Processes for controlling the viscosity of polyalphaolefins
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a process for forming a polyalphaolefin, the process comprising the step of polymerizing at least one C 8 -C 12 monomer, preferably a decene such as 1-decene, in the presence of an aluminoxane, an activator and a metallocene to form the polyalphaolefin, wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene is less than 250:1. The invention also relates to a process for forming a polyalphaolefin having a desired kinematic viscosity from at least one monomer in the presence of an aluminoxane, an organoboron compound and a metallocene. The process comprises the steps of, inter alia, providing a correlation between (i) the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to at least one of the organoboron compound and the metallocene, and (ii) the kinematic viscosity of the polyalphaolefin to form polyalphaolefins having predictable viscosities.
1. A process for forming a polyalphaolefin, the process comprising the step of polymerizing at least one C 8 -C 12 monomer in the presence of an aluminoxane, an activator and a metallocene to form the polyalphaolefin, wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene is less than 250:1.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the monomer is 1-decene.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene is less than 100:1.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene is less than 25:1.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the activator comprises an organoboron compound, and the molar ratio of the organoboron compound to the metallocene is from 1:0.5 to 1:1.5.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the polyalphaolefin has a kinematic viscosity less than 500 centiStokes.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the polyalphaolefin has a kinematic viscosity less than 400 centiStokes.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the polyalphaolefin has a kinematic viscosity less than 300 centiStokes.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metallocene is a compound of the formula:
(Cp 1 R 1 m )R 3 (Cp 2 R 2 p )MX q
wherein Cp 1 of ligand (Cp 1 R 1 m ) and Cp 2 of ligand (Cp 2 R 2 p ) are the same or different cyclopendadienyl rings;
R 1 and R 2 each is, independently, a hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, heterocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl substituted organometalloid group containing up to 20 carbon atoms;
m is an integer from 0 to 5;
p is an integer from 0 to 5;
two R 1 and/or R 2 substituents on adjacent carbon atoms of the cyclopentadienyl ring associated therewith can be joined together to form a ring fused to the cyclopentadienyl ring, the fused ring containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms;
R 3 is a bridging group bridging Cp 1 and Cp 2 ;
M is a transition metal having a valence of from 3 to 6;
each X is a non-cyclopentadienyl ligand and is, independently, halogen or a hydrocarbyl, oxyhydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid, oxyhydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl-substituted organometalloid group containing up to 20 carbon atoms; and
q is equal to the valence of M minus 2.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the metallocene catalyst is a catalyst selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethylene(indenyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-methyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-ethyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-propyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-butyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(2,4-dimethylcyclo-pentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclo-pentadienyl)(3′-tert-butyl-5′-methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)(2′,4′,5′-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)(3′-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexylmethylene(2-methylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)(2,4,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(3-methylcyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolyisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-diethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(triethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butyl-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; and dicyclohexylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the aluminoxane is methylaluminoxane.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the activator comprises an organoboron compound selected from the group consisting of lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(trifluoromethylphenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(3,5-di(tri-fluoromethyl)phenyl)borate, sodium tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate, potassium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, magnesium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, titanium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tin tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomer further comprises propene.
14. A process for forming a polyalphaolefin, the process comprising the step of polymerizing at least one C 8 -C 12 monomer in the presence of an aluminoxane, an organoboron compound, and a metallocene to form the polyalphaolefin, wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 125:1.
15. The process of claim 14 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 50:1.
16. The process of claim 14 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 25:1.
17. The process of claim 14 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 12.5:1.
18. A process for forming a polyalphaolefin having a desired kinematic viscosity of less than 500 cSt at 100° C. using ASTM D-445 from at least one C 8 -C 12 monomer in the presence of an aluminoxane, a metallocene, and an organoboron compound, the process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a correlation between (i) the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene, and (ii) the kinematic viscosity of the polyalphaolefin;
(b) determining, from the correlation, a target molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene that will yield a desired kinematic viscosity of the polyolefin;
(c) forming a reaction mixture comprising the at least one monomer, the aluminoxane, the metallocene and optionally the organoboron compound, wherein the relative ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene in the reaction mixture corresponds to the target molar ratio; and
(d) polymerizing the at least one monomer in the reaction mixture to form the polyalphaolefin having the desired kinematic viscosity.
