Patent ID: 6492473
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: C08F,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for polymerizing olefinically unsaturated monomers, the process comprising:(a) providing a mixed transition metal catalyst system comprising: (i) at least one late transition metal catalyst system; (ii) at least one different catalyst system selected from the group consisting of late transition metal catalyst systems, transition metal metallocene catalyst systems and Ziegler-Natta catalyst systems; and (iii) at least one activator, the late transition metal catalyst system comprising a late transition metal compound of the formula: LMXr â€ƒwherein M is a Group 9, 10 or 11 metal; L is a bidentate ligand defined by the formula: â€ƒwhere A is a bridging group containing a Group 13-15 element; each E is independently a Group 15 or 16 element bonded to M; each R is independently a C1-C30 containing radical or diradical group which is a hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, substituted halocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or halocarbyl-substituted organometalloid; m and n are independently 1 or 2 depending on the valency of E; and p is the charge on the bidentate ligand such that the oxidation state of MXr is satisfied; each X is, independently, a hydride radical; a hydrocarbyl radical; a substituted hydrocarbyl radical; a halocarbyl radical; a substituted halocarbyl radical; a hydrocarbyl-substituted organometalloid or a halocarbyl-substituted organometalloid; a neutral, hydrocarbyl-containing donor ligand; a halogen; an alkoxide; an aryloxide; an amide; a phosphide; or other univalent anionic ligand; or two X's are joined and bound to the metal atom to form a metallacycle ring containing from about 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, or two X's are joined to form an anionic chelating ligand; or a neutral donor ligand not containing a hydrocarbyl radical; and r is 1, 2 or 3; the transition metal metallocene catalyst system comprising a Group 4, 5, 6, 9, or 10 transition metal compound having at least one cyclopentadienyl ligand; and the Ziegler-Natta transition metal catalyst system comprising a Group 4, 5 or 6 transition metal halide or oxyhalide activated for olefin polymerization by a Ziegler co-catalyst; and (b) contacting at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer with the mixed transition metal catalyst system under polymerization conditions, the at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer being selected from the group consisting of ethylene, C3-C20 &agr;-olefins, C4-C20 gem-disubstituted olefins, C8-C20 aromatic substituted &agr;-olefins, C5-C20 cyclic olefins, C5-C20 non-conjugated diolefins, and C20-C1000 vinyl or vinylidene-terminated macromers.