Abstract: Provided is a method for the production of an olefin polymer, which method comprises polymerising an olefin monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst, which catalyst comprises one or more alkyl moieties having a terminal olefin group, and is selected from a catalyst of formula (I): R?(CpRq)XMQpwherein Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl or fluorenyl ring; R? is a structural bridge between Cp and X imparting stereorigidity to the component; each R is the same or different and is selected from a hydrocarbyl group having from 1-20 carbon atoms, a halogen, an alkoxy group, an alkoxyalkyl group, an alkylamino group or an alkylsilylo group; q is an integer from 0-8; X is a heteroatom from group VA or group VIA; M is a metal atom from group 11113, VB, VB or VIB in any of its theoretical oxidation states; and each Q is a hydrocarbon having from 1-20 carbon atoms or is a halogen; p is an integer which is the oxidation state of M minus 2; wherein the alkyl moiety having a terminal olefin group

Abstract: Methods for the preparation of fluorenyl-type ligand structures and substituted fluorenyl groups which may be employed in metallocene-type olefin polymerization catalysts. There is provided a 2,2?-dihalogen-diphenylmethylene having a methylene bridge connecting a pair of phenyl groups. Each phenyl group has a halogen on a proximal carbon atom relative to the methylene bridge. The halogenated diphenylmethylene is reacted with a coupling agent comprising a Group 2 or 12 transition metal in the presence of a nickel or palladium-based catalyst to remove the halogen atoms from the phenyl groups and couple the phenyl groups at the proximal carbon atoms to produce a fluorene ligand structure. The coupling agent may be zinc, cadmium or magnesium and the catalyst may be a monophosphene nickel complex. The halogenated diphenylmethylene may be an unsubstituted ligand structure or a monosubstituted or disubstituted ligand structure.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a catalyst component based upon a Nib cluster made of two sheets each containing four nickel atoms and that is the reaction product of: a) a first component of the general formula (I) b) a second component based on complex, of the general formula (II) wherein in the first component, the benzene ring can be substituted in positions 3 and/or position and/or position 5 and/or position 6, wherein R and R? are the same or different and can be selected from a phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted or a cycloalkyl or an alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein Q is a cation, and wherein, in the second component, R? is selected from a halogen or an acetate and wherein the two arrows mean that there are two vacant sites. It also discloses a catalyst system and a process for the oligomerisation of olefins.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a metallocene catalyst component based on a Group IIIb metal of the periodic Table and a bridged heteroatom-fluorenyl ligand. It also discloses its method of preparation and its use in polymerisation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a metallocene catalyst component of the formula (I) [(Flu-R?-Cp)2M]?[Li(ether)4]+, wherein Cp is a cyclopentadienyl, substituted or unsubstituted, Flu is a fluorenyl, substituted or unsubstitutted, M is a metal Group III of the Periodic Table, and R? is a structural bridge between Cp and Flu imparting stereorigidity to the component. It further discloses a process for preparing said metallocene catalyst component and its use in controlled polymerisation.

Abstract: Provided is a polypropylene blend comprising: (a) an isotactic polypropylene component A that is crystalline and is formed using a metallocene catalyst; and (b) a syndiotactic component B that is less crystalline than component A and is formed using a metallocene catalyst; wherein said blend has a monomodal molecular weight distribution and a polydispersity of at most 4.

Abstract: Use of a metallocene compound of general formula (IndH4)2R?MQ2 as a component of a catalyst system in producing polyethylene, wherein each Ind is the same or different and is indenyl or substituted indenyl; R? is a bridge which comprises a C1 to C4 alkylene radical, a dialkyl germanium or silicon or siloxane, alkyl phosphine or amine, which bridge is substituted or unsubstituted, M is a Group IV metal or vanadium and each Q is hydrocarbyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or halogen; and the ratio of meso to racemic forms of the metallocene in the catalyst system is at least 1:3. The metallocene may be supported. The ethylene may be polymerized in a reaction medium that is substantially free of any external comonomer, with comonomer being formed in situ. The produced polyethylene may have long chain branching. The produced polyethylene may be atactic.

