings, or R12 and R13 may be joined to form a saturated heterocyclic ring, or a saturated substituted heterocyclic ring where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R3 & R4 and/or R4 & R5) may be joined to form a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• R6, R7, R8, R9, R15, and R16 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyls, substituted hydrocarbyls, alkoxy, halogen, amino, and silyl, and wherein adjacent R groups (R6 & R7, and/or R7 & R15, and/or R16 & R15, and/or R8 & R9) may be joined to form a saturated, substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or heterocyclic ring, where the ring has 5, 6, 7, or 8 ring carbon atoms and where substitutions on the ring can join to form additional rings;
• L is an anionic leaving group, where the L groups may be the same or different and any two L groups may be linked to form a dianionic leaving group;
• n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• L′ is neutral Lewis base;
• w is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• and
• wherein n+w is no greater than 4.