This invention is a solution process for the preparation of high molecular weight ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-diolefin copolymers comprising contacting ethylene, one or more .alpha.-olefin monomer, and optionally one or more diene monomer, with a catalyst system at a polymerization temperature at or above about 80.degree. C., ethylene, one or more .alpha.-olefin monomer, and optionally one or more diene monomer, with a catalyst system comprising an unbridged Group 4 metal compound having a bulky monocyclopentadienyl ligand, a uninegative bulky Group 15 ligand and two uninegative, activation reactive ligands and a catalyst activator compound. The process can be advantageously practiced a reaction temperature of at least 80.degree. C., most preferably above 100.degree. C., to achieve high number average molecular weight polymer having high .alpha.-olefin monomer and diene monomer contents with high diene conversion rates. The process is particularly suitable for the preparation of elastomeric ethylene-propylene or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer elastomers.

Claims

10 · 1 independent · depth 3

10 granted claims

›1.independentA process for the preparation of high molecular weight ethylene-.alpha.-olefin copolymers, or ethylene-.alpha.-olefin-diolefin copolymers, comprising …+9

›2.↳ 1The process of claim 1 wherein said unbridged Group 4 metal compound has the formula: CpJQ.sup.1 Q.sup.2 M wherein: M is Zr, Hf or Ti; Cp is a bulky c…d2+1

The process of claim 1 wherein said unbridged Group 4 metal compound has the formula: CpJQ.sup.1 Q.sup.2 M wherein: M is Zr, Hf or Ti; Cp is a bulky cyclopentadienyl ring which is substituted with from two to five substituent groups R, and each substituent group R is, independently, a radical selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl or germyl radicals having from I to 20 carbon, silicon or germanium atoms, substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl or germyl radicals as defined wherein one or more hydrogen atoms is replaced by a halogen radical, an amido radical, a phosphido radical, an alkoxy radical, an aryloxy radical or any other radical containing a Lewis acidic or basic functionality; C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl-substituted metalloid radicals wherein the metalloid is selected from the Group IV A of the Periodic Table of Elements; halogen radicals; amido radicals; phosphido radicals; alkoxy radicals; or alkylborido radicals; or, Cp is a cyclopentadienyl ring in which at least two adjacent R-groups are joined together and along with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a C.sub.4 to C.sub.20 ring system which may be saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic, and substituted or unsubstituted the substitution being of one or more R group as defined above; J is the substituted, bulky Group 15 heteroatom ligand which is substituted with two substituent groups R.sup.1, and each substituent group R.sup.1 is, independently, a radical selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl or germyl radicals having 1 to 20 carbon, silicon or germanium atoms, substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl or germyl radicals as defined wherein one or more hydrogen atoms is replaced by a halogen radical, an amido radical, a phosphido radical, an alkoxy radical, or an aryloxy radical; C.sub.3 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl-substituted metalloid radicals wherein the metalloid is selected from the Group IV A of the Periodic Table of Elements; halogen radicals; amido radicals; phosphido radicals; alkoxy radicals; or alkylborido radicals; and, each Q is independently a radical selected from halide; hydride; substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbyl; alkoxide; aryloxide; amide; halide or phosphide; or both Q together may be an alkylidene or a cyclometallated hydrocarbyl or any other divalent anionic chelating ligand, with the proviso that where any Q is a hydrocarbyl radical, such Q is not a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl radical.

›4.↳ 1The process according to claim 1 wherein said polymerization temperature is 100.degree. to 150.degree. C.d2

›5.↳ 1The process according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst activator is an alumoxane compound.d2

›6.↳ 1The process according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst activator is an alkylaluminum compound.d2

›7.↳ 1The process according to claim 1 wherein said catalyst activator is an ionizing anion pre-cursor.d2

›8.↳ 1The process of claim 1 wherein ethylene, one or more .alpha.-olefin monomer, and one or more diene monomer are contacted with said catalyst system.d2

›9.↳ 1The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is pentamethylcyclopentadienylbis-trimethylsilylamidotitanium dichloride and the activator is methyalumoxa…d2

›10.↳ 1The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is pentamethylcyclopentadienylbis-trimethylsilylamidotitanium dimethyl and the activator is dimethylanilin…d2

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USPC · US Patent Classification

526/160526/132526/282526/283526/336526/133526/170526/912526/134526/127526/126

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