α-olefins and olefin polymers and processes therefor

US6894134B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY · US
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · US

Inventors

• Maurice S. Brookhart · Chapel Hill, US
• Lynda Kaye Johnson · Wilmington, US
• Christopher Moore Killian · Jonesborough, US
• Elizabeth Forrester McCord · Hockessin, US
• Stephan James McLain · Wilmington, US
• Samuel David Arthur · Wilmington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2001
• Grant date: May 17, 2005
• Expiry date: Sep 7, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T442/626
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Disclosed herein are processes for polymerizing ethylene, acyclic olefins, and/or selected cyclic olefins, and optionally selected olefinic esters or carboxylic acids, and other monomers. The polymerizations are catalyzed by selected transition metal compounds, and sometimes other co-catalysts. Since some of the polymerizations exhibit some characteristics of living polymerizations, block copolymers can be readily made. Many of the polymers produced are often novel, particularly in regard to their microstructure, which gives some of them unusual properties. Numerous novel catalysts are disclosed, as well as some novel processes for making them. The polymers made are useful as elastomers, molding resins, in adhesives, etc. Also described herein is the synthesis of linear α-olefins by the oligomerization of ethylene using as a catalyst system a combination a nickel compound having a selected α-diimine ligand and a selected Lewis or Bronsted acid, or by contacting selected α-diimine nickel complexes with ethylene.