Catalyst system

1 . A supported catalyst system comprising:

(i) a metallocene complex;

(ii) a cocatalyst system comprising a boron containing cocatalyst and a methylaluminoxane cocatalyst; and

(iii) an inorganic porous support;

wherein the metallocene complex is of formula (I):

wherein

each X independently is a sigma-donor ligand;

L is —R′ 2 Si—, and each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl, or C 6 -aryl group;

each Ar independently is a phenyl ring or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaryl ring;

each R 1 is bonded to a carbon and independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

each R 2 independently is a CHR 8′ —R 8 group, with R 8 being H, or a linear or branched C 1-6 -alkyl group, and R 8′ is H or a C 1-6 alkyl;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, a C 7-20 -arylalkyl group, a C 7-20 -alkylaryl group, or C 6 -C 20 -aryl group;

R 4 is a C(R 9 ) 3 group, with each R 9 independently being a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 5 and R 6 are both hydrogen, or R 5 and R 6 taken together form a 5 membered saturated carbon ring;

R 7 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, or an aryl or heteroaryl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms optionally substituted by one to three groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

wherein the boron containing cocatalyst is either of formula (B) or a borate containing an anion of formula (C):

BY 3   (B)

(Z) 4 B—  (C)

wherein

each Y independently is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl or haloaryl each having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and from 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or fluorine; or

Z is an optionally substituted phenyl derivative, said substituent being a halo-C1-6-alkyl or halo group, and as counterions protonated amine or aniline derivatives.

2 . The supported catalyst system of claim 1 , wherein the metallocene complex is of formula (II):

wherein

each X independently is a sigma-donor ligand;

L is —R′ 2 Si—, and each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl, or C 6 -aryl group;

each R 1 is bonded to a phenyl carbon and independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

each R 2 independently is a CHR 8′ —R 8 group, with R 8 being H or a linear or branched C 1-6 -alkyl group, and R 8′ is H or a C 1-6 alkyl;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, a C 7-20 arylalkyl group, a C 7-20 alkylaryl group, or a C 6 -C 20 -aryl group;

R 4 is a C(R 9 ) 3 group, with each R 9 independently being a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group;

R 5 and R 6 are both hydrogen, or R 5 and R 6 taken together form a 5 membered saturated carbon ring;

R 7 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, or an aryl or heteroaryl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms optionally substituted by one to 3 groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

3 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein in the formula (I) of the metallocene complex (i):

each X independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a linear, branched, or cyclic C 1-20 -alkyl or -alkoxy group, a C 6-20 -aryl group, a C 7-20 -alkylaryl group, or a C 7-20 -arylalkyl group;

each R 1 is independently hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

both R 2 are the same and are a CH 2 —R 8 group, with R 8 being H or linear or branched C 1 -C 4 -alkyl group;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group or C 6-20 -aryl group;

R 4 is a C(R 9 ) 3 group, with each R 9 independently being a linear or branched C 1 -C 4 -alkyl group;

R 5 and R 6 are both hydrogen, or R 5 and R 6 taken together form a 5 membered saturated carbon ring;

R 7 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group, or an aryl or heteroaryl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms optionally substituted by 1 to 3 groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently being hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

4 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein in formula (I) of the metallocene complex:

L is —R′ 2 Si—, wherein each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl, or C 6 -aryl group;

each Ar independently is a phenyl ring or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaryl ring;

each R 1 is independently hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

each R 2 independently is a CHR 8′ —R 8 group, with R 8 being H or a linear or branched C 1-6 -alkyl group, and R 8′ is H or a C 1-6 alkyl;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 5 and R 6 taken together form a 5 membered saturated carbon ring;

R 7 is a phenyl ring or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaryl ring optionally substituted by one to three groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

5 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 2 , wherein in formula (II) of the metallocene complex:

each X independently is a halogen atom, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkyl group, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkoxy group, a phenyl group, or a benzyl group,

L is or —R′ 2 Si—, wherein each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl or C 6 -aryl group;

each R 1 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

each R 2 independently is a CH 2 —R 8 group, with R 8 being H or a linear or branched C 1-6 -alkyl group;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 5 and R 6 are each hydrogen, or R 5 and R 6 taken together form a 5 membered saturated carbon ring;

R 7 is a phenyl group optionally substituted by one to 3 groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

6 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 2 , wherein in formula (II) of the metallocene complex:

each X independently a halogen atom, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkyl group, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkoxy group, a phenyl group, or a benzyl group;

L is —R′ 2 Si—, wherein each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl, or C 6 -aryl group;

each R 1 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

each R 2 is methyl;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 5 and R 6 taken together form a 5 membered saturated carbon ring;

R 7 is a phenyl group optionally substituted by one to 3 groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

7 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the metallocene complex is of formula (X):

wherein

each X independently is a halogen atom, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkyl group, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkoxy group, a phenyl group, or benzyl group;

L is —R′ 2 Si—, wherein each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl, or C 6 -aryl group;

each R 1 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

each R 2 independently is a CH 2 —R 8 group, with R 8 being H or a linear or branched C 1-6 -alkyl group;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 4 is a C(R 9 ) 3 group, with each R 9 independently being a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group;

