Bis(2-indenyl) metallocene complex

1. A metallocene complex according to the following formula (1)

wherein

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are independently a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched, hydrocarbyl group comprising 1 to 30 carbon atoms;

M is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium; and

X 1 and X 2 are the same and are halogen or a hydrocarbyl group comprising 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

2. The metallocene complex according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, phenyl, 1-indenyl, 2-indenyl or R 1 and R 2 form a ring together with the carbon atom to which they are bound to form a 5 or 6-membered ring which may be substituted or unsubstituted.

3. The metallocene complex according to claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are the same.

4. The metallocene complex according to claim 3 , wherein R 1 and R 2 are n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, or n-hexyl.

5. The metallocene complex according to claim 1 , wherein M is Ti.

6. The metallocene complex according to claim 1 , wherein X 1 and X 2 are Cl.

7. The metallocene complex according to claim 1 , wherein the metallocene complex is present on a support.

8. A process for the preparation of a metallocene complex of claim 1 , comprising

a. transforming 2-bromoindene to the corresponding Grignard reagent 2-indenylMgBr;

b. reacting 2-indenylMgBr with tri-n-butyltin chloride to give (2-C 9 H 7 )Sn(n-butyl) 3 ;

c. reacting (2-C 9 H 7 )Sn(n-butyl) 3 with Br 2 C═CR 1 R 2 under Pd catalyzed conditions to form ligand precursors;

d. creating anions of the ligand precursors with sodium hexamethyldisilazine; and

e. reacting the anion of the ligand precursor with (Me 2 N) 2 MCl 2 , wherein M is titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr) or hafnium (Hf) and thereafter with trimethylsilylchloride, to yield a metallocene complex according to claim 1 .

9. A process for the preparation of olefin polymers by polymerizing at least one olefin in the presence of the metallocene complex of claim 1 and a cocatalyst.

10. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the metallocene complex of claim 1 is disposed on a support.

11. The process according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one olefin is ethylene.

12. The process according to claim 9 , wherein a combination of ethylene and at least one other olefin is used.

13. The process according to claim 11 , wherein the other olefin is 1-butene, 1-hexene, or 1-octene.

14. The process according to claim 9 , wherein an organoaluminum cocatalyst is present.