NOVEL ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUND, PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF AND PROCESS FOR POLYMERIZATION OF OLEFINS BY MEANS OF A CATALYST COMPOSITION INCLUDING THE ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUND

Abstract: The invention relates to an organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure, characterized in that the ligand includes at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being bonded to the same carbon atom.

Description: Novel organometallic compound, preparation method thereof and process for polymerization of olefins by means of a catalyst composition including the organometallic compound The patent application relates to an organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure, a process for its preparation and a process for polymerization of olefins by means of catalyst compositions including said organometallic compounds. For single active site olefm polymerizations is traditionally used organometallic compounds wherein a central transition metal atom is coordinated by one or more aromatic rings and optionally other groups which may be organic or halide groups, preferably alkyl or chloride groups. The aromatic rings have π-electrons by which the coordination to the metal is completed. Five members for the ring are most often used, and then the compounds are many times named as metallocenes. These cyclo- pentadienyl groups can be substituted in many ways: carbon atoms of the ring are connected by one or more separate groups which may contain heteroatoms and/or they can form one or more other rings. Fused rings connected to the cyclopenta- dienyl ring may constitute even very complicated compound structures. The cyclo- pentadienyl ring or its replacement rings with their fused rings may contain in their ring structure one or more heteroatoms, too. This application relates in particular to the heteroatomic ring structure. Characterizing for the structure is that a ligand of the central transition metal atom includes at least three nitrogen atoms and essentially three nitrogens of them are bonded to the same central carbon atom forming a structure wherein the carbon atom is surrounded in three directions by the three nitrogens. The structure of the organometallic compoimd may preferably be presented by the formula (1) L n MX m - n (1) wherein at least one L denotes said ligand coordinated by a π-electron bond to M and includes a heterocyclic ring structure having at least two fused rings and at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being connected to said same carbon atom, one of them being common for two rings and two of them being in separate rings, M is the central transition metal atom and belongs to Groups IV, V or VI of the Periodic Table of the Elements, X is an organic group or a halide coordinated to said central transition metal atom M, m signifies the coordination (ligand) number of said transition metal atom M, and n signifies an integer from 1 to m. The ligand L, except one ligand according to the invention, may be also a cyclo- pentadienyl ring or its substituted derivative, or the ligand may be also a different kind of group, aromatic or not by its nature. Between the ligands can be a bridge group. The inventional structure for the ligand (L) is preferably presented in the equation (2): R 4 ^R3 Base R ^ ^ R 3 R 4 Γ R 3 RI AN- R2 RI -N R2 RI AN' R2 Θ Θ (2) (L) where groups Ri , R.2, R3 and R4 are the same or different selected from the group of H, C\ - Cγi alkyl, alkenyl, aryl (phenyl preferable), alkylaryl, or the groups R\, R2, R3 and R4 may contain silicon atoms instead of one or more carbon atoms, preferably they are SiH3, Sffl^Rs, SiHR6R7, SiRgRoJlio groups where groups R5 to R10 are also the groups recited above. The substituent groups may be also a combination of several groups recited above. The R\ to R4 can be interconnected to another one to form bridged structures. In the presence of a base a balance exists in the formula (2) between two ionic isomeric structures which are presented in the right of the formula (2). L is preferably a triaza bicyclo alkenyl, more preferably a l,5,7-triazabicyclodec-5-enyl, most preferably a l,5,7-triaza{4.4.0}bicyclodec-5- enyl. Several compounds according to the invention are recited in a list below and they can be prepared in a similar method using proper reagents instead of those used in the TAB preparation and in the preparation of the inventional metallocene compounds including the ligand. (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium trichloride (3) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium chloride (4) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium dichloride (5) Tetracis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium trichloride (2) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium chloride Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium dichloride Tetracis( 1 , 5 ,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium (1,5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5-enyl)hafhium trichloride Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium chloride Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium dichloride Tetracis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium (1,5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium dichloride Tris( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium Bis( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)chromium chloride (Dimethylamine)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium dichloride (Diethylamine)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium dichloride (Methyl-tertButyl-amine)-( 1 ,5 ,7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicycl o-dec-5 -enyl)zirconium dichloride (Dimethylamine)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium dichloride (Diethylamine)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium dichloride (Methyl-tertButyl-amine)-(l, 5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium dichloride (Dimethylamine)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium dichloride (Diethylamine)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium dichloride (Methyl-tertButyl-amine)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium dichloride (Dimethyla ine)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium chloride (Diethylamine)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5 -enyl)chromium (Methyl-tertButyl-amine)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)chromium chloride Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium di(N,N-dimethylamid) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium (N,N-dimethylamide) (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium tri(N,N-dimethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium di(N,N-diethylamide) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium (N,N-diethylamide) (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium tri(N,N-diethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium di(N,N-dimethylamide) Tris(l, 5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium (N,N-dimethylamide) (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium tri(N,N-dimethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium di(N,N-diethylamide) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium (N,N-diethylamide) ( 1 , 5 ,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium tri(N,N-diethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafhium di(N,N-dimethylamide) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium (N,N-dimethylamide) (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafhium tri(N,N-dimethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium di(N,N-diethylamide) Tris(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafhium (N,N-diethylamide) (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafiιium tri(N,N-diethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium (N,N-dimethylamide) (1,5 , 7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)chromium di(N,N-dimethylamide) Bis(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium (N,N-diethylamide) Tris(l, 5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)chromium (l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium di(N,N-diethylamide) (Cyclopentadienyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium dichloride (n-Butyl-Cyclopentadienyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium dichloride (Indenyl)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5 -enyl)zirconium dichloride (Fluorenyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium dichloride (Cy clopentadienyl)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium dichloride (n-Butyl-Cyclopentadienyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium dichloride (Indenyl)-(l, 5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium dichloride (Fluorenyl)-( 1 , 5 , 7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)titanium dichloride (Cyclopentadienyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafhium dichloride (n-Butyl-Cyclopentadienyl)-( 1 , 5 ,7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)hafhium dichloride (Indenyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium dichloride (Fluorenyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0Jbicyclo-dec-5-enyl)hafnium dichloride (Cyclopentadienyl)-( 1 , 5 ,7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicy clo-dec-5 -enyl)chromium chloride (n-Butyl-Cyclopentadienyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0Jbicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium