This invention relates to a homogeneous process to produce polyethylene compositions using transition metal complexes of a dianionic, tridentate ligand that features a central neutral heterocyclic Lewis base and two phenolate donors, where the tridentate ligand coordinates to the metal center to form two eight-membered rings. Preferably the bis(phenolate) complexes are represented by formula I:

##STR00001##

where M, L, X, m, n, E, E′, Q, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.1′, R.sup.2′, R.sup.3′, R.sup.4′, A.sup.1, A.sup.1′,

##STR00002##

and

##STR00003##

are as defined herein, where A.sup.1QA.sup.1′ are part of a heterocyclic Lewis base containing 4 to 40 non-hydrogen atoms that links A.sup.2 to A.sup.2′ via a 3-atom bridge with Q being the central atom of the 3-atom bridge.

This invention relates to transition metal complexes of a multi-dentate ligand that features a neutral heterocyclic Lewis base and a second Lewis base, where the multi-dentate ligand coordinates to the metal center to form at least one 8-membered chelate ring.

The present invention relates to a thermoplastic resin composition including a polyolefin-polystyrene-based multi-block copolymer having a structure in which a polystyrene chain is attached to both ends of a polypropylene and polyolefin chain, and the thermoplastic resin composition according to the present invention exhibits high fluidity properties as well as soft feel and high restoring force.

Multilayer film comprising at least a skin layer, a core layer and an inner layer, whereby the inner layer comprises a single site catalyst derived (SSC) random propylene ethylene copolymer having—a melting temperature (Tm) from 120° C. to 144° C., —a content of units derived from ethylene in an amount of 1.5 to 6.0 wt.-%, —the melting temperature (Tm) fulfilling the following equation Tm<156° C.−[5.2×C2 content in wt.-%]° C. wherein C2 content stands for the content of units derived from ethylene; and —a xylene cold soluble content (ISO 16152, 1st ED, 2005 Jul. 1; 25° C.) of preferably below 30 wt.-% wherein the multilayer film is free of phthalic acid esters as well as decomposition products thereof.

Multilayer film comprising at least a skin layer, a core layer and an inner layer, whereby the inner layer comprises a single site catalyst derived (SSC) random propylene ethylene copolymer having—a melting temperature (Tm) from 120° C. to 144° C., —a content of units derived from ethylene in an amount of 1.5 to 6.0 wt.-%, —the melting temperature (Tm) fulfilling the following equation Tm<156° C.−[5.2×C2 content in wt.-%]° C. wherein C2 content stands for the content of units derived from ethylene; and —a xylene cold soluble content (ISO 16152, 1st ED, 2005 Jul. 1; 25° C.) of preferably below 30 wt.-% wherein the multilayer film is free of phthalic acid esters as well as decomposition products thereof.

A production method for a cyclic olefin copolymer which is capable of efficiently producing a cyclic olefin copolymer by copolymerizing monomers including a norbornene monomer and ethylene while suppressing the formation of a polyethylene-like impurity, and a catalyst composition for the copolymerization of a norbornene monomer and ethylene. Monomers including a norbornene monomer and ethylene are polymerized in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, and the metal-containing catalyst has a structure in which a nitrogen atom is bonded to a transition metal of Group 4 of the periodic table and an atom of Group 15 of the periodic table.

A transition metal compound having a novel structure is disclosed herein. The transition metal compound can have improved structural stability by forming a stable coordination site of a transition metal through controlling a bond angle formed by the amido group of a phenylene bridge, a cyclopentadienyl ring, and a transition metal. The transition metal compound has excellent copolymerization properties and may produce an olefin polymer having a high molecular weight in a ultra low density region.

A transition metal compound having a novel structure is disclosed herein. The transition metal compound can have improved structural stability by forming a stable coordination site of a transition metal through controlling a bond angle formed by the amido group of a phenylene bridge, a cyclopentadienyl ring, and a transition metal. The transition metal compound has excellent copolymerization properties and may produce an olefin polymer having a high molecular weight in a ultra low density region.

A method of producing bimodal ethylene-based polymer includes reacting ethylene monomer and C.sub.3-C.sub.12 α-olefin comonomer in the presence of a first catalyst in an agitated reactor to produce a first polymer fraction, and outputting effluent from the agitated reactor. A second catalyst is added to the effluent downstream of the agitated reactor and upstream from a non-agitated reactor, the second catalyst facilitates production of a second polymer fraction having a density and melt index (I.sub.2) different from the first polymer fraction. The second catalyst and effluent are mixed in at least one mixer. The second catalyst, second polymer fraction, and the first polymer fraction are passed to the non-agitated reactor; and additional ethylene monomer, additional C.sub.3-C.sub.12 α-olefin comonomer, and solvent are passed to the non-agitated reactor to produce more second polymer fraction and thereby the bimodal ethylene-based polymer.

Catalyst compositions containing a metallocene compound, a solid activator, and a co-catalyst, in which the solid activator or the supported metallocene catalyst has a d50 average particle size of 15 to 50 μm and a particle size distribution of 0.5 to 1.5, can be contacted with an olefin in a loop slurry reactor to produce an olefin polymer. A representative ethylene-based polymer produced using the catalyst composition has excellent dart impact strength and low gels, and can be characterized by a HLMI from 4 to 10 g/10 min, a density from 0.944 to 0.955 g/cm.sup.3, a higher molecular weight component with a Mn from 280,000 to 440,000 g/mol, and a lower molecular weight component with a Mw from 30,000 to 45,000 g/mol and a ratio of Mz/Mw ranging from 2.3 to 3.4.