Patents by Inventor Bradley P. Etherton

Bradley P. Etherton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20010018502
    Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst is described. The catalyst comprises an activator and an organometallic compound that includes an amine derivative ligand. The catalyst is highly productive, incorporates comonomers well, and gives polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, John A. Tyrell
  • Patent number: 6281308
    Abstract: Olefin polymerization is performed in the presence of a catalyst comprising a compound of the formula wherein M is a Group 3-10 transition metal; A is O, S, N—R″, or P—R″; L is an anionic ligand; X is hydride, halide, C1-C20 alkoxy, siloxy, hydrocarbyl, or dialkylamido; R, R′, and R″, which are the same or different, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl; and m+n equals the valency of M minus 1; and an activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, John A. Tyrell
  • Publication number: 20010007848
    Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst and method of making it are disclosed. The catalyst comprises an activator and an organometallic complex. The complex comprises a Group 3 to 10 transition or lanthanide metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is -bonded to M. The key ligand is made in two steps from readily available indanones and aryl hydrazines. Reaction of its anion with a source of the metal completes a remarkably simple synthetic route to a new family of single-site olefin polymerization catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: July 12, 2001
    Applicant: EQUISTAR CHEMICALS, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, John A. Tyrell
  • Patent number: 6232260
    Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst and method of making it are disclosed. The catalyst comprises an activator and an organometallic complex. The complex comprises a Group 3 to 10 transition or lanthanide metal, M, and at least one indenoindolyl ligand that is &pgr;-bonded to M. The key ligand is made in two steps from readily available indanones and aryl hydrazines. Reaction of its anion with a source of the metal completes a remarkably simple synthetic route to a new family of single-site olefin polymerization catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, John A. Tyrell
  • Patent number: 6228958
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst having the general formula where L is a ligand having the formula L′ is L, Cp, Cp*, indenyl, fluorenyl, NR2, OR, or halogen, L can be bridged to L; X is halogen, NR2, OR, or alkyl from C1 to C12, M is zirconium or hafnium, R is alkyl from C1 to C12 or aryl from C6 to C12, R1 is R, alkaryl from C6 to C12, aralkyl from C6 to C12, hydrogen, or Si(R)3, R2 is R1, halogen, COR, COOR, SOR, or SOOR, R3 is R2, OR, N(R)2, SR, or a fused ring system, Cp is cyclopentadienyl, Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, n is 0 to 3, and LB is an optional Lewis base. Also disclosed is a method of making a poly-&agr;-olefin comprising polymerizing an &agr;-olefin monomer using a catalyst such as that described above where M can be titanium, zirconium, or hafnium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Ramesh Krishnamurti, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 6211311
    Abstract: A supported olefin polymerization catalyst system and a method of making it are disclosed. The catalyst system comprises: (a) a support chemically treated with an organoaluminum, organosilicon, organomagnesium, or organoboron compound; (b) a single-site catalyst that contains a polymerization-stable, heteroatomic ligand; and (c) an activator. Chemical treatment is a key to making supported heterometallocenes that have high activity and long shelf-lives, and can effectively incorporate comonomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Shaotian Wang, Bradley P. Etherton, Karen E. Meyer, Michael W. Lynch, Linda N. Winslow, Leonard V. Cribbs, Jia-Chu X. Liu
  • Patent number: 6204216
    Abstract: A single-site olefin polymerization catalyst is described. The catalyst comprises an activator and an organometallic compound that includes an amine derivative ligand. The catalyst is highly productive, incorporates comonomers well, and gives polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions. The compound is of the formula wherein M is a group 3-10 metal; A is O, S, N—R″ or P—R″; L is cyclopentadienyl, boraaryl, pyrrolyl, azaboralinyl, quinolinyl, or pyridinyl, or is another RR′N—A− or RR′C═N—A′ group; X is a hydride, halide, alkoxy, siloxy, hydrocarbyl or amido; R,R′ and R″ are hydrogen or hydrocarbyl; m+n equals the valence of M minus 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, John A. Tyrell
  • Patent number: 6201076
    Abstract: An olefin polymerization process is described. The process comprises polymerizing an olefin in the presence of a supported single-site catalyst, an optional activator, and a fatty amine. The fatty amine is added at a concentration in the range from about 10 to about 75 weight percent based on the weight of the supported catalyst. The fatty amine helps to reduce fouling and sheeting during the polymerization process and enhances catalyst activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Bradley P. Etherton, Gregory G. Hlatky, James H. Meas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6127484
