Abstract: Supported catalyst systems and methods of forming polymers are generally described herein. The polymerization processes generally include contacting an inorganic support composition with a fluorinating agent to form a fluorinated support, wherein the fluorinating agent includes an organofluorine compound having the formula R4nAlF3-n and wherein each R is independently selected from alkyls, aryls and combinations thereof and n is 1 or 2, contacting the fluorinated support with a transition metal compound to form a supported catalyst system and contacting an olefin monomer with the supported catalyst composition to form a polyolefin.

Abstract: Supported catalyst systems, methods of forming polyolefins and the formed polymers are generally described herein. The methods generally include identifying desired polymer properties, providing a transition metal compound and selecting a support material capable of producing the desired polymer properties, wherein the support material includes a bonding sequence selected from Si—O—Al—F, F—Si—O—Al, F—Si—O—Al—F and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Catalyst systems and methods of forming the same are described herein. The catalyst system may be formed by contacting an alumina-silica support composition with ammonium bifluoride in the presence of water to form a first fluorinated support composition. The method then includes heating the first fluorinated support composition in an oxygen containing atmosphere to a temperature of from about 200° C. to about 600° C. to form a second fluorinated support composition, wherein the second fluorinated support composition includes a bonding sequence selected from Si—O—Al—F, F—Si—O—Al, F—Si—O—Al—F and combinations thereof and then contacting the second fluorinated support composition with a transition metal compound to form a supported catalyst system, wherein the transition metal compound is represented by the formula [L]mM[A]n; wherein L is a bulky ligand, A is a leaving group, M is a transition metal and m and n are such that a total ligand valency corresponds to the transition metal valency.

Abstract: Supported catalyst systems and methods of forming polyolefins are generally described herein. The polymerization methods generally include introducing an inorganic support material to a reaction zone, wherein the inorganic support material includes a bonding sequence selected from Si—O—Al—F, F—Si—O—Al, F—Si—O—Al—F and combinations thereof, introducing a transition metal compound to the reaction zone and contacting the transition metal compound with the inorganic support material for in situ activation/heterogenization of the transition metal compound to form a catalyst system. The method further includes introducing an olefin monomer to the reaction zone and contacting the catalyst system with the olefin monomer to form a polyolefin.

Abstract: Supported stereospecific catalysts and processes for the stereotactic propagation of a polymer chain derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain three or more carbon atoms or which are substituted vinyl compounds, specifically alpha olefins, particularly the polymerization of propylene to produce syndiotactic or isotactic polypropylene. The supported metallocene catalyst comprises a stereospecific metallocene catalyst and a co-catalyst component comprising at least one of an alkyl alumoxane and an alkylaluminum compound. Both the metallocene catalyst and the co-catalyst are supported on a particulate silica support comprising silica particles having an average particle size of 5-40 microns and an average effective pore size of 50-200 angstroms. The silica support further has a differential pore size distribution of a pore volume of at least 0.01 cm3/g. within a range having a maximum pore width of no more than 300 angstroms.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a transition metal olefin polymerization catalyst component characterized by the formula: where, M is a Group IV or a Group IV transition metal, B is a bridge group containing at least two carbon atoms, A? and A? are organogroups, each containing a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus, X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, a C1-C20 alkyl group, a C6-C30 aromatic group and mixtures thereof, and n is 1, 2 or 3. The invention also encompasses a method for the polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which comprises contacting a transition metal catalyst component as characterized by formula (1) above and an activating co-catalyst component in a polymerization reaction zone with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer product.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a tridentate transition metal catalyst components incorporating pyridinyl bis-amino or monoamino ligand structures which do not require ? bonding of the transition metal through the use of cyclopentadienyl rings. The ligand structure incorporates a heteroatom group that involves nitrogen in one organogroup and either oxygen or nitrogen in another organogroup. The process of preparing the catalyst component involves the reaction of a bis-amino or oxyamino pyridenyl ligand compound with an organo transition metal compound involving a tetrabenzyl ligand or other functional group ligands linked to a transition metal such as titanium zirconium or hafnium.