chloride (Indenyl)-(l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium chloride (Fluorenyl)-( l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0Jbicyclo-dec-5-enyl)chromium chloride The invention also relates to a method to prepare an organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure. The compound consisting of the ligand which includes at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being bonded to the same carbon atom, and a hydrogen atom bound to one of said three nitrogen atoms of said ligand, is reacted with a metallocene and/or a halide of said transition metal. Preferably, an alkaline metal salt of the ligand is reacted with a transition metal halide, preferably chloride. According to an embodiment, the ligand is prepared as follows: first a salt of an alkaline metal of toluene is produced, and the salt is then reacted in toluene solution with said compound consisting of the ligand and a hydrogen atom bound to one of its three nitrogen atoms. The alkaline metal is preferably potassium. The organometallic compounds according to this invention can be used in olefin polymerizations. Olefin monomer can be polymerized alone or with one more olefins and/or with other monomers. Preferable olefins are alfa-olefins, and most preferable is ethylene: homo or copolymers of ethylene are produced in huge amounts that the catalysts suitable to this kind of applications can be very valuable. The organometallic compounds alone are usually not at all or only slightly active in polymerization reactions. The activity can be increased remarkably by using with them one or more cocatalysts which activates the organometallic to a suitable constitution to be able to catalyze the polymerization reaction. The most common cocatalyst in the art is methyl aluminoxane (MAO) which can appear in linear, cyclic or polymerized form. Formulas of different isomeric forms of aluminoxanes can be seen for instance in patent application FI 972230, which is herewith included as a reference. Higher aluminoxanes having more than one carbon atoms in the alkyl group, e.g. 2 to 10 carbon atoms can be used. Also other kind of compounds than aluminoxane can be used although not often used in commercial scale. In this sense particularly boron compounds, e.g. boranes seem to be very interesting. EXAMPLES Synthesis and Polymerization Behaviour of l,5,7-Triaza[4.4.0]Bicyclo-Dec-5- Enyl Zirconium and Titanium Complexes. As said above, a preferable ligand L is l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl (TAB). The preparation synthesis of it and also the synthesis of the organometallic compound from the ligand is represented below as an example of the present invention. First the syntheses of zirconium and titanium complexes with the 1,5,7-triaza- [4.4.0Jbicyclo-dec-5-enyl (TAB) ligand are described. The complexes were synthesized by reaction of TAB"K + with TiCl4, TAB with ZrCl4 by using benzyl potassium in THF or in a direct exchange reaction between TAB and bis (nBuCp)2ZrCl2 in refluxing toluene The products were analysed with MS and NMR. The isolated complexes (TAB)TiCl3, (TAB)ZrCl and (TAB) 2 ZrCl 2 were active catalysts in the homo-polymerization of ethylene with MAO/toluene in pentane. The activities were 167 kg PE/g.Ti.h" 1 , 44 kg PE/g.Zr.h ~ l and 7 kg PE/g.Zr.h - 1 , respectively. They were also active in the co-polymerization of ethylene with 1-hexene. The activities were 146 kg PE/g Ti.h" 1 , 15 kg PE/g Zr.hf l and 9.0 kg PE/g.Zr.h - 1 , respectively. The following syntheses have been carried out successfully. Equation 1. Synthesis of TAB"K + . (1) TiCI 4 Θ © CO K O TiCI 3 KC1 (2) Equation 2. Synthesis of (TAB)TiCl3. (2) Equation 3. Synthesis (TAB)ZrCl3. (3) Equation 4. Synthesis of (TAB) 3 ZrCl. (4) Equation 5. Synthesis of (TAB) 2 ZrCl 2 . (5) | CO | ZrCI 3 (3) Equation 6. Second synthesis route to (TAB)ZrCl3. (3) Experimental Section General Considerations. All operations were carried out in argon or nitrogen atmosphere using a standard Schlenk flask, vacuum and dry box techniques. Solvents were dried with potassium benzophenone cetyl and distilled under argon prior to use. l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0Jbicyclo-dec-5-ene (Fluka), (nBuCp^ZrCF? (Witco) and ZrCLj. (Aldrich) were used without further purification. Benzyl potassium was prepared according to literature (Schlosser, M. and Hartmann, J. Angew. Chem 1973, 85, 544-545). The *H-NMR spectra were recorded using JEOL JNM-EX 270 MHz FT NMR spectrometer with tetramethylsilane (TMS) as an internal reference. The MS spectra were recorded using VG Quadrupole TRIO 2 electronic ionization method and direct probe 70 eV spectrometer. The polymerization tests were carried out using MAO, 30% solution in toluene purchased from Albermarle