Olefin polymerization process

Claim 2

A process for polymerizing an olefin which comprises: (a) combining an organometallic complex and an activator with a support material in the presence of an aromatic solvent to prepare a supported catalyst containing the aromatic solvent wherein the organometallic complex comprises a Group 3 to 10 transition metal, M, and a bridged indenoindolyl ligand that is bonded to M and wherein the activator is selected from the group consisting of alumoxanes, organoboranes and ionic borates; (b) mixing the supported catalyst containing the aromatic solvent with an olefin; and (c) polymerizing the olefin in the presence of hydrogen.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the aromatic solvent is present at a level of from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the supported catalyst containing the aromatic solvent.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein the aromatic solvent is present at a level of from about 20% to about 40% by weight.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the aromatic solvent is toluene.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the support material is silica.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein the Group 3 to 10 transition metal is a Group 4 transition metal.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is methylalumoxane.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene and 1-octene and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

The process of claim 8 wherein the olefin is ethylene in combination with a second olefin selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-hexene and 1-octene.

Claim 11

The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization is performed at a temperature within the range of about 20° C. to about 100° C.

Claim 12

A slurry polymerization of claim 1 .

Claim 13

A gas-phase polymerization process of claim 1 .

Claim 14

The process of claim 1 wherein the bridged indenoindolyl ligand has a structure selected from the group consisting of: in which R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl, dialkylboryl, trialkylsilyl and divalent radicals connected to a second ligand; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl, H, F, Cl and Br; R 3 is selected from the group consisting of R 2 and divalent radicals connected to a second ligand wherein one of R 1 or R 3 is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl and heteroatom containing alkylene radicals, diorganosilyl radicals, diorganogermanium radicals and diorganotin radicals.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 wherein the organometallic complex has a structure selected from the group consisting of: wherein M is a Group 3 to 10 transition metal; each L is independently selected from the group consisting of halide, alkoxy, aryloxy, siloxy, alkylamino, and C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl; L′ is selected from the group consisting of alkylamido, substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, boraaryl, pyrrolyl, azaborolinyl and indenoindolyl; x satisfies the valence of M; R 4 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl. dialkylboryl and trialkylsilyl; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl, H, F, Cl and Br; G is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting,of hydrocarbyl and heteroatom containing alkylene radicals, diorganosilyl radicals, diorganogermanium radicals and diorganotin radicals.

Claim 16

The process of claim 14 wherein L′ is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, and indenoindolyl.

Claim 17

The process of claim 1 wherein the organometallic complex has a structure selected from the group consisting of: wherein M is a Group 3 to 10 transition metal; each L is independently selected from the group consisting of halide, alkoxy, aryloxy, siloxy, alkylamino, and C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl; L′ is selected from the group consisting of alkylamido, substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, boraaryl, pyrrolyl, azaborolinyl and indenoindolyl; x satisfies the valence of M; R 5 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl and H; each R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of R 5 , F, Cl and Br; G is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl and heteroatom containing alkylene radicals, diorganosilyl radicals, diorganogermanium radicals and diorganotin radicals.

Claim 18

The process of claim 16 wherein L′ is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, and indenoindolyl.