Organometal compound catalyst

1. A polymerization process comprising contacting at least one monomer and a catalyst composition comprising a contact product of at least one organometal compound, at least one organoaluminum compound, and at least one treated solid oxide compound under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer, wherein

the at least one organometal compound has the following general formula:

(X 1 )(X 2 )(X 3 )(X 4 )M 1

wherein M 1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;

wherein (X 1 ) is independently a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;

wherein substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyls, substituted indenyls, and substituted fluorenyls of (X 1 ) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, silicon, phosphorous, boron, germanium or hydrogen;

wherein at least one substituent on (X 1 ) can be a bridging group which connects (X 1 ) and (X 2 );

wherein (X 3 ) and (X 4 ) are independently halides, 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;

wherein (X 2 ) 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 an aliphatic group and a cyclic group, a combination of a substituted aliphatic group and a cyclic group, a combination of an aliphatic group and a substituted cyclic group, a combination of a substituted aliphatic group and a substituted cyclic group, 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;

wherein substituents on (X 2 ) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, silicon, phosphorous, boron, germanium or hydrogen; and

wherein at least one substituent on (X 2 ) can be a bridging group which connects (X 1 ) and (X 2 );

the at least one organoaluminum compound has the following general formula:

A1(X 5 ) n (X 6 ) 3-n

wherein (X 5 ) is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms;

wherein (X 6 ) is a halide, hydride, or alkoxide; and

wherein “n” is a number from 1 to 3 inclusive; and

the at least one treated solid oxide compound comprises at least one halogen, titanium, and at least one solid oxide compound;

wherein the at least one halogen is chlorine, bromine, or fluorine; and

wherein the at least one solid oxide compound is alumina, aluminophosphate, aluminosilicate, aluminoborate, silica-titania, silica-zirconia, or any mixture thereof.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerization conditions comprise slurry polymerization conditions.

3. A process according to claim 2 , wherein the contacting is conducted in a loop reaction zone.

4. A process according to claim 3 , wherein the contacting is conducted in the presence of a diluent that comprises, in major part, isobutane.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein at least one monomer is ethylene.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein at least one monomer comprises ethylene and an aliphatic 1-olefin having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms per molecule.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein polymerization is conducted in the presence of a chlorocarbon activation compound in a reactor zone.

8. A polymer produced in accordance with the process of claim 1 .

9. An article that comprises the polymer produced according to claim 1 .

10. A polymerization process comprising contacting at least one monomer and a catalyst composition comprising a contact product of at least one organometal compound, at least one organoaluminum compound, and at least one treated solid oxide compound under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer, wherein

the at least one organometal compound has the following general formula:

(X 1 )(X 2 )(X 3 )(X 4 )M 1

wherein M 1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;

wherein (X 1 ) is independently a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;

wherein substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyls, substituted indenyls, and substituted fluorenyls of (X 1 ) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, silicon, phosphorous, boron, germanium or hydrogen;

wherein at least one substituent on (X 1 ) can be a bridging group which connects (X 1 ) and (X 2 );

wherein (X 3 ) and (X 4 ) are independently halides, 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;

wherein (X 2 ) 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 an aliphatic group and a cyclic group, a combination of a substituted aliphatic group and a cyclic group, a combination of an aliphatic group and a substituted cyclic group, a combination of a substituted aliphatic group and a substituted cyclic group, 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;

wherein substituents on (X 2 ) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, silicon, phosphorous, boron, germanium or hydrogen; and

wherein at least one substituent on (X 2 ) can be a bridging group which connects (X 1 ) and (X 2 );

the at least one organoaluminum compound has the following general formula:

A1(X 5 ) n (X 6 ) 3-n

wherein (X 5 ) is a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms;

wherein (X 6 ) is a halide, hydride, or alkoxide; and

wherein “n” is a number from 1 to 3 inclusive; and

the at least one treated solid oxide compound comprises at least one halogen, titanium, at least one additional metal, and at least one solid oxide compound;

wherein the at least one halogen is chlorine, bromine, or fluorine;

wherein the at least one solid oxide compound is alumina, aluminophosphate, aluminosilicate, aluminoborate, silica-titania, silica-zirconia, or any mixture thereof; and

wherein the at least one additional metal is zinc, silver, copper, antimony, gallium, tin, nickel, tungsten, or any mixture thereof.

