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 (e.g., bis(aryl phenolate) five-membered ring 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 molecular weights or polymers having low to very 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 (e.g., bis(aryl phenolate) five-membered ring 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 molecular weights or polymers having low to very 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 bis(aryl phenolate) Lewis base catalysts. Catalysts, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide high temperature ethylene polymerization, propylene polymerization, or copolymerization as the bis(aryl phenolate) Lewis base catalysts are 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 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 bis(aryl phenolate) Lewis base catalysts. Catalysts, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide high temperature ethylene polymerization, propylene polymerization, or copolymerization as the bis(aryl phenolate) Lewis base catalysts are 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 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 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##

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 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##

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 supported catalyst compositions of 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, A.sup.3A.sup.2, and A.sup.2A.sup.3 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 supported catalyst compositions of 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, A.sup.3A.sup.2, and A.sup.2A.sup.3 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.

The present disclosure provides catalyst compounds having a tridentate ethylene bridged amine bis(phenolate) ligand. Catalysts of the present disclosure preferably provide catalyst activity values of 250 gP/mmolCat/hr or greater and polyolefins, such as polyethylene copolymers, having comonomer content of 8.5 wt % or greater, an Mn of 190,000 g/mol or greater, an Mw of 350,000 g/mol or greater, and a narrow Mw/Mn (such as about 2). Catalysts, catalyst systems, and processes of the present disclosure can provide polymers having a high comonomer content (e.g., 8.5 wt % or greater).