Tethered supported transition metal complex

1. A supported metal complex comprising the reaction product of:

(A) a transition metal complex of a polyvalent heteroaryl donor ligand containing at least one ortho-metallated aromatic ligand group, and

(B) an ethylenically or poly(ethylenically) functionalized particulated organic or inorganic solid.

2. A supported metal complex according to claim 1 wherein the particulated solid is silica modified by reaction with a trialkylaluminum compound and further functionalized by reaction with an ethylenically unsaturated compound containing protonated Lewis base functionality.

3. A supported metal complex according to claim 2 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound containing protonated Lewis base functionality is a hydroxyl, thiol, amine or phosphine functionalized compound containing vinyl functionality.

4. A supported metal complex according to claim 2 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound containing protonated Lewis base functionality is an ethylenically or polyethylenically unsaturated primary aliphatic alcohol, thiol, amine, or phosphine containing from 3 to 20 carbons.

5. A supported metal complex according to claim 1 wherein the metal complex is a cationic complex or is activated for polymerization of olefins by combination with a cocatalyst prior to combination with the particulated solid.

6. A supported metal complex according to claim 1 wherein the metal complex is a Group 4 metal complex.

7. A supported metal complex according to claim 3 wherein the metal complex is [[2,6-bis(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-α-[2-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-6-(1,2-naphthalendiyl-κ-C 2 )-2-pyridinemethanaminato (2-)-κN 1 ,κN 2 ]methyl hafnium] + [tris(pentafluorophenyl)methyl borate] − .

8. An addition polymerization process comprising contacting one or more addition polymerizable monomers under addition polymerization conditions with a supported metal complex of claim 1 .

9. A supported catalyst composition useful for the addition polymerization of addition polymerizable monomers, said composition comprising a transition metal complex of a polyvalent heteroaryl donor ligand, and a functionalized particulated organic or inorganic solid, wherein the transition metal complex is covalently bound to the particulated solid by means of addition of ethylenic functional groups of the solid to one or more ortho-metal-aryl bonds of the transition metal complex.

10. A supported catalyst composition according to claim 9 wherein the particulated solid is silica modified by reaction with a trialkylaluminum compound and further functionalized by reaction with an ethylenically unsaturated compound containing protonated Lewis base functionality.

11. A supported catalyst composition according to claim 10 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound containing Lewis base functionality is a hydroxyl, thiol, amine or phosphine functionalized compound containing vinyl functionality.

12. A supported catalyst composition according to claim 10 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound containing Lewis base functionality is an ethylenically or polyethylenically unsaturated primary aliphatic alcohol, amine, thiol or phosphine containing from 3 to 20 carbons.

13. A supported catalyst composition according to claim 9 wherein the metal complex is a cationic complex or is activated for polymerization of olefins by combination with a cocatalyst.

14. A supported catalyst composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal complex is Group 4 metal complex.

15. A supported catalyst composition according to claim 13 wherein the metal complex is [[2,6-bis(1′-methylethyl)phenyl]-α-[2-(1′-methylethyl)phenyl]-6-(1,2-naphthalendiyl-κ-C 2 )-2-pyridinemethanaminato (2-)-κN 1 , κN 2 ]methyl hafnium] + [tris(pentafluorophenyl)methyl borate] − .