The present disclosure relates to Lewis base catalysts. Catalysts, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide high temperature ethylene polymerization, propylene polymerization, or copolymerization as the Lewis base catalysts can be stable at high polymerization temperatures and have good activity at the high polymerization temperatures. The stable catalysts with good activity can provide formation of polymers having high melting points, high isotacticity, and controllable molecular weights, and the ability to make an increased amount of polymer in a given reactor, as compared to conventional catalysts. Hence, the present disclosure demonstrates highly active catalysts capable of operating at high reactor temperatures while producing polymers with controlled molecular weights and or robust isotacticity.

The present disclosure relates to Lewis base catalysts. Catalysts, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide high temperature ethylene polymerization, propylene polymerization, or copolymerization as the Lewis base catalysts can be stable at high polymerization temperatures and have good activity at the high polymerization temperatures. The stable catalysts with good activity can provide formation of polymers having high melting points, high isotacticity, and controllable molecular weights, and the ability to make an increased amount of polymer in a given reactor, as compared to conventional catalysts. Hence, the present disclosure demonstrates highly active catalysts capable of operating at high reactor temperatures while producing polymers with controlled molecular weights and or robust isotacticity.

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 a homogeneous process to produce propylene copolymers, such as propylene ethylene copolymers, 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′, and 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 a process to produce an ionomer comprising: 1) contacting, in a reactor, one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.60 α-olefins, an optional diene, and a metal alkenyl with a catalyst system comprising an activator, a catalyst compound, and a support; 2) forming a copolymer comprising one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.60 α-olefin monomers and about 0.01 wt % to about 20 wt %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of metal alkenyl; 3) functionalizing and quenching the polymerization reaction with one or more electrophilic groups; and 4) obtaining ionomer.

This invention relates to a process to produce an ionomer comprising: 1) contacting, in a reactor, one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.60 α-olefins, an optional diene, and a metal alkenyl with a catalyst system comprising an activator, a catalyst compound, and a support; 2) forming a copolymer comprising one or more C.sub.2-C.sub.60 α-olefin monomers and about 0.01 wt % to about 20 wt %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of metal alkenyl; 3) functionalizing and quenching the polymerization reaction with one or more electrophilic groups; and 4) obtaining ionomer.

This invention relates to polymers comprising: one or more that include 1) at least 11 wt % 4 substituted 1,4 hexadiene and less than 20 wt % 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, based upon the weight of the polymer, and 2) optionally, one or more olefins; and processes to produces such polymers using metallocene or post-metallocene catalyst compounds.

This invention relates to polymers comprising: one or more that include 1) at least 11 wt % 4 substituted 1,4 hexadiene and less than 20 wt % 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, based upon the weight of the polymer, and 2) optionally, one or more olefins; and processes to produces such polymers using metallocene or post-metallocene catalyst compounds.

The present disclosure provides catalyst compounds including a nonsymmetric bridged amine bis(phenolate), catalyst systems including such, and uses thereof. Catalyst compounds, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide high comonomer content and high molecular weight polymers having narrow Mw/Mn values, contributing to good processability for the polymer itself and for the polymer used in a composition.

The present disclosure provides catalyst compounds including a nonsymmetric bridged amine bis(phenolate), catalyst systems including such, and uses thereof. Catalyst compounds, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide high comonomer content and high molecular weight polymers having narrow Mw/Mn values, contributing to good processability for the polymer itself and for the polymer used in a composition.