R 7 is a phenyl group optionally substituted by one to 3 groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

8 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the metallocene complex is of formula (XI):

wherein

each X independently is a halogen atom, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkyl group, a linear or branched C 1-4 -alkoxy group, a phenyl group, or benzyl group;

L is —R′ 2 Si—, wherein each R′ is independently a C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5-6 -cycloalkyl, or C 6 -aryl group;

each R 1 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 3 is a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group;

R 4 is a C(R 9 ) 3 group, with each R 9 independently being a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 alkyl group;

R 7 is a phenyl group optionally substituted by one to 3 groups R 11 ; and

each R 11 independently is hydrogen, or a linear or branched C 1 -C 6 -alkyl group.

9 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 8 , wherein in formula (XI) of the metallocene complex L is -Me 2 Si—.

10 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the metallocene complex (i) is selected from the group consisting of:

rac-anti-dimethylsilanediyl[2-methyl-4-(3′,5′-tert-butylphenyl)-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-s-indacen-1-yl][2-methyl-4-(3′,5′-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-methoxy-6-tert-butylinden-1-yl]zirconium dichloride,

rac-anti-dimethylsilanediyl[2-methyl-4,8-bis-(4′-tert-butylphenyl)-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-s-indacen-1-yl][2-methyl-4-(3′,5′-dimethyl-phenyl)-5-methoxy-6-tert-butylinden-1-yl]zirconium dichloride,

rac-anti-dimethylsilanediyl[2-methyl-4,8-bis-(3′,5′-dimethylphenyl)-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-s indacen-1-yl][2-methyl-4-(3′,5′-dimethylphenyl)-5-methoxy-6-tert-butylinden-1-yl]zirconium dichloride, and

rac-anti-dimethylsilanediyl[2-methyl-4,8-bis-(3′,5′-dimethylphenyl)-1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-s-indacen-1-yl][2-methyl-4-(3′,5′-ditert-butyl-phenyl)-5-methoxy-6-tert-butylinden-1-yl]zirconium dichloride.

11 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the boron containing cocatalyst is:

triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate,

N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate,

N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, or

N,N-dimethylbenzylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

12 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the metallocene complex, the boron containing cocatalyst, and the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst are each provided in an amount such that the molar ratio of boron in the boron containing cocatalyst to the Zirconium in the complex of formula (I) is in the range of 0.1:1 to 10:1 mol/mol, and the molar ratio of aluminum in the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst to the zirconium in the complex of formula (I) is in the range of 1:1 to 2000:1 mol/mol.

13 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the inorganic porous support has an average particle size of from 10 to 100 m, an average pore size of from 10 to 100 nm, a pore volume of from 1 to 3 mL/g, or a combination thereof.

14 . The supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst system can contain from 10 to 100 mol of zirconium per gram of the inorganic porous support and from 5 to 10 mmol of Al per gram of the inorganic porous support.

15 . A process for preparing the supported catalyst system according to claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of:

a) reacting the inorganic porous support with a first portion of the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst in a first suitable hydrocarbon solvent, with optional subsequent drying, to obtain a methylaluminoxane cocatalyst treated support,

b) reacting the metallocene complex with a second portion of the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst in a second suitable hydrocarbon solvent,

c) adding the boron containing cocatalyst to the solution obtained in step b) to obtain a solution of the metallocene complex, boron containing cocatalyst, and methylaluminoxane cocatalyst,

whereby the boron containing cocatalyst is added in an amount such that a boron/zirconium molar ratio is in the range of 0.1:1 to 10:1,

d) adding the solution obtained in step c) to the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst treated support obtained in step a) wherein the first portion of the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst added in step a) is 75.0 to 97.0 wt % of the total amount of the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst, and the second portion of the methylaluminoxane cocatalyst added in step b) is 3.0 to 25.0 wt % of the total amount of methylaluminoxane cocatalyst; and

e) after step d), drying the supported catalyst system.

16 . A process for the preparation of a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer, the process comprising:

(I) polymerizing propylene in bulk in the presence of the supported catalyst system as claimed in claim 1 to form a polypropylene homopolymer matrix; and

(II) in the presence of said polypropylene homopolymer matrix and said supported catalyst system, polymerizing propylene and ethylene in the gas phase to form a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer comprising a homopolymer matrix and an ethylene propylene rubber.

17 . A process for the preparation of a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer, the process comprising:

(I) polymerizing propylene in bulk in the presence of the supported catalyst system as claimed in claim 1 to form a polypropylene homopolymer;

(II) in the presence of said polypropylene homopolymer and said supported catalyst system, polymerizing propylene in the gas phase to form a polypropylene homopolymer matrix; and

(III) in the presence said polypropylene homopolymer matrix and said supported catalyst system, polymerizing propylene and ethylene in the gas phase to form a heterophasic polypropylene copolymer comprising a homopolymer matrix and an ethylene propylene rubber (EPR).