    Abstract: A multiple stage or multiple zone process for making olefin polymers is disclosed. A single-site catalyst, preferably one that contains a heteroatomic ligand, is used in the first stage or zone, and a Ziegler-Natta catalyst is used at a higher temperature in later stages or zones. A parallel multiple zone process is also described. The processes, which can be performed adiabatically, give polymers with improved thermal processing ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Leonard V. Cribbs, Bradley P. Etherton, Mark P. Mack, James H. Meas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6121181
    Abstract: Single site nitrogen and oxygen metallacyclic catalysts comprising at least two polymerization-stable anionic ancillary ligands and a Group 4-10 metal are disclosed wherein the nitrogen or oxygen heterocyclic catalyst is produced by dimerizing an alkylamido or trimerizing a metal containing oxane. The polymerization-stable anionic ancillary ligands are preferably either cyclopentadienyl, borataaryl, pyrrolyl, azaboralinyl, pyridinyl, or a quinolinyl ring. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to catalysts of the formula: ##STR1## wherein M is a transition metal of Groups 3-10;L is a polymerization-stable anionic ancillary ligand;R is a hydrocarbyl group containing up to about 12 carbon atoms optionally substituted with halogen; andE is R or halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, siloxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, N(R).sub.2, hydrogen or another univalent anionic ligand, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, Sandor Nagy
  • Patent number: 6114270
    Abstract: Single-site catalyst systems containing alkylimido ligands are disclosed. The catalyst systems comprise a co-catalyst and a Group 3-10 transition metal catalyst. The catalyst includes an alkyl- or arylimido ligand and a polymerization-stable, anionic ligand selected from boraaryl, pyrrolyl, and azaborolinyl. When used to polymerize olefins, the catalyst systems are highly productive, give good comonomer incorporation, and give polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Ramesh Krishnamurti, Sandor Nagy, John Tyrell, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 6034027
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst having the general formula ##STR1## where Q is a ligand containing the ring ##STR2## R is hydrogen, N(R').sub.2, OR', or R', each R' is independently selected from alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, aryl from C.sub.6 to C.sub.15, alkaryl C.sub.7 to C.sub.15, and aralkyl from C.sub.7 to C.sub.15, each X is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, dialkylamino from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, methyl, ##STR3## each R.sub.1 is independently selected from halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, and R', L is ##STR4## Q, or X, where one .pi.-ligand can be bridged to second .pi.-ligand, B is an optional base, "n" is 0 to 5, and M is a Group 3-10 metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Ramesh Krishnamurti, Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 6008394
    Abstract: A novel metallocene catalyst for the polymerization of olefin (co)polymers is of the general formula:R--SO.sub.2 --L--M--(X).sub.m T.sub.nwherein,M is a metal selected from Groups 3-10;T is a polymerization-stable anionic ancillary ligand;m+n is the valency of M minus 1;R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group, a C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 aryl ring or a C.sub.6 -C.sub.20 alkaryl or aralkyl group, optionally substituted with a halogen or an alkoxy group up to 10 carbon atoms;X is a halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, siloxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, N(R).sub.2, a hydrocarbyl group containing up to about 12 carbon atoms, hydrogen or another univalent anionic ligand, or mixtures thereof;L is T as defined above with the proviso that one of the sites available for substitution is the attachment site of the sulfonyl group; andwherein L and T may be bridged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: ARCO Chemicals Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, John Tyrell, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 5914408
    Abstract: A novel metallocene catalyst for the polymerization of olefin (co)polymers is of the general formula:Benzothiazole--E--M--X.sub.m L.sub.nwhere,M is a transition metal of Groups 3-10 of the Periodic Table;E is sulfur or oxygen; E being bond to the transition metal and to the carbon atom between sulfur and nitrogen of the benzothiazole moiety;L is a polymerization-stable anionic ancillary ligand;X is a halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, siloxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, N(R.sub.1).sub.2, a hydrocarbyl group containing up to about 12 carbon atoms or hydrogen or mixtures thereof; preferably X is halogen, methoxy, ethoxy or siloxy (R.sub.1).sub.3 SiO--, where R.sub.1 is alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 ; andm+n equals the valency of the M minus 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: Ramesh Krishnamurti, Sandor Nagy, John Tyrell, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 5902866