Abstract: Methods for the preparation of fluorenyl-type ligand structures and substituted fluorenyl groups which may be employed in metallocene-type olefin polymerization catalysts. There is provided a 2,2?-dihalogen-diphenylmethylene having a methylene bridge connecting a pair of phenyl groups. Each phenyl group has a halogen on a proximal carbon atom relative to the methylene bridge. The halogenated diphenylmethylene is reacted with a coupling agent comprising a Group 2 or 12 transition metal in the presence of a nickel or palladium-based catalyst to remove the halogen atoms from the phenyl groups and couple the phenyl groups at the proximal carbon atoms to produce a fluorene ligand structure. The coupling agent may be zinc, cadmium or magnesium and the catalyst may be a monophosphene nickel complex. The halogenated diphenylmethylene may be an unsubstituted ligand structure or a monosubstituted or disubstituted ligand structure.

Abstract: Ethylene polymerization processes employing bis-imino pyridinyl transition metal components which exhibit C2, C2v or Cs symmetry. Catalyst components of the same or different symmetries may be employed to control polymerization characteristics and characteristics of the resulting polymer products such as polymer yield and polymer molecular weight. The transition metal catalyst component is characterized by the formula: wherein M is a Group 4–11 transition metal, n is an integer within the range of 1–3, Q is a halogen or a C1–C2 alkyl group, and PY is a pyridinyl group which is coordinated with M through the nitrogen atom of the pyridinyl group. Further, with respect to formula (I), A is a methyl group, a phenyl group, or a substituted phenyl group and B1 and B2 are the same or different aromatic groups depending on the symmetry of the catalyst component.

Abstract: Provided is a method for the production of a polypropylene comprising branches in the polymer backbone, which method comprises: (a) forming macromers from an olefin monomer; and (b) polymerising propylene in the presence of the macromers and a catalyst, under polymerising conditions which favour the incorporation of the macromers into the polypropylene backbone, to form a branched polypropylene; wherein the catalyst employed in step (a) comprises a metallocene catalyst which promotes a chain terminating Palkyl elimination reaction to form terminal unsaturated groups in the macromers.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst component for producing a polyolefin, which catalyst component comprises a metallocene catalyst having a structure according to a formula (I): Cp1Cp2R?MQp ??(I) wherein Cp1 and Cp2 are each independently a cyclopentadienyl derivative which may be substituted or unsubstituted and are selected from cyclopentadienyl groups, indenyl groups and fluorenyl groups, provided that at least one of the cyclopentadienyl derivatives comprises an N atom or a P atom in it cyclopentadienyl ring; R? is a structural bridge to impart stereorigidity between Cp1 and Cp2; and when only one of Cp1 and Cp2 comprises a P atom in its cyclopentadienyl ring, R? is attached to that phosphorous atom, or is attached to a carbon atom in the cylopentadienyl ring distal to that phosphorous atom; and when one of Cp1 or Cp2 comprises an indenyl group and the other of Cp1 and Cp2 comprises an indolyl group, R? is attached either directly to the N atom of the indolyl group or to a carbon atom that is vicinal to the N atom

Abstract: The present invention discloses a metallocene catalyst component of formula (Flu-R?-Cp)M(?3-C3R?5)(ether)n (I) wherein Cp is a cyclopentadienyl, substituted or unsubstituted, Flu is a fluorenyl, substituted or unsubstitutted, R? is a structural bridge between Cp and Flu imparting stereorigidity to the component, M is a metal Group III of the Periodic Table, each R? is the same or different and is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and n is 0, 1 or 2. It further discloses a process for preparing said catalyst component and its used in the controlled polymerisation of polar or non polar monomers.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions having Cs symmetry and processes utilizing Cs symmetric catalyst components for the polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers to produce polymers, including copolymers or homopolymers. Monomers, which are polymerized or copolymerized include ethylene, C3+ alpha olefins and substituted vinyl compounds, such as styrene and vinyl chloride. The catalyst component is characterized by the formula: wherein M is a Group 4-11 transition metal, n is an integer of from 1-3, Q is halogen or a C1-C2 alkyl group, PY is a pyridinyl group, R? and R? are each C1-C20 hydrocarbyl group, A1 is a mononuclear aromatic group, and A2 is a polynuclear aromatic group, such as a terphenyl group. The catalyst component is used with an activating co-catalyst component such as an alumoxane. Also disclosed is a process for the preparation of a pyridinyl-linked bis-amino ligand suitable for use in forming the catalyst component.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst component for producing a polyolefin, which catalyst component comprises a metallocene catalyst having a structure according to formula (I): (THI)2R?MQp, wherein each THI is a tetrahydroindenyl derivative which may be substituted or unsubstituted, provided that at least one of the tetrahydroindenyl derivatives is substituted at the 2-position or the 4-position; R? is a structural bridge to impart stereorigidity between the two THI groups; M is a metal from Group IIIB, IVB, VB or VIB; Q is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1–20 carbon atoms, or a halogen; and p is the valence of M minus 2.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a polyolefin having a multimodal molecular weight distribution, which process comprises: (a) polymerising a first olefin monomer in the presence of an isomerisable metallocene catalyst, to form a first multi-modal polyolefin component; and (b) polymerising a second olefin monomer in the presence of a second metallocene catalyst to form a second polyolefin component; wherein the molecular weight distribution of the first polyolefin component overlaps with the molecular weight distribution of the second polyolefin component.

