Metallocene compounds, catalysts comprising them, process for producing an olefin polymer by use of the catalysts, and olefin homo- and copolymers

US8415492B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lummus Novolen Technology GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Thorsten Sell · Worms, DE
• Andreas Winter · Königstein, DE
• Matthew G. Thorn · Lebanon, US
• Anita Dimeska · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Franz Langhauser · Bad Dürkheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 13, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2013
• Expiry date: May 13, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C08F210/06
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Certain metallocene compounds are provided that, when used as a component in a supported polymerization catalyst under industrially relevant polymerization conditions, afford high molar mass homo polymers or copolymers like polypropylene or propylene/ethylene copolymers without the need for any α-branched substituent in either of the two available 2-positions of the indenyl ligands. The substituent in the 2-position of one indenyl ligand can be any radical comprising hydrogen, methyl, or any other C2-C40 hydrocarbon which is not branched in the α-position, and substituent in the 2-position of the other indenyl ligand can be any C5-C40 hydrocarbon radical with the proviso that this hydrocarbon radical is branched in the β-position and that the β-carbon atom is a quarternary carbon atom and part of a non-cyclic hydrocarbon system. This metallocene topology affords high melting point, very high molar mass homo polypropylene and very high molar mass propylene-based copolymers. Furthermore, the activity/productivity levels of catalysts comprising the metallocenes of the present invention are exceptionally high.