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst having the general formula ##STR1## where L is a ligand having the formula ##STR2## L' is L, Cp, Cp*, indenyle fluorenyl, NR.sub.2, OR, or halogen, L can be bridged to L; X is halogen, NR.sub.2, OR, or alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.12, M is zirconium or hafnium, R is alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 or aryl from C.sub.6 to C.sub.12, R.sub.1 is R, alkaryl from C.sub.6 to C.sub.12, aralkyl from C.sub.6 to C.sub.12, hydrogen, or Si(R).sub.3, R.sub.2 is R.sub.1, halogen, COR, COOR, SOR, or SOOR, R.sub.3 is R.sub.2, OR, N(R).sub.2, SR, or a fused ring system, Cp is cyclopentadienyl, Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, n is 0 to 3, and L.sub.B is an optional Lewis base. Also disclosed is a method of making a poly-.alpha.-olefin comprising polymerizing an .alpha.-olefin monomer using a catalyst such as that described above where M can be titanium, zirconium, or hafnium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventors: Sandor Nagy, Ramesh Krishnamurti, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 5756611
    Abstract: A catalyst useful in the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins comprises the reaction product of an alcohol having the general formula ##STR1## with an organometallic compound having the general formulaLM(X).sub.v-1wherein Q is --COR.sup.12, --CR"R"(OR.sup.12) and --CR"R"N(R").sub.2 ;wherein each R" is independently selected from H and R, R is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl group or a C.sub.6 to C.sub.24 aryl group, R.sup.12 is R or a radical of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.w --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.y H, w and y being independently selected from 1 to 4;L is a .pi.-bonded ligand selected from (i.) a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl ring; (ii.) a boraaryl ring; (iii) a 1,2-azaborolinyl ring; or (iv.) a 5-membered heterocyclic ring;M is a Group 3 to 7 metal of the Periodic Table;v is the valence of M; andeach X is independently selected from halogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group or a C.sub.6 -C.sub.24 aryl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Lyondell Petrochemical Company
    Inventors: Bradley P. Etherton, Ramesh Krishnamurti, John A. Tyrell, Sandor Nagy
  • Patent number: 5637659
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst having the general formula ##STR1## where Q is a ligand containing the ring ##STR2## R is hydrogen, N(R').sub.2, OR', or R', each R' is independently selected from alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, aryl from C.sub.6 to C.sub.15, alkaryl C.sub.7 to C.sub.15, and aralkyl from C.sub.7 to C.sub.15, each X is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10.sub., dialkylamino from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, methyl, ##STR3## each R.sub.1 is independently selected from halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, and R', L is ##STR4## Q, or X, where L can be bridged to Q, B is an optional base, "n" is 0 to 5, and M is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Lyondell Petrochemical Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Krishnamurti, Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 5554775
    Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst having the general formula ##STR1## where Q is a ligand containing the ring ##STR2## R is hydrogen, N(R').sub.2, OR', or R', each R' is independently selected from alkyl from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, aryl from C.sub.6 to C.sub.15, alkaryl C.sub.7 to C.sub.15, and aralkyl from C.sub.7 to C.sub.15, each X is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, dialkylamino from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, methyl, ##STR3## each R.sub.1 is independently selected from halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.10, and R', L is ##STR4## Q, or X, where L can be bridged to Q, B is an optional base, "n" is 0 to 5, and M is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Ramesh Krishnamurti, Sandor Nagy, Bradley P. Etherton
  • Patent number: 5539124
    Abstract: Disclosed is an azametallocene polymerization catalyst having the general formula ##STR1## where L is a ligand, or mixture of ligands, each having 4 to 30 carbon atoms and containing at least two fused rings, one of which is a pyrrolyl ring, Cp is a ligand containing a cyclopentadienyl group, B is a Lewis acid, Y is a halogen, alkoxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, siloxy from C.sub.1 to C.sub.20, or mixtures thereof, M is titanium, zirconium, or mixtures thereof, m is 1 to 4, and n is 0 to 2, p is 0 to 2, q is 0 to 1, and m+n+q=4. The catalyst is useful in polymerizing unsaturated olefinic monomers such as ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Occidental Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley P. Etherton, Sandor Nagy
  • Patent number: 5514761
    Abstract: Disclosed are unsaturated .alpha.-olefin/.alpha., .omega.-diene copolymers, and a method of preparation thereof. The copolymers are generally crystalline, free of gel and cross-links, and contain unsaturated side chains and long chain branching. The copolymers contain up to 5 mole percent diene incorporated therein, and may be prepared by copolymerization using a solid-phase, insoluble coordination catalyst, without a solvent, and below the crystalline melting point of the copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley P. Etherton, James J. McAlpin, Terrence Huff, Edward N. Kresge