Bridged bis(indenyl) transitional metal complexes, production, and use thereof

1. A transition metal complex for use in alkene polymerization represented by the formula (I):

wherein M 1 is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum and tungsten;

R 1 and R 2 are identical or different, and are each a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 10 alkoxy group, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group, a C 6 -C 10 aryloxy group, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 40 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, an OH group or a halogen atom, or a conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri (hydrocarbyl) silyl groups or tri (hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl groups, said diene having up to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen;

R 3 to R 7 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group or two or more adjacent radicals R 5 to R 7 together with the atoms of the indenyl group connecting them form one or more rings;

R 13 is —B(R 15 )—, —Al(R 15 )—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2-, —N(R 15 )—, —CO—, —P(R 15 )—, or —P(O)(R 15 )—, an amidoborane radical or meets one of the following:

wherein R 15 , R 16 , R 17 are identical or different and are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 20 fluoroalkyl or silaalkyl group, a C 6 -C 30 aryl group, a C 6 -C 30 fluoroaryl group, a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 20 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, or one R 15 and one R 16 , together with the atoms in R 13 connecting them, form a ring; M 2 is one or more of carbon, silicon, germanium or tin;

R 8 and R 12 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 3 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group;

R 9 and R 11 are identical or different and selected from C 2 -C 20 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 20 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 20 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 20 arylalkenyl group;

R 10 is selected from (XR′ n ) − , wherein X is a Group 14-17 heteroatom having an atomic weight of 13 to 79 and R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and

R 14 is an unsubstituted phenyl or a substituted phenyl, where the substituted phenyl is:

1) substituted at the 3′ and 5′ positions by radicals which are identical or different and selected from C 2 -C 20 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 20 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 20 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 20 arylalkenyl group, or

2) substituted at the 2-position by an R 3′ group, wherein R 3′ is a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R is one of a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

2. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

3. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is selected from —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

4. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is —SR′, —OR′, or —OSiR′ 3 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

5. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is —NR′ 2 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

6. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

7. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 9 and R 11 are each selected from the group consisting of n-butyl, iso-butyl, and tert-butyl groups and R 10 is OR′ wherein R′ is a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group.

8. A transition metal complex for use in alkene polymerization represented by the formula (II):

wherein M 1 is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten;

R 1 and R 2 are identical or different, and are each a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 10 alkoxy group, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group, a C 6 -C 10 aryloxy group, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 40 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, an OH group or a halogen atom, or a conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri (hydrocarbyl) silyl groups or tri (hydrocarbyl) silylhydrocarbyl groups, said diene having up to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen;

R 3 to R 7 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group or two or more adjacent radicals R 5 to R 7 together with the atoms of the indenyl group connecting them form one or more rings;

R 13 is —B(R 15 )—, —Al(R 15 )—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2-, —N(R 15 )—, —CO—, —P(R 15 )—, or —P(O)(R 15 )—, an amidoborane radical or meets one of the following:

wherein R 15 , R 16 , R 17 are identical or different and are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 20 fluoroalkyl or silaalkyl group, a C 6 -C 30 aryl group, a C 6 -C 30 fluoroaryl group, a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 20 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, or one R 15 and one R 16 , together with the atoms in R 13 connecting them form a ring, M 2 is one or more of carbon, silicon, germanium or tin;

each R 8 and R 12 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 3 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group;

each R 9 and R 11 are identical or different and are each a C 2 -C 20 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 20 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 20 alkylaryl group, or a C 8 -C 20 arylalkenyl group; and

each R 10 is individually selected from (XR′ n ) − , wherein X is a Group 14-17 heteroatom having an atomic weight of 13 to 79 and R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group and n is 0, 1 2, or 3.

