Catalyst component comprising a metallocene with two tetrahydroindenyl ligands for producing a polyolefin
View Patent ↗Provided is a catalyst component for producing a polyolefin, which catalyst component comprises a metallocene catalyst having a structure according to formula (I): (THI) 2 R″MQ p , wherein each THI is a tetrahydroindenyl derivative which may be substituted or unsubstituted, provided that at least one of the tetrahydroindenyl derivatives is substituted at the 2-position or the 4-position; R″ is a structural bridge to impart stereorigidity between the two THI groups; M is a metal from Group IIIB, IVB, VB or VIB; Q is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1–20 carbon atoms, or a halogen; and p is the valence of M minus 2.
1. A catalyst component comprising a metallocene compound having a structure defined by the formula:
(THI) 2 R″MQ p (1)
wherein each THI is a tetrahydroindenyl group and at least one of the THI groups is substituted at the 2- and the 4-position, the substituent at the 4-position having a greater bulk than that or the substituent at the 2-position, R″ is a 1.1′-ethylidene or 1.2′-ethylidene structural bridge extending between the two THI groups, M is a metal selected from Group IIIB, IVB, VB or VIB metals, Q is selected from hydrocarbyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, halogen atoms or combinations thereof and p is the valence of M minus 2 wherein the catalyst component is a heterogenous catalyst component.
2. The catalyst compound of claim 1 , wherein both of the THI groups are substituted.
3. A catalyst component according to claim 2 , wherein both of the THI groups have the same pattern of substitution.
4. A catalyst component according to claim 1 , wherein the substituents on the THI groups are independently selected from Ph, Bz, Naph, Ind, BzInd, Me, Et, n-Pr, I-Pr, n-Bu, t-Bu, or Me 3 Si.
5. A catalyst component according to claim 4 , wherein the substituents comprise methyl groups at the 2-position an a member selected from phenyl groups at the 4-position naphthyl groups at the 4-position, or benzindenyl groups at the 4,5-position.
6. A catalyst component according to claim 1 , wherein M is Ti, Zr, Hf, or V.
7. A catalyst component according to claim 6 , wherein Q is Cl.
8. A catalyst component according to claim 7 , wherein p is 2.
9. A catalyst component according to claim 1 , wherein the metallocene compound is immobilized on a solid support.
10. A catalyst system comprising a catalyst component as defined in claim 1 , and further comprising an aluminum- or boron-containing co-catalyst.
11. A process for producing a polyolefin comprising:
providing a catalyst system comprising a metallocene catalyst component having a structure defined by the formula:
(THI) 2 R″MQ p (1)
wherein each THI is a tetrahydroindenyl group and each one of the THI groups is substituted at the 2- and the 4-position, the substituent at the 4-position having a greater bulk than that of the substituent at the 2-position, R″ is a 1.1′-ethylidene or 1.2′-ethylidene structural bridge extending between the two THI groups, M is a metal selected from Group IIIB, IVB, VB or VIB metals, Q is selected from hydrocarbyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, halogen atoms or combinations thereof and p is the valence of M minus 2 wherein the catalyst component is a heterogenous catalyst component, and an aluminum- or boron-containing co-catalyst that activates the catalyst component, wherein the catalyst system is adapted to provide heterogenous polymerization;
contacting the catalyst system with an olefin monomer in a polymerization reaction zone under polymerization conditions to form a polyolefin product; and
withdrawing said polyolefin product from said polymerization reaction zone.
12. A process for producing a polyolefin comprising:
providing a catalyst system comprising a metallocene catalyst component having a structure defined by the formula:
(THI) 2 R″MQ p (1)
wherein each THI is a tetrahydroindenyl group and each one of the THI groups is substituted at the 2- and the 4-position, the substituent at the 4-position having a greater bulk than that of the substituent at the 2-position and wherein both of the THI groups have the same pattern of substitution, R″ is a 1.1′-ethylidene or 1.2′-ethylidene structural bridge extending between the two THI groups, M is a metal selected from Group IIIB, IVB, VB or VIB metals, Q is selected from hydrocarbyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, halogen atoms or combinations thereof and p is the valence of M minus 2 wherein the catalyst component heterogenous catalyst component, and an aluminum- or boron-containing co-catalyst that activates the catalyst component;
contacting the catalyst system with an olefin monomer in a polymerization reaction zone under polymerization conditions to form a polyolefin product; and
withdrawing said polyolefin product from said polymerization reaction zone.
13. The process of claim 12 , wherein said metallocene catalyst is immobilized on a solid support.
14. A process according to claim 12 , wherein the olefin monomer is ethylene or propylene and said polyolefin product is polyethylene or polypropylene.
15. A process according to claim 14 wherein said catalyst system comprises a second metallocene catalyst component as defined by formula (1) to provide a dual site catalyst system and wherein said polyolefin product comprises a multimodal polyolefin.
16. The process of claim 15 wherein said olefin monomer is ethylene and said polyolefin product is multimodal polyethylene.