A ligand compound having a novel structure, a transition metal compound including the same, a catalyst composition including the transition metal compound, and a method of preparing an olefin polymer using the catalyst composition are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the transition metal compound is represented by Formula 1. In some embodiments, the ligand compound is represented by Formula 2.

Pyridine complex of zirconium having general formula (I): Said pyridine complex of zirconium having general formula (I) may advantageously be used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

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Pyridine complex of zirconium having general formula (I): Said pyridine complex of zirconium having general formula (I) may advantageously be used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

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The present invention relates to a novel group 4 transition metal compound, a method for preparing the compound, a catalyst composition containing the compound, and a method for preparing a polyolefin, comprising a step for forming a polymerization reaction of olefin monomers in the presence of the catalyst composition. The group 4 transition metal compound of the present invention exhibits an excellent catalytic activity and has excellent thermal stability in a polyolefin synthesis reaction, and thus can be used even in a polyolefin synthesis reaction at a high temperature. In addition, the compound of the present invention can be advantageously used in the synthesis process of grade-controlled polyolefin since the weight average molecular weight of the synthesized polyolefin and the octane content in the polymer can be adjusted by varying the kinds of center metal and ligand.

The present invention relates to a novel group 4 transition metal compound, a method for preparing the compound, a catalyst composition containing the compound, and a method for preparing a polyolefin, comprising a step for forming a polymerization reaction of olefin monomers in the presence of the catalyst composition. The group 4 transition metal compound of the present invention exhibits an excellent catalytic activity and has excellent thermal stability in a polyolefin synthesis reaction, and thus can be used even in a polyolefin synthesis reaction at a high temperature. In addition, the compound of the present invention can be advantageously used in the synthesis process of grade-controlled polyolefin since the weight average molecular weight of the synthesized polyolefin and the octane content in the polymer can be adjusted by varying the kinds of center metal and ligand.

The present process embodiments for synthesizing long-chain branched copolymers include contacting together one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, at least one diene or polyene, optionally a solvent, and a multi-chain catalyst. The multi-chain catalyst includes a plurality of polymerization sites and produces at least two polymer chains of the C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, each polymer chain polymerizing at one of the polymerization sites. The process synthesizes the long-chain branched polymers by connecting the two polymer chains with the diene or polyene, the joining of the two polymer chains being performed in a concerted manner during the polymerization.

The present process embodiments for synthesizing long-chain branched copolymers include contacting together one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, at least one diene or polyene, optionally a solvent, and a multi-chain catalyst. The multi-chain catalyst includes a plurality of polymerization sites and produces at least two polymer chains of the C.sub.2-C.sub.14 alkene monomers, each polymer chain polymerizing at one of the polymerization sites. The process synthesizes the long-chain branched polymers by connecting the two polymer chains with the diene or polyene, the joining of the two polymer chains being performed in a concerted manner during the polymerization.

Ethylene-based polymers of this disclosure include a melt viscosity ratio (V.sub.0.1/V.sub.100) at 190° C. of at least 10, where V.sub.0.1 is the viscosity of the ethylene-based polymer at 190° C. at a shear rate of 0.1 radians/second, and V.sub.100 is the viscosity of the ethylene-based polymer at 190° C. at a shear rate of 100 radians/second; and a molecular weight tail quantified by an MWD area metric, A.sub.TAIL, and A.sub.TAIL is less than or equal to 0.04 as determined by gel permeation chromatography using a triple detector.

Ethylene-based polymers of this disclosure include a melt viscosity ratio (V.sub.0.1/V.sub.100) at 190° C. of at least 10, where V.sub.0.1 is the viscosity of the ethylene-based polymer at 190° C. at a shear rate of 0.1 radians/second, and V.sub.100 is the viscosity of the ethylene-based polymer at 190° C. at a shear rate of 100 radians/second; and a molecular weight tail quantified by an MWD area metric, A.sub.TAIL, and A.sub.TAIL is less than or equal to 0.04 as determined by gel permeation chromatography using a triple detector.

Ethylene-based polymers of this disclosure include an average g′ less than 0.86, where the average g′ is an intrinsic viscosity ratio determined by gel permeation chromatography using a triple detector; and a molecular weight tail quantified by an MWD area metric, A.sub.TAIL, and A.sub.TAIL is less than or equal to 0.04 as determined by gel permeation chromatography using a triple detector.