19. The process of claim 18 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 250:1.
20. The process of claim 18 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 100:1.
21. The process of claim 18 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 25:1.
22. The process of claim 18 , wherein the target molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound is less than 250:1.
23. The process of claim 18 , wherein the target molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound is less than 100:1.
24. The process of claim 18 , wherein the target molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound is less than 25:1.
25. The process of claim 18 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 125:1.
26. The process of claim 18 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 50:1.
27. The process of claim 18 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the organoboron compound and the metallocene is less than 12.5:1.
28. The process of claim 18 , wherein the molar ratio of the organoboron compound to the metallocene is from 0.3:1 to 4:1.
29. The process of claim 18 , wherein the molar ratio of the organoboron compound to the metallocene is from 0.6:1 to 2:1.
30. The process of claim 18 , wherein the desired kinematic viscosity is less than 400 centiStokes.
31. The process of claim 18 , wherein the desired kinematic viscosity is less than 300 centiStokes.
32. The process of claim 18 , wherein the metallocene is a compound of the formula:
(Cp 1 R 1 m )R 3 (Cp 2 R 2 p )MX q
wherein Cp 1 of ligand (Cp 1 R 1 m ) and Cp 2 of ligand (Cp 2 R 2 p ) are the same or different cyclopendadienyl rings;
R 1 and R 2 each is, independently, a hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, heterocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl substituted organometalloid group containing up to 20 carbon atoms;
m is an integer from 0 to 5;
p is an integer from 0 to 5;
two R 1 and/or R 2 substituents on adjacent carbon atoms of the cyclopentadienyl ring associated therewith can be joined together to form a ring fused to the cyclopentadienyl ring, the fused ring containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms;
R 3 is a bridging group bridging Cp 1 and Cp 2 ;
M is a transition metal having a valence of from 3 to 6;
each X is a non-cyclopentadienyl ligand and is, independently, halogen or a hydrocarbyl, oxyhydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid, oxyhydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl-substituted organometalloid group containing up to 20 carbon atoms; and
q is equal to the valence of M minus 2.
33. The process of claim 18 , wherein the metallocene catalyst is a catalyst selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethylene(indenyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-methyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-ethyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-propyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-butyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(2,4-dimethylcyclo-pentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclo-pentadienyl)(3′-tert-butyl-5′-methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)(2′,4′,5′-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)(3′-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexylmethylene(2-methylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride: diphenylsilyl(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)(2,4,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(3-methylcyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butyl-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; and dicyclohexylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride.
34. The process of claim 18 , wherein the aluminoxane is an alkylaluminoxane.
35. The process of claim 18 , wherein the aluminoxane is triisobutylaluminoxane.
36. The process of claim 18 , wherein the aluminoxane is methylaluminoxane.
37. The process of claim 18 , wherein the organoboron compound is selected from the group consisting of lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(trifluoromethylphenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(3,5-di{tri-fluoromethyl}phenyl)borate, sodium tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate, potassium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, magnesium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, titanium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tin tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
38. The process of claim 18 , wherein the C 3 -C 12 monomer is 1-decene.
39. The process of claim 18 , wherein the at least one monomer further comprises propene.
40. A process for forming a polyalphaolefin having a desired kinematic viscosity of less than 500 cSt at 100° C. using ASTM D-445 from at least one C 8 -C 12 monomer in the presence of an aluminoxane, a metallocene, and an organoboron compound, the process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a correlation between (i) the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the metallocene and the organoboron compound, and (ii) the kinematic viscosity of the polyalphaolefin;
(b) determining, from the correlation, a target molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the metallocene and the organoboron compound that will yield a desired kinematic viscosity of the polyolefin;
(c) forming a reaction mixture comprising the at least one monomer, the aluminoxane, the metallocene and the organoboron compound, wherein the relative molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the combination of the metallocene and the organoboron compound in the reaction mixture corresponds to the target molar ratio; and
(d) polymerizing the at least one monomer in the reaction mixture to form the polyalphaolefin having the desired kinematic viscosity.
