Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising

(i) a metallocene complex of formula (I)

##STR00001## M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula I has M=Hf X is a sigma ligand R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or up to 5 linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group(s) R.sup.2 is a saturated linear or cyclic C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkyl group or a branched CR.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same or are different and can be an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst.

The present invention relates to a metallocene compound, and preparation and use thereof, and the compound can be used as a catalyst for synthesis of poly-α-olefin as lubricating base oil. The metallocene compound includes a substituted aryl group, a bridged atom, an optionally unsubstituted, 3-mono-substituted or 3,6-disubstituted 5H-indeno [1,2-b] pyridyl group or optionally unsubstituted, 3-mono-substituted or 3,6-disubstituted 5H-indeno [1,2-b] thiopyranyl group, and a metal coordination group. As a catalyst, the metallocene compound is shown to be structurally stable and high in catalytic efficiency, and the preparation of the catalyst is relatively easy in operation, high in yield, low in cost, low in pollution and easy to scale up for industrial production.

[Problem to be Solved]

There is provided a process for producing an olefin polymer that is capable of producing an olefin polymer having high heat resistance and high molecular weight with excellent catalytic activity.

[Solution to Problem]

The process for producing an olefin polymer includes a step of polymerizing at least one olefin selected from ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst containing a transition metal compound represented by the general formula [I], the olefin polymer including constituent units derived from ethylene and α-olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in a total amount between more than 50 mol % and not more than 100 mol %,

##STR00001##

[in the formula [I], R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 to R.sup.16 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.2 is a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom; M is a transition metal of Group IV; Q is a halogen atom or the like; and j is an integer of 1 to 4].

Disclosed herein are catalyst compositions containing bicyclic bridged metallocene compounds. These catalyst compositions can be used for the polymerization of olefins. For example, ethylene polymers produced using these catalyst compositions can be characterized by low molecular weights and high melt flow rates, and can be produced without the addition of hydrogen.

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising (i) a metallocene complex of formula (I) ##STR00001## M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula I has M=Hf X is a sigma ligand R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or up to 5 linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group(s) R.sup.2 is a saturated linear or cyclic C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkyl group or a branched CR.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same or are different and can be an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst.

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising (i) a metallocene complex of formula (I), M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula I has M=Hf, X is a sigma ligand, R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms, R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or up to 5 linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group(s), R.sup.2 is a saturated linear or cyclic C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkyl group or a branched CR.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same or are different and can be an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst. ##STR00001##

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising: (i) a metallocene complex of formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula I has M=Hf; X is a sigma ligand; R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.4-C.sub.10 heteroaryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms; R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.10 aryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl group optionally containing up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms or a C.sub.4-C.sub.10 heteroaryl group; R.sup.2 is a C.sub.4-C.sub.20 cycloalkyl group, optionally carrying alkyl substituents in beta-positions, of formula (II) ##STR00002## in which R′ can be the same or can be different from each other and can be hydrogen or is defined as R and n is 1 to 17; and (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst.

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising (i) a metallocene complex of formula (I), M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula I has M=Hf, X is a sigma ligand, R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.5-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms, R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.20-aryl, which can be unsubstituted or substituted by one or up to 5 linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl group(s), R.sup.2 is a saturated linear or cyclic C.sub.3-C.sub.20 alkyl group or a branched CR.sup.3R.sup.4R.sup.5 group, wherein R.sup.3 is hydrogen or an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are the same or are different and can be an C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl group and (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst

##STR00001##

Catalyst system for producing ethylene copolymers in a high temperature solution process, the catalyst system comprising (i) a metallocene complex of formula (I) wherein: M is Hf or a mixture with Zr, provided that more than 50% by moles of the complex of Formula (I) has M=Hf; X is a sigma ligand; R are the same or different from each other and can be saturated linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.10 aryl, C.sub.4-C.sub.10 heteroaryl, C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 arylalkyl groups, which can optionally contain up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms; R.sup.1 is a C.sub.6-C.sub.10 aryl or C.sub.6-C.sub.20 alkylaryl group optionally containing up to 2 heteroatoms or silicon atoms or a C.sub.4-C.sub.10 heteroaryl group; R.sub.2 is a C.sub.4-C.sub.20 cycloalkyl group, optionally carrying alkyl substituents in beta-positions, of formula (II) in which R can be the same or can be different from each other and can be hydrogen or is defined as R and n is 1 to 17 (ii) a boron containing cocatalyst

##STR00001##

[Problem to be solved] There is provided a process for producing an olefin polymer that is capable of producing an olefin polymer having high heat resistance and high molecular weight with excellent catalytic activity. [Solution to problem] The process for producing an olefin polymer includes a step of polymerizing at least one olefin selected from ethylene and -olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst containing a transition metal compound represented by the general formula [I], the olefin polymer including constituent units derived from ethylene and -olefins having 4 to 30 carbon atoms in a total amount between more than 50 mol % and not more than 100 mol %, ##STR00001## [in the formula [I], R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 to R.sup.16 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.2 is a hydrocarbon group or the like; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom; M is a transition metal of Group IV; Q is a halogen atom or the like; and j is an integer of 1 to 4].