This invention relates to mono cyclopentadienyl pyridyl hydroxyl amine catalyst compounds represented by Formula I(a) or I(b):

##STR00001##

wherein: M is a group 3-12 metal; R.sup.1 is a hydrocarbyl group or a silyl group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, halogen and phosphino, wherein any two adjacent R groups may be joined to form a saturated or unsaturated single or multicyclic hydrocarbyl ring or heterocyclic ring; and each X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is independently an anionic leaving group or X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 may be joined together to form a dianionic group.

This invention relates to mono cyclopentadienyl pyridyl hydroxyl amine catalyst compounds represented by Formula I(a) or I(b):

##STR00001##

wherein: M is a group 3-12 metal; R.sup.1 is a hydrocarbyl group or a silyl group; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, alkoxy, silyl, amino, aryloxy, halogen and phosphino, wherein any two adjacent R groups may be joined to form a saturated or unsaturated single or multicyclic hydrocarbyl ring or heterocyclic ring; and each X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 is independently an anionic leaving group or X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 may be joined together to form a dianionic group.

The present disclosure provides pyridyl hydroxyl amine catalyst compounds and systems containing the compounds. The present disclosure is also directed to polymerization processes to produce polyolefin polymers from catalyst systems including one or more olefin polymerization catalysts, at least one activator, and an optional support. The compounds are represented by Formula I(a), I(b) or I(c):

##STR00001##

The present disclosure provides pyridyl hydroxyl amine catalyst compounds and systems containing the compounds. The present disclosure is also directed to polymerization processes to produce polyolefin polymers from catalyst systems including one or more olefin polymerization catalysts, at least one activator, and an optional support. The compounds are represented by Formula I(a), I(b) or I(c):

##STR00001##

Embodiments of the present disclosure directed towards converting a unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst into a bimodal ligand-metal catalyst. As an example, the present disclosure provides a method of chemically converting a unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst into a bimodal ligand-metal catalyst by combining in any order constituents consisting essentially of a first unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst, an effective amount of an activator, and an effective amount of a modality-increasing organic compound under conditions effective for the activator and the modality-increasing organic compound chemically converting the first unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst into a bimodal ligand-metal catalyst, thereby making the bimodal ligand-metal catalyst, where the modality-increasing organic compound is of formula (A.sup.1), (B.sup.1), or (C.sup.1), as detailed herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure directed towards converting a unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst into a bimodal ligand-metal catalyst. As an example, the present disclosure provides a method of chemically converting a unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst into a bimodal ligand-metal catalyst by combining in any order constituents consisting essentially of a first unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst, an effective amount of an activator, and an effective amount of a modality-increasing organic compound under conditions effective for the activator and the modality-increasing organic compound chemically converting the first unimodal ligand-metal precatalyst into a bimodal ligand-metal catalyst, thereby making the bimodal ligand-metal catalyst, where the modality-increasing organic compound is of formula (A.sup.1), (B.sup.1), or (C.sup.1), as detailed herein.

A preparation method of bimetallic catalysts based on anthracene frameworks and use thereof in olefin polymerization is reported. Anthrecene frameworks were introduced, heat resistance of the catalysts is improved, and by changing central metals and configurations of the frameworks, steric and electronic effects of the metal catalysts of this model can be adjusted and controlled conveniently, and polyolefin polymer materials of different structures and different properties can be prepared, the bimetallic catalyst can be used in ethylene homopolymerization for preparation of high density polyethylene, ethylene/1-octene copolymerization for preparation of polyolefin elastomers and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization for preparation of cycloolefin copolymers. The bimetallic catalyst based on anthracene frameworks can be used in olefin high temperature solution polymerization for preparing polyolefin elastomers and cycloolefin copolymers, the polyolefin elastomers obtained have molecular weights as high as M.sub.W=890 kg.Math.mol.sup.−1, and the cycloolefin copolymers have copolymerization monomer insertion rates as high as 45 mol %.

A preparation method of bimetallic catalysts based on anthracene frameworks and use thereof in olefin polymerization is reported. Anthrecene frameworks were introduced, heat resistance of the catalysts is improved, and by changing central metals and configurations of the frameworks, steric and electronic effects of the metal catalysts of this model can be adjusted and controlled conveniently, and polyolefin polymer materials of different structures and different properties can be prepared, the bimetallic catalyst can be used in ethylene homopolymerization for preparation of high density polyethylene, ethylene/1-octene copolymerization for preparation of polyolefin elastomers and ethylene/norbornene copolymerization for preparation of cycloolefin copolymers. The bimetallic catalyst based on anthracene frameworks can be used in olefin high temperature solution polymerization for preparing polyolefin elastomers and cycloolefin copolymers, the polyolefin elastomers obtained have molecular weights as high as M.sub.W=890 kg.Math.mol.sup.−1, and the cycloolefin copolymers have copolymerization monomer insertion rates as high as 45 mol %.

The present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising the product of a catalyst compound capable of making crystalline material (such as isotactic PP) and a second catalyst compound capable of making non-diene-containing-amorphous material and diene-containing-elastomeric material. The catalyst system of the present disclosure may further comprise a support material (or product thereof) having one or more of: a surface area of from 400 m.sup.2/g to 800 m.sup.2/g; an average pore diameter of 90 Angstroms or greater; an average particle size of 60 μm or greater; 40% or greater of the incremental pore volume comprising pores having a pore diameter larger than 100 Angstroms or greater; and sub-particles having an average particle size in the range of 0.01 μm to 5 μm. In another embodiment, a propylene polymer composition includes: isotactic polypropylene; 5 wt % or greater of atactic polypropylene, based on the weight of the composition; and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. The present disclosure further provides methods for forming propylene polymer compositions.

The present disclosure provides a catalyst system comprising the product of a catalyst compound capable of making crystalline material (such as isotactic PP) and a second catalyst compound capable of making non-diene-containing-amorphous material and diene-containing-elastomeric material. The catalyst system of the present disclosure may further comprise a support material (or product thereof) having one or more of: a surface area of from 400 m.sup.2/g to 800 m.sup.2/g; an average pore diameter of 90 Angstroms or greater; an average particle size of 60 μm or greater; 40% or greater of the incremental pore volume comprising pores having a pore diameter larger than 100 Angstroms or greater; and sub-particles having an average particle size in the range of 0.01 μm to 5 μm. In another embodiment, a propylene polymer composition includes: isotactic polypropylene; 5 wt % or greater of atactic polypropylene, based on the weight of the composition; and an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. The present disclosure further provides methods for forming propylene polymer compositions.