Boron-based electron donors for Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems

1. A solid pre-catalyst component comprising: titanium, magnesium, a halogen, an internal electron donor comprising boron, and a secondary internal electron donor;

wherein:

the internal electron donor comprising boron is a compound represented by Formula (I):

B(OR 1 )R 2 R 3   (I)

each R 1 is individually H, linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, or heteroaryl, optionally interrupted or substituted by one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of ether, ester, amide, carbonate, halogens, phosphate, sulfate, sulfide, sulfoxide, sulfone, carbamate, and a combination of any two or more thereof;

R 2 and R 3 are individually linear or branched alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, optionally interrupted or substituted by one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of ether, ester, amide, carbonate, halogens, phosphate, sulfate, sulfide, sulfoxide, sulfone, carbamate, and a combination of any two or more thereof, or OR 1 , or R 2 and R 3 may join together and with the boron atom to form a borinane ring; and

the secondary internal electron donor is (6-benzoyloxydibenzofuran-4-yl) benzoate.

2. The solid pre-catalyst component of claim 1 , wherein the titanium comprises a titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond and the internal electron donor is supported on a magnesium halide crystal lattice.

3. The solid pre-catalyst component of claim 1 , wherein the titanium comprises a titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond and the internal electron donor is supported on a magnesium dichloride crystal lattice.

4. The solid pre-catalyst component of claim 1 , wherein the titanium comprises TiCl 4 .

5. The solid pre-catalyst component of claim 1 , wherein the internal electron donor comprises dimethylphenyl boronate.

6. A catalyst system for use in olefinic polymerization, the catalyst system comprising the solid pre-catalyst component of claim 1 , and an organoaluminum compound.

7. A process of polymerizing or co-polymerizing an olefin monomer, the process comprising:

providing a catalyst system comprising:

the solid pre-catalyst component of claim 1 ; and

an organoaluminum compound;

polymerizing or co-polymerizing the olefin monomer in the presence of the catalyst system to form a polymer or a co-polymer; and

recovering the polymer or the co-polymer.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the olefin monomer is a mixture of olefin monomers to form a co-polymer and the co-polymer is a random co-polymer, a terpolymer, or an impact co-polymer.