Corp. Test polymerizations were carried out in pentane at 80 °C with no hydrogen present using an Al/Zr ratio of 1000 unless otherwise stated. A Bϋchi 2 L stirred reactor with mantle heating was used for the polymerization tests. Example 1. (1, 5, 7-triaza[4.4. OJbicyclo-dec-5-enyl) potassium (1), C7H12KN3. Red solid benzyl potassium (9.6 g, 73.3 mmol) was added as a solid onto the solution of l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-ene (10.2 g, 73.3 mmol) in 350 ml of dry toluene at -40 °C to obtain a red slurry. The temperature was allowed to warm to room temperature and the mixture stirred for 16 h at this temperature to obtain a white slurry. The solvents were removed in a vacuum and the product washed with 3 x 60 ml of ether and dried in a vacuum to obtain 10.1 g (78%) of white powder. iH- NMR in THF-dg; δ: 3.17 (t, 4H); 2.98 (t, 4H); 1.69 (t, 4H). The salt could not be analyzed with MS. Elemental analysis according to calculation: C 47,4%, H 6,8%, N 23,7%, K 22, 1% and according to the practical analysis: C 46,0%, H 6,4%, N 23, 1%. Example 2. (l,5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)titanium trichloride (2), C7H12CI3N3TL The potassium salt of l,5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-ene (1), (1.0 g, 5.6 mmol) in 50 ml toluene at -20 °C was addded as a slurry onto yellow solution of TiCl4 (0.6 ml, 5.6 mmol) in 50 ml of toluene at -20 °C during one hour to obtain an orange slurry. The mixture was stirred 16 h at -15 °C to obtain a red solution with a lighter solid in it. The solid was filtrated off and washed with 3 x 20 ml of toluene. The filtrate was evaporated and dried in a vacuum yielding 0.6 g (36%) of yellow solid. iH-NMR in C6D 6 ; δ: 3.67 (t, 4H); 1.96. (t, 4H); 1.12 (t, 4H). M+ = 292.4. Example 3. (l,5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-enyl)zirconium trichloride (3), C H^^ZrC^. Alternative higher yielding (49%) and simpler route to (3) is described in the example 6. A solution of l,5,7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-ene (1.7 g, 12 mmol) in THF (30 ml) at room temperature was added dropwise onto a white slurry of ZrCl4 (2.8 g, 12 mmol) in THF (50 ml) at -78 °C during 30 min. The whitish mixture was stirred for 1 h at -40 °C. A dark red solution of benzyl potassium (1.6 g, 12 mmol) in THF (50 ml) was then slowly added dropwise onto the reaction mixture at -78 °C during 30 min. The mixture was stirred overnight and the temperature allowed to warm to room temperature. After 18 h stirring the solution had turned from red to a whitish cream. The mixture was filtrated and the clear yellow solution evaporated in a vacuum to give a yellowish solid, which was purified by dissolving it in toluene and filtrating the insolubilities off. After evaporation a brownish paste was obtained and analyzed with MS and ^H-NMR in THF-d 8 . Yield 1.75 g, (43%). Ϊ H-NMR; δ: 3.48 (t, 4H); 3.31 (t, 4H); 1.92 (t, 4H). M + = 335.8. Elemental analysis according to calculation: C 25,0%, H 3,6%, Cl 31,7%, N 31,7%, Zr 27,2% and according to the practical analysis: C 26,0%, H 3,7%, Cl 29,0%, N 12,5%. Example 4. Tris(l,5, 7-trιaza[4.4.0]bιcyclo-dec-5-enyl)zιrconιum chloride (4), C21 H 36 N 9 ZrC1 - A solution of 1, 5, 7-triaza[4.4. Ojbicy clo-dec-5 -ene (3.3 g, 24 mmol) in THF (50 ml) at room temperature was added dropwise onto a red solution of benzyl potassium (3.1 g, 24 mmol) in THF (50 ml) at -78 °C during 60 min to obtain a red solution. The mixture was stirred overnight and the temperature allowed to warm to room temperature. After 18 h stirring the solution had turned white. Solution was cooled to -78 °C and excess of solid ZrCl4 (2.8 g, 12 mmol) was added in one portion to give a white slurry, which was stirred for 5 h at -78 °C. The temperature was then allowed to warm to room temperature and the whitish mixture filtrated. The obtained clear yellow filtrate was evaporated in a vacuum to give 3.1 g (71.6%o) of yellow solid, which was analysed with MS and ^H-NMR in THF-d 8 . !H-NMR; δ: 3.22 (t, 4H); 2.95 (t, 4H); 1.70 (t, 4H). M+ = 541.3. Example 5. Bιs(l,5, 7-trιaza[4.4.0]bιcyclo-dec-5-enyl)zιrconιum dichloride (5), Ci4H24N6ZrCl2- Solid 7,5, 7-triaza[4.4.0]bicyclo-dec-5-ene (3.45 g, 24.8 mmol) was added during five minutes onto a solution of bis-(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 (5.02 g, 12.4 mmol) in 200 ml of toluene at -30 °C resulting in a dark brown solution. The solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and then refluxed for 18 hours to give a whitish precipitate. The cooled mixture was filtrated, washed with 3 x 50 ml of toluene and dried in a vacuum to yield 5.1 g (94%) of grey- white powder. M + = 438.5. EA; C-39.0%, H=5.4%, N=17.5%. Ϊ H-NMR spectrum in DMSO-d 6 (dissolution after 3 days) δ: 3.28 (t, 4H); 3.09 (t, 4H); 1.72 (t, 4H). Elemental