Use of a metallocene catalyst to produce a polyalpha-olefin

A process comprising:

• homo-oligomerization of olefin monomers by contacting the olefin monomers and a racemic bridged metallocene catalyst comprising a metallocene compound (A) and an activator component (B) in the presence of hydrogen;
• and
• recovering an effluent containing polyalpha-olefins (PAOs), wherein the polyalpha-olefins (PAOs) have a kinematic viscosity of from 2 to 50 cSt, as measured according to ASTM D445 at 100° C. and a molecular weight (Mw) of 30,000 Da or less;
• wherein the metallocene compound (A) is represented by the formula
• R(Cp1)(Cp2)MX1X2;
• wherein R is ethylene (—CH2—CH2—), 1-methyl-ethylene (—CH(CH3)—CH2), n-propylene (—CH2—CH2—CH2—), 2-methylpropylene (—CH2—CH(CH3)—CH2—), 3-methylpropylene (—CH2—CH2—CH(CH3)—), n-butylene (—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH2—), 2-methylbutylene (—CH2—CH(CH3)—CH2—CH2—), 4-methylbutylene (—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH(CH3)—), pentylene and its chain isomers, hexylene and its chain isomers, heptylene and its chain isomers, octylene and its chain isomers, nonylene and its chain isomers, decylene and its chain isomers, undecylene and its chain isomers, dodecylene or its chain isomers;
• wherein Cp1 and Cp2 are the same or different substituted or unsubstituted tetrahydroindenyl rings;
• wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and hafnium;
• wherein X1 and X2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydride radicals, hydrocarbyl radicals, substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, halocarbyl radicals, substituted halocarbyl radicals, silylcarbyl radicals, substituted silylcarbyl radicals, germylcarbyl radicals, and substituted germylcarbyl radicals;
• or wherein both X1 and X2 are joined and bound to the metal atom to form a metallacycle ring containing from 3 to 20 carbon atoms.

A process comprising:

• contacting olefin monomers and a racemic bridged metallocene catalyst comprising a metallocene compound (A) and an activator component (B) at a temperature of 80° C. to 150° C. in the presence of hydrogen;
• and
• recovering an effluent containing polyalpha-olefins (PAOs), wherein the polyalpha-olefins (PAOs) have a kinematic viscosity of from 2 to 50 cSt, as measured according to ASTM D445 at 100° C. and a molecular weight (Mw) of 30,000 Da or less;
• wherein the metallocene compound (A) is represented by the formula
• R(Cp1)(Cp2)MX1X2;
• wherein R is ethylene (—CH2—CH2—), 1-methyl-ethylene (—CH(CH3)—CH2), n-propylene (—CH2—CH2—CH2—), 2-methylpropylene (—CH2—CH(CH3)—CH2—), 3-methylpropylene (—CH2—CH2—CH(CH3)—), n-butylene (—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH2—), 2-methylbutylene (—CH2—CH(CH3)—CH2—CH2—), 4-methylbutylene (—CH2—CH2—CH2—CH(CH3)—), pentylene and its chain isomers, hexylene and its chain isomers, heptylene and its chain isomers, octylene and its chain isomers, nonylene and its chain isomers, decylene and its chain isomers, undecylene and its chain isomers, dodecylene or its chain isomers;
• wherein Cp1 and Cp2 are the same or different substituted or unsubstituted tetrahydroindenyl rings;
• wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and hafnium;
• wherein X1 and X2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydride radicals, hydrocarbyl radicals, substituted hydrocarbyl radicals, halocarbyl radicals, substituted halocarbyl radicals, silylcarbyl radicals, substituted silylcarbyl radicals, germylcarbyl radicals, and substituted germylcarbyl radicals;
• or wherein both X1 and X2 are joined and bound to the metal atom to form a metallacycle ring containing from 3 to 20 carbon atoms.