Abstract: Supported stereospecific catalysts and processes for the stereotactic propagation of a polymer chain derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain three or more carbon atoms or which are substituted vinyl compounds, specifically alpha olefins, particularly the polymerization of propylene to produce syndiotactic or isotactic polypropylene. The supported metallocene catalyst comprises a stereospecific metallocene catalyst and a co-catalyst component comprising at least one of an alkyl alumoxane and an alkylaluminum compound. Both the metallocene catalyst and the co-catalyst are supported on a particulate silica support comprising silica particles having an average particle size of 5–40 microns and an average effective pore size of 50–200 angstroms. The silica support further has a differential pore size distribution of a pore volume of at least 0.01 cm3/g. within a range having a maximum pore width of no more than 300 angstroms.

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: Bidentate catalyst systems and the methods or forming such are described herein. The catalyst systems generally are compounds having the general formula: where R, R1, R2 and R3 are optional and independently selected from hydrogen, C1 to C20 alkyl groups or C6 to C20 aryl groups, A? and A? are independently selected from coordination groups, M is a Group 4 or 5 transition metal, X is selected from halogens, alkyl groups, aromatic groups or combinations thereof and n is less than 4.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a pyridinyl-linked bis-amino ligand that comprises, (a) reacting 2,6-dibromophenyl amine with an arylboronic acid component which is substituted or unsubstituted to produce a 2,6-diarylphenyl amine which is substituted or unsubstituted; (b) reacting the 2,6-diarylphenyl amine with a 2,6-dialkanoic pyridine characterized by the formula: wherein R? and R? are each independently a C1–C20 hydrocarbyl group; to produce a mono-imine ligand characterized by the formula: wherein TRP is a terphenyl group which is substituted or unsubstituted; and (c) reacting the mono-imine ligand with an aniline which may be substituted or unsubstituted to produce a bis-amine ligand characterized by the structure: wherein: TRP is a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group; and AR is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.

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: 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: Supported stereospecific catalysts and processes for the stereotactic propagation of a polymer chain derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain three or more carbon atoms or which are substituted vinyl compounds, specifically alpha olefins, particularly the polymerization of propylene to produce syndiotactic or isotactic polypropylene. The supported metallocene catalyst comprises a stereospecific metallocene catalyst and a co-catalyst component comprising at least one of an alkyl alumoxane and an alkylaluminum compound. Both the metallocene catalyst and the co-catalyst are supported on a particulate silica support comprising silica particles having an average particle size of 5-40 microns and an average effective pore size of 50-200 angstroms. The silica support further has a differential pore size distribution of a pore volume of at least 0.01 cm3/g. within a range having a maximum pore width of no more than 300 angstroms.

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: A catalyst system having the following formula is described herein. wherein M is a metal; each X is an atom or group banded to M and may be the same or different; R1 and R2 may be the same or each may be different and are substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl or aromatic groups; RB is a structural bridge between R1 and R2 imparting stereorigidity thereto and including at least one heteroatom bonded to M, with each of R1 and R2 bonded to the same or different heteroatom of RB which heteroatom is also bonded to M; Z is the coordination number of M and is greater than or equal to 4 and m is the number of bonds between M and heteroatoms of RB.

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: 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 B, and B2 are the same or different aromatic groups depending on the symmetry of the catalyst component.

Abstract: Supported stereospecific catalysts and processes for the stereotactic propagation of a polymer chain derived from ethylenically unsaturated monomers which contain three or more carbon atoms or which are substituted vinyl compounds, such as styrene and vinyl chloride. One application is the stereospecific propagation of C3-C4 alpha olefins, particularly the polymerization of propylene to produce syndiotactic polypropylene over a supported metallocene catalyst comprising a stereospecific metallocene catalyst component incorporating a metallocene ligand structure having two sterically dissimilar cyclopentadienyl ring structures coordinated with the central transition metal atom. Both of the cyclopentadienyl groups are in a relationship with one another by virtue of bridge or substituent groups, which provide a stereorigid relationship relative to the coordinating transition metal atom to prevent rotation of said ring structures.

Abstract: Process of preparing silica-supported catalysts. A support material comprising silica particles impregnated with an alumoxane co-catalyst with at least one-half of the co-catalyst disposed within the internal pore volume of the silica is contacted with a dispersion of a metallocene catalyst in an aromatic solvent. The dispersion and support are mixed at a temperature of about 10° C. or less to enable the metallocene to become reactively supported on and impregnated within the alumoxane-impregnated silica particles. The supported catalyst is recovered from the aromatic solvent and washed with an aromatic hydrocarbon and then a paraffinic hydrocarbon at a temperature of about 10° C. or less. The washed catalyst is dispersed in a viscous mineral oil.