41. The process of claim 40 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 125:1.
42. The process of claim 40 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 50:1.
43. The process of claim 40 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 25:1.
44. The process of claim 40 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 12.5:1.
45. The process of claim 40 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the metallocene is less than 100:1.
46. The process of claim 40 , wherein the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound is less than 100:1.
47. The process of claim 40 , wherein the molar ratio of the organoboron compound to the metallocene is from 0.6:1 to 2:1.
48. The process of claim 40 , wherein the desired kinematic viscosity is less than 300 centiStokes.
49. The process of claim 40 , wherein the metallocene is a compound of the formula:
(Cp 1 R 1 m )R 3 (Cp 2 R 2 p )MX q
wherein Cp 1 of ligand (Cp 1 R 1 m ) and Cp 2 of ligand (Cp 2 R 2 p ) are the same or different cyclopendadienyl rings;
R 1 and R 2 each is, independently, a hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, heterocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl substituted organometalloid group containing up to 20 carbon atoms;
m is an integer from 0 to 5;
p is an integer from 0 to 5;
two R 1 and/or R 2 substituents on adjacent carbon atoms of the cyclopentadienyl ring associated therewith can be joined together to form a ring fused to the cyclopentadienyl ring, the fused ring containing from 4 to 20 carbon atoms;
R 3 is a bridging group bridging Cp 1 and Cp 2 ;
M is a transition metal having a valence of from 3 to 6;
each X is a non-cyclopentadienyl ligand and is, independently, halogen or a hydrocarbyl, oxyhydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid, oxyhydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl-substituted organometalloid group containing up to 20 carbon atoms; and
q is equal to the valence of M minus 2.
50. The process of claim 40 , wherein the metallocene catalyst is a catalyst selected from the group consisting of diphenylmethylene(indenyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-methyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-ethyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-butyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(3-butyl-cyclopentadienyl-9-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(2-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(2,4-dimethylcyclo-pentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclo-pentadienyl)(3′-tert-butyl-5′-methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)(2′,4′,5′ trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3,5′-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(2-methyl-4-tert-butylcyclopentadienyl)(3′-tert-butyl-5-methylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dixylylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethyl-cyclopenta dienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylmethyl ene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexylmethylene(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dicyclohexylmethylene(2-methylcyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)(3′,5′-dimethyl-cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; diphenylsilyl(2,3,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)(2,4,5-trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(3-methylcyclopentadienyl)(indenyl)zirconium dichloride; tetraphenyldisilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(trimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(3,4-dimethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; di-o-tolylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(triethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; dibenzylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(2,7-di-t-butyl-fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride; and dicyclohexylsilyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride.
51. The process of claim 40 , wherein the aluminoxane is methylaluminoxane.
52. The process of claim 40 , wherein the organoboron compound is selected from the group consisting of lithium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(trifluoromethylphenyl)borate, lithium tetrakis(3,5-di{tri-fluoromethyl}phenyl)borate, sodium tetrakis(pentafluoro-phenyl)borate, potassium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, magnesium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, titanium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tin tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.
53. The process of claim 40 , wherein the C 8 -C 12 monomer is 1-decene.
54. The process of claim 40 , wherein the at least one monomer further comprises propene.
55. A process for forming a polyalphaolefin having a desired kinematic viscosity of less than 500 cSt at 100° C. using ASTM D-445 from at least one C 8 -C 12 monomer in the presence of an aluminoxane, a metallocene, and an organoboron compound, the process comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a correlation between (i) the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound, and (ii) the kinematic viscosity of the polyalphaolefin;
(b) determining, from the correlation, a target molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound that will yield a desired kinematic viscosity of the polyolefin;
(c) forming a reaction mixture comprising the at least one monomer, the aluminoxane, the metallocene and the organoboron compound, wherein the relative molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the organoboron compound in the reaction mixture corresponds to the target molar ratio; and
(d) polymerizing the at least one monomer in the reaction mixture to form the polyalphaolefin having the desired kinematic viscosity.
56. The process of claim 55 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 250:1.
57. The process of claim 55 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 100:1.
58. The process of claim 55 , wherein the target molar ratio is less than 25:1.