Abstract: Olefin polymerization catalyst precursors are described herein. The precursors are generally characterized by the formula: wherein M is a transition metal selected from groups 8 to 10 of the Periodic Table; n is an integer of from 1 to 3; Q is a halogen or a C1 to C2 alkyl group; PY is a pyridinyl group, which is coordinated with M through the nitrogen atom of said pyridinyl group; R? is a C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl group; R? is a C1 to C20 hydrocarbyl group; A1 is a monoaromatic group, which is substituted or unsubstituted; and A2 includes multiple aromatic groups, which are substituted or unsubstituted.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a metallocene catalyst system for producing polyolefins comprising: A. a hafnocene-based catalyst component suitable for producing the high molecular weight fraction of the polyolefin; B. one or more metallocene or post-metallocene components different from the component A and suitable for producing the low molecular weight fraction of the polyolefin; C. an actvating agent having a low or no coordinating capability.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a metallocene catalyst component for producing polyolefins according to formula (I) R?s(CpRn)g(CpRn)MQ3-g (I) or according to formula (II) R?(CpRn)MeXQ (II) wherein—each Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring with the bridge-head position of at least one of the cyclopentadienyl rings being occupied by a silicon atom;—each R is the same or different and is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl radical such as alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl radical containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or two carbon atoms are joined together to form a C4-C6 ring;—R? is a structural bridge between two Cp rings;—M is a group IIIB, IVB, VB or VIB metal;—Q is a hydrocarbyl radical such as aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a hydrocarboxy radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a halogen and can be the same or different from each other;—s is 0 or 1, g is 0, 1 or 2 and s is 0 when g is 0, n is 4 when s is 1 and n is 5 when s i

Abstract: Catalyst compositions and processes for the polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers to produce polymers specific to the polymerization of propylene to produce isotactic polypropylene and copolymer, specifically an ethylene-propylene copolymer. An olefin polymerization catalyst is characterized by the formula: B(FluA)MQn wherein Flu is a fluorenyl group substituted at the 4(5) position by a bulky hydrocarbyl group having at least 3 carbon atoms, A is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl or indenyl group or a heteroorgano group, XR, in which X is a heteroatom from Group 15 or 16 such as nitrogen. R is an alkyl group or cycloalkyl group or a mononuclear aromatic group which may be substituted or unsubstituted. B is a structural bridge which imparts stereorigidity to the ligand structure. The bridge B is characterized by the formula ER?R?, in which E is a carbon, silicon or germanium atom, and R? and R? are each independently an alkyl group, an aromatic group or a cycloalkyl group.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst system for producing a polyolefin blend, which catalyst system comprises a mixture including the following catalyst components: i) a catalyst component A capable of producing an isotactic olefin polymer, and/or a catalyst component A? capable of producing a polymer comprising an isotactic polyolefin block; and ii) a catalyst component B capable of producing a syndiotactic polyolefin, and/or a catalyst component B? capable of producing a polymer comprising a syndiotactic polyolefin block; wherein each of the components in the catalyst system is distinct from the other components in the catalyst system.