analysis according to calculation: C 38.3%, H 5,5%, Cl 16,2%, N 19,2%, Zr 20,8% and according to the practical analysis: C 37,6%, H 5,4%, Cl 15,3%, N 18,6%. Example 6. (l,5, 7-trιaza[4.4.0]bιcyclo-dec-5-enyl)zιrconιum trichloride (3), C7Hj2N3ZrCl3. Route 2. Solid ZrCl4 (1.06 g, 4.56 mmol) was added into a white slurry of (5) (2.0 g, 4.56 mmol) in 150 ml of toluene at -60 °C during 10 minutes. The temperature was allowed to warm to room temperature. The resulting light brown mixture was then refluxed for 72 h. The cooled white-grey mixture was filtrated, washed with 3 x 30 ml of toluene and dried in a vacuum. The raw product was purified by hot soxhlet treatment (extraction) from boiling toluene. Yield 49%. Test polymerization data Polymerizations were carried out in a 2 1 stainless steel autoclave reactor equipped with a paddle stirrer and continuous supply of ethylene. Hydrogen and comonomer, if used were fed to the reactor simultaneously with ethylene. MFR's of the produced polymers were measured according to the ISO-1133 method. GPC was used to determine the average molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of the produced polymers. Polymerization temperature was 80 °C and ethylene pressure 10 bar. Abbreviations in the following tables HOPO = homopolymerization COPO = copolymerization / H2 = with hydrogen added as chain transfer agent Table 1. Homopolymerizations of ethylene with various TAB catalysts. Polymerization temperature was 80 °C. Ethylene pressure was 10 bar. Table 2. Copolymerization and H2 / homopolymerization with (TAB)2ZrCl2 (5). Table 3. Test polymerization data of (TAB)TiCl3. (2). Amount of the catalyst was 10 μmol. Al/metal ratio was 1000. Run temperature was 80 °C. The polymerizations were carried out in 1200 ml of pentane. Ethylene pressure was 10 bar. Run time was 30 min. Table 4. Test polymerization data of (TAB)ZrCl3 (3). The run temperature was 80 °C, Al/metal ratio was 1000 and the ethylene pressure 10 bar. Polymerizations were carried out in pentane.

Claims: Claims 1. An organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure, characterized in that the ligand includes at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being bonded to the same central carbon atom. 2. Compound according to claim 1 having the formula (1) LnMX m . n (1) wherein at least one L denotes said ligand coordinated by a π-electron bond to M and includes a heterocyclic ring structure having at least two fused rings and at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being connected to said same carbon atom, one of them being common for two rings and two of them being in separate rings, M is the central transition metal atom and belongs to Groups IV, V or VI of the Periodic Table of the Elements, X is an organic group or a halide coordinated to said central transition metal atom M, m signifies the coordination (ligand) number of said transition metal atom M, and n signifies an integer from 1 to m. 3. Compound according to claim 2 wherein the ligand L is a bicyclo group having three nitrogen atoms in their ring structure. 4. Compound according to claim 3 wherein the ligand L is a triaza bicyclo alkenyl group. 5. Compound according to claim 3 wherein the ligand L is 1,5,7-triazabiscyclo- dec-5-enyl, preferably l,5,7-triaza{4.4.0}bicyclo-dec-5-enyl. 6. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein M is titanium, zirconium, hafnium or chromium. 7. Compound according to claim 2 wherein two of the ligands L are bridged by a bivalent group. 8. Compound according to claim 7 wherein two of the ligands L are bridged by a substituted or non-substituted alkylene or silylene group having optionally one or more heteroatoms in the substituents or in the carbon and/or silicon chain. 9. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the X group is a chloride group. 10. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the X group is a dialkyl amide group, preferably dimethyl or diethyl amide group. 11. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein n > 1 and a part of the ligands L is replaced by a substitituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl compound. 12. Method to prepare an organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure, characterized in that a compound consisting of the ligand which includes at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being bonded to the same carbon atom, and a hydrogen atom bound to one of said three nitrogen atoms of said ligand, is reacted with a metallocene and/or a halide of said transition metal. 13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that an alkaline metal salt of the ligand is reacted with a transition metal halide, preferably chloride. 