9. The transition metal complex of claim 8 , wherein each R 10 is individually —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

10. The transition metal complex of claim 8 , wherein each R 10 is individually —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

11. The transition metal complex of claim 8 , wherein each R 10 is individually —SR′, —OR′, or —OSiR′ 3 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

12. The transition metal complex of claim 9 , wherein each R 10 is individually —NR′ 2 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

13. The transition metal complex of claim 8 , wherein each R 9 and each R 11 is selected from the group consisting of n-butyl, iso-butyl, and tert-butyl groups and each R 10 is OR′ wherein R′ is a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group.

14. The transition metal complex of claim 8 , wherein each R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are each a halogen atom;

wherein each R 3 are the same or different and are each a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group;

wherein each R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 are the same or different and are each a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 10 alkyl group; and

wherein each R 8 and R 12 are each a hydrogen atom; R 13 is —SiR″ 2 — wherein each R″ are the same or different and are each a hydrogen or methyl; wherein each R 9 and R 11 is a tert-butyl group; and wherein each R 10 is a methoxy group.

15. A catalyst system comprising an activator and the transition metal complex of claim 1 .

16. The catalyst system of claim 15 , wherein the activator comprises an alumoxane.

17. The catalyst system of claim 15 , wherein the activator comprises a non-coordinating anion.

18. A polymerization process comprising a) contacting one or more alkene monomers with a catalyst system comprising: i) an activator and ii) the transition metal complex of claim 1 .

19. The process of claim 18 , wherein the activator comprises an alumoxane.

20. The process of claim 18 , wherein the activator comprises a non-coordinating anion.

21. The process of claim 18 , wherein the one or more alkene monomers comprises propylene.

22. The process of claim 18 , wherein the catalyst compound is supported.

23. The process of claim 18 further comprising obtaining polymer.

24. The process of claim 23 , wherein the polymer comprises a polypropylene having a melting point of 152.0° C. to about 162.0° C., an M w 60,000 to 1,400,000 g/mol; and an Mw/Mn of 1.5 to 3.5.

25. A bridged bis(4-phenyl-indenyl) transition metal complex wherein:

at least one of the 4-phenyl rings being substituted at the 3′ and 5′ positions by radicals which are identical or different and selected from C 2 -C 20 alkyl groups which are optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 20 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 20 arylalkenyl group;

wherein both of the phenyl rings substituted at the 3′ and 5′ positions are also substituted at the 4′ position with a group of the formula (XR′ n ) − , wherein X is a Group 14-17 heteroatom having an atomic weight of 13 to 79 and R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and

optionally, wherein one or more of the remaining positions on the phenyl and/or indenyl ring(s) of the transition metal complex are substituted.

26. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is selected from hydrogen and cyclopropyl; each of R 9 and R 11 is selected from the group consisting of n-butyl, iso-butyl, and tert-butyl groups; and R 10 is a methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy, or t-butoxy group.

27. The process of claim 18 , wherein the one or more alkene monomers comprise ethylene and propylene.

28. The process of claim 23 , wherein both R 10 groups are the same or different group and are represented by the formula: (XR′ n ) − , wherein X is a Group 14, 15, 16 or 17 heteroatom having an atomic weight of 13 to 79 and R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, and the polymers produced using the transition metal complex have at least 20% higher Mw as compared to polymer produced by the same transition metal complex, except that both R 10 groups are hydrogen, combined with the same activator and polymerized under the same conditions with the same monomers.

29. The process of claim 28 , wherein the one or more alkene monomers comprise ethylene and propylene.

30. The process of claim 18 , wherein alkyl aluminum scavenger is present and the ratio of aluminum in alkyl aluminum scavenger to transition metal of the transition metal complex is 100:1 or less.

31. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein each R 3 is a cyclopropyl group; and each R 10 is an ethoxy group.

32. The process of claim 28 , wherein the one or more alkene monomers consist essentially of ethylene and propylene.

33. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein each R 9 and R 11 is a t-butyl group, R 10 is —OR′, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group, and R 14 is a substituted phenyl.

