Olefin polymerization process

Claim 2

A process which comprises polymerizing an olefin in the presence of an activator and a supported organometallic complex, wherein the supported organometallic complex is prepared by treating a support with about 0.1 to about 2 moles of an organozinc compound per kg support and combining the organozinc-treated support with an organometallic complex comprising a Group 3 to 10 transition metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is bonded to M.

Claim 3

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

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the activator is selected from the group consisting of alumoxanes, alkylaluminum compounds, organoboranes, ionic borates, ionic aluminates, aluminoboronates and mixtures thereof.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein some or all of the activator is premixed with the organometallic complex, and this mixture is added to the organozinc-treated support.

Claim 6

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 7

The process of claim 5 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 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the organozinc compound is selected from the group consisting of dimethylzinc and diethylzino.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of silicas, aluminas, and silica-aluminas.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein the polymerization is performed at a temperature within the range of about 300° C. to about 1000° C.

Claim 11

A slurry polymerization process of claim 1 .

Claim 12

A gas-phase polymerization process of claim 1 .

Claim 13

The process of claim 1 wherein the 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 C 1 -C 30 hydrocarbyl, H 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 14

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 15

The process of claim 13 wherein L′ is selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl, indenyl, and indenoindolyl.

Claim 16

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 - 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 19

The method of claim 16 wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of silicas, aluminas, and silica-aluminas.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 wherein the organozinc compound is selected from the group consisting of dimethylzinc and diethylzinc.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16 wherein the organometallic complex has a structure selected from the group consisting of: wherein M is a Group 4 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 22

The method of claim 16 wherein the complex is premixed with an activator prior to combining with the organozinc-treated support.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 wherein the organozinc-treated support is combined with an activator prior to combining with the organometallic complex.