14. Method according claim 12, characterized in that the ligand is prepared as follows: first a salt of an alkaline metal of toluene is produced, and the salt is then reacted in toluene solution with said compound consisting of the ligand and a hydrogen atom bound to one of its three nitrogen atoms. 15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the alkaline metal is potassium. 16. Process for the production of olefin polymers, characterized in that one or more olefins, optionally with other monomers is polymerized in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising one or several metallocene compounds according to any of claims 1 to 11 and a cocatalyst. 17. Process according to claim 16, characterized in that the cocatalyst comprises one or more aluminoxane compounds. 18. Process according to claim 17, characterized in that the cocatalyst is linear, cyclic or polymerized methyl aluminoxane (MAO). AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 20 January 1999 (20.01.99); original claims 1-18 replaced by new claims 1-17 (3 pages)J 1. An organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure, characterized in that it has the formula (1) L n MX m-n (1) wherein at least one L denotes said ligand coordinated by a π-electron bond to M and includes a heterocyclic ring structure having at least two fused rings, containing at least three nitrogen atoms, of which three are being connected to the same carbon atom, one being common for said two fused rings and two occuring separately in each of the fused rings, M is the central transition metal atom and belongs to Groups IV, V or VI of the Periodic Table of the Elements, X is an organic group or a halide coordinated to said central transition metal atom M, m signifies the coordination (ligand) number of said transition metal atom M, and n signifies an integer from 1 to m. 2. Compound according to claim 1 wherein the ligand L is a bicyclo group having three nitrogen atoms in their ring structure. 3. Compound according to claim 2 wherein the ligand L is a triaza bicycloalkenyl group. 4. Compound according to claim 4 wherein the ligand L is 1,5,7-triazabiscyclo- dec-5-enyl, preferably l,5,7-triaza{ 4.4.0 } bicyclo-dec-5-enyl. 5. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein M is titanium, zirconium, hafnium or chromium. 6. Compound according to claim 1 wherein two of the ligands L are bridged by a bivalent group. 7. Compound according to claim 6 wherein two of the ligands L are bridged by a substituted or non-substituted alkylene or silylene group having optionally one or more heteroatoms in the substituents or in the carbon and/or silicon chain. 8. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the X group is a chloride group. 9. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the X group is a dialkyl amide group, preferably dimethyl or diethyl amide group. 10. Compound according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein n > 1 and a part of the ligands L is replaced by a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl compound. 11. Method to prepare an organometallic compound comprising a central transition metal atom and a ligand coordinated thereto having a heteroatomic ring structure, characterized in that a compound consisting of the ligand which includes at least three nitrogen atoms, three of them being bonded to the same carbon atom, and a hydrogen atom bound to one of said three nitrogen atoms of said ligand, is reacted with a metallocene and/or a halide of said transition metal. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that an alkaline metal salt of the ligand is reacted with a transition metal halide, preferably chloride. 13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the alkaline metal salt of the ligand is prepared as follows: first an alkaline metal salt of toluene is produced, and the salt is then reacted in toluene solution with said compound consisting of the ligand and a hydrogen atom bound to one of its three nitrogen atoms. 14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the alkaline metal is potassium. 15. Process for the production of olefin polymers, characterized in that one or more olefins, optionally with other monomers is polymerized in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising one or several metallocene compounds according to any of claims 1 to 10 and a cocatalyst. 16. Process according to claim 15, characterized in that the cocatalyst comprises one or more aluminoxane compounds. 17. Process according to claim 16, characterized in that the cocatalyst is linear, cyclic or polymerized methyl aluminoxane (MAO).

Inventors: ANDELL OVE, MAARANEN JANNE, ANDELL, OVE, MAARANEN, JANNE
Applicants: ANDELL OVE, BOREALIS AS, MAARANEN JANNE, ANDELL, OVE, BOREALIS A/S, MAARANEN, JANNE
Application year: 1998
Main classification: C07F7
IPC codes: C07D487, C07F7, C07F11, C08F4, C08F10, C08F110, C08F210