34. A bridged bis(4-phenyl-indenyl) transition metal complex wherein:

the first 4-phenyl ring is substituted at the 3′ and 5′ positions by radicals which are identical or different and selected from C 2 -C 20 alkyl groups which are optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 20 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 20 arylalkenyl group, and is also substituted at the 4′ position with a group of the formula (XR′ n ) − , wherein X is a Group 14-17 heteroatom having an atomic weight of 13 to 79 and R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

the second 4-phenyl ring is substituted at the 4′ position with, a halogen atom, a C 5 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, C 3 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is as defined above; and

optionally, wherein one or more of the remaining positions on the phenyl and/or indenyl ring(s) of the transition metal complex are substituted.

35. A catalyst system comprising an activator and the transition metal complex of claim 8 .

36. The catalyst system of claim 35 , wherein the activator comprises an alumoxane.

37. The catalyst system of claim 35 , wherein the activator comprises a non-coordinating anion.

38. A polymerization process comprising a) contacting one or more alkene monomers with a catalyst system comprising: i) an activator and ii) the transition metal complex of claim 8 .

39. The process of claim 38 , wherein the activator comprises an alumoxane.

40. The process of claim 38 , wherein the activator comprises a non-coordinating anion.

41. The process of claim 38 , wherein the one or more alkene monomers comprises propylene.

42. The process of claim 38 , wherein the catalyst compound is supported.

43. The process of claim 38 further comprising obtaining polymer.

44. The process of claim 43 , wherein the polymer comprises a propylene polymer having a melting point of 152.0° C. to about 162.0° C., an M w 60,000 to 1,400,000 g/mol; and an Mw/Mn of 1.5 to 3.5.

45. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 14 is —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

46. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , and R 14 is —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

47. The process of claim 38 , wherein the one or more alkene monomers comprise ethylene and propylene.

48. The process of claim 38 , wherein alkyl aluminum scavenger is present and the ratio of aluminum in alkyl aluminum scavenger to transition metal of the transition metal complex is 100:1 or less.

49. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 is —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , and R 14 is —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OSiR′ 3 , —SiR′ 3 , or —PR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

50. The transition metal complex of claim 1 , wherein R 10 and R 14 are —OR′ 2 , wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.

51. A transition metal complex for use in alkene polymerization represented by the formula (II):

wherein M 1 is selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten;

R 1 and R 2 are identical or different, and are each a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 10 alkoxy group, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group, a C 6 -C 10 aryloxy group, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 2 -C 40 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, an OH group or a halogen atom, or a conjugated diene which is optionally substituted with one or more hydrocarbyl, tri(hydrocarbyl)silyl groups or tri(hydrocarbyl)silylhydrocarbyl groups, said diene having up to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen;

R 3 to R 7 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group or two or more adjacent radicals R 5 to R 7 together with the atoms of the indenyl group connecting them form one or more rings;

R 13 is —B(R 15 )—, —Al(R 15 )—, —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2-, —N(R 15 )—, —CO—, —P(R 15 )—, or —P(O)(R 15 )—, an amidoborane radical or meets one of the following:

wherein R 15 , R 16 , R 17 are identical or different and are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, a C 1 -C 20 fluoroalkyl or silaalkyl group, a C 6 -C 30 aryl group, a C 6 -C 30 fluoroaryl group, a C 1 -C 20 alkoxy group, a C 2 -C 20 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, or one R 15 and one R 16 , together with the atoms in R 13 connecting them form a ring, M 2 is one or more of carbon, silicon, germanium or tin;

each R 8 and R 12 are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C 3 -C 10 alkyl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 6 -C 10 aryl group which is optionally halogenated, a C 2 -C 10 alkenyl group, a C 7 -C 40 arylalkyl group, a C 7 -C 40 alkylaryl group, a C 8 -C 40 arylalkenyl group, a —NR′ 2 , —SR′, —OR, —OSiR′ 3 or —PR′ 2 radical, wherein R′ is one of a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group, or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group;

each R 9 and R 11 are identical or different and are each a C 2 -C 20 alkyl group; and

each R 10 is individually —OR′, wherein R′ is a C 1 -C 10 alkyl group or a C 6 -C 10 aryl group.