11. A process according to claim 1 , wherein:

(X 1 ) and (X 2 ) independently are a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl, and wherein each substituent on the substituted cyclopentadienyl, the substituted indenyl, or the substituted fluorenyl, independently is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, amyl, isoamyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, 2-ethylhexyl, pentenyl, butenyl, or phenyl; and

(X 3 ) and (X 4 ) independently are a halide or a methyl group.

12. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one organometal compound is bis(cyclopentadienyl)hafnium dichloride; bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; 1,2-ethanediylbis(η 5 -1-indenyl)di-n-butoxyhafnium; 1,2-ethanediylbis(η 5 -1-indenyl)dimethylzirconium; 3,3-pentanediylbis(η 5 -4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)hafnium dichloride; methylphenylsilylbis(η 5 -4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; bis(η-butylcyclopentadienyl)bis(di-t-butylamido)hafnium; bis(η-butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dimethylsilylbis(1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; octylphenylsilylbis(1-indenyl)hafnium dichloride; dimethylsilylbis(η 5 -4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dimethylsilylbis(2-methyl-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; 1,2-ethanediylbis(9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; indenyl diethoxy titanium(IV) chloride; (isopropylamidodimethylsilyl)cyclopentadienyltitanium dichloride; bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; bis(indenyl) zirconium dichloride; methyloctylsilyl bis (9-fluorenyl) zirconium dichloride; or bis-[1-N,N-diisopropylamino)boratabenzene]hydridozirconium trifluoromethylsulfonate.

13. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one organoaluminum compound is trimethylaluminum; triethylaluminum; tripropylaluminum; tributylaluminum; or triisobutylaluminum.

14. A process according to claim 6 , wherein the aliphatic 1-olefin is 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, or a combination thereof.

15. A polymerization process comprising contacting at least one monomer and a catalyst composition comprising a contact product of at least one organometal compound, at least one organoaluminum compound, and at least one treated solid oxide compound under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer, wherein

the at least one organometal compound has the following general formula:

(X 1 )(X 2 )(X 3 )(X 4 )M 1

wherein M 1 is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;

wherein (X 1 ) is independently a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl;

wherein substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyls, substituted indenyls, and substituted fluorenyls of (X 1 ) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, silicon, phosphorous, boron, germanium or hydrogen;

wherein at least one substituent on (X 1 ) can be a bridging group which connects (X 1 ) and (X 2 );

wherein (X 3 ) and (X 4 ) are independently halides, 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;

wherein (X 2 ) 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 an aliphatic group and a cyclic group, a combination of a substituted aliphatic group and a cyclic group, a combination of an aliphatic group and a substituted cyclic group, a combination of a substituted aliphatic group and a substituted cyclic group, 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;

wherein substituents on (X 2 ) are aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, silicon, phosphorous, boron, germanium or hydrogen; and

wherein at least one substituent on (X 2 ) can be a bridging group which connects (X 1 ) and (X 2 );

the at least one organoaluminum compound is trimethylaluminum; triethylaluminum; tripropylaluminum; tributylaluminum; or triisobutylaluminum; and

the at least one treated solid oxide compound comprises at least one halogen, titanium, and at least one solid oxide compound;

wherein the at least one halogen is chlorine or fluorine; and

wherein the at least one solid oxide compound is alumina or silica-alumina.

16. A process according to claim 15 , wherein:

(X 1 ) and (X 2 ) independently are a cyclopentadienyl, an indenyl, a fluorenyl, a substituted cyclopentadienyl, a substituted indenyl, or a substituted fluorenyl, and wherein each substituent on the substituted cyclopentadienyl, the substituted indenyl, or the substituted fluorenyl, independently is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, tert-butyl, isobutyl, amyl, isoamyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, dodecyl, 2-ethylhexyl, pentenyl, butenyl, or phenyl; and

(X 3 ) and (X 4 ) independently are a halide or a methyl group.

17. A process according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one treated solid oxide compound further comprises at least one additional metal, and wherein the at least one additional metal is zinc, silver, copper, antimony, gallium, tin, nickel, tungsten, or any mixture thereof.

18. A process according to claim 15 , wherein the polymerization conditions comprise slurry polymerization conditions.

19. A process according to claim 15 , wherein at least one monomer is ethylene.

20. A process according to claim 15 , wherein at least one monomer comprises ethylene and an aliphatic 1-olefin having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms per molecule.