CURABLE COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING UNSATURATED POLYOLEFINS

FIELD

Embodiments relate to curable compositions that are useful for improved crosslinking.

BACKGROUND

Polyolefin elastomers, such as ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and olefin block copolymers, are widely used in footwear applications as crosslinked foams due to their ability to provide high mechanical performance, such as high resilience, softness, and durability, among other things. However, polyolefin elastomers usually have lower curing levels and efficiency which lead to longer curing time (cycle time) in footwear foam production. One approach to address this issue is to increase the amount of curing agent, such as peroxide, but such an approach is costly and leads to production of decomposition byproduct, which has an unpleasant odor. Accordingly, there is a need in the state of the art for novel polyolefin compositions that have improved curing levels and performance even with low amounts of curing agent and also have high mechanical performance. The present disclosure addresses this need.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a curable composition for a crosslinked foam, the curable composition comprising (A) a polyolefin component comprising an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and/or a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²; (B) a curing component comprising a cross-linking agent; and (C) an additive component comprising a blowing agent, wherein:

L¹at each occurrence independently is a polyolefin;

A¹at each occurrence independently is selected from the group consisting of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, a mixture of a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, and a mixture of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—;

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group;

L²is a C₁to C₃₂hydrocarbylene group; and

A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond.

The (C) additive component may further comprise a blowing agent activator and a filler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B provide the 1H NMR and GC/MS spectra for the synthesis of CTA 1, respectively.

FIG. 2 provides the 1H NMR spectrum for the synthesis of CTA 2.

FIG. 3 provides the 1H NMR spectrum for the synthesis of a telechelic polyolefin using CTA 7.

FIG. 4 provides the 1H NMR spectrum for the synthesis of a telechelic polyolefin using CTA 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Definitions

All references to the Periodic Table of the Elements herein shall refer to the Periodic Table of the Elements, published and copyrighted by CRC Press, Inc., 2003. Also, any references to a Group or Groups shall be to the Group or Groups reflected in this Periodic Table of the Elements using the IUPAC system for numbering groups. Unless stated to the contrary, implicit from the context, or customary in the art, all parts and percents are based on weight. For purposes of United States patent practice, the contents of any patent, patent application, or publication referenced herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety (or the equivalent US version thereof is so incorporated by reference) especially with respect to the disclosure of synthetic techniques, definitions (to the extent not inconsistent with any definitions provided herein) and general knowledge in the art.

The numerical ranges disclosed herein include all values from, and including, the lower and upper value. For ranges containing explicit values (e.g., 1, or 2, or 3 to 5, or 6, or 7), any subrange between any two explicit values is included (e.g., 1 to 2; 2 to 6; 5 to 7; 3 to 7; 5 to 6; etc.). The numerical ranges disclosed herein further include the fractions between any two explicit values.

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having” and their derivatives are not intended to exclude the presence of any additional component, step or procedure, whether or not the same is specifically disclosed. In order to avoid any doubt, all compositions claimed through use of the term “comprising” may include any additional additive, adjuvant, component, or compound, whether polymeric or otherwise, unless stated to the contrary. In contrast, the term “consisting essentially of” excludes from the scope of any succeeding recitation any other component, step, or procedure, excepting those that are not essential to operability. The term “consisting of” excludes any component, step, or procedure not specifically delineated or listed. The term “or,” unless stated otherwise, refers to the listed members individually as well as in any combination.

The term “hindered double bond” refers to a carbon-carbon double bond that cannot readily participate in coordination polymerization. In other words, a hindered double bond has negligible reactivity to participate in coordination polymerization. Examples of hindered double bonds include but are not limited to the double bond of a vinylidene group, the double bond of a vinylene group, the double bond of a trisubstituted alkene, and the double bond of a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon. The term “hindered double bond,” as defined herein, excludes the double bonds of strained cyclic olefins that can readily participate in coordination polymerization. As one of ordinary skill in the art would understand, examples of such strained cyclic olefins include but are not limited to norbornene, ethylidene norbornene (ENB), 5-vinyl-2-norbornene (VNB), dicyclopentadiene, norbornadiene, 5-methylene-2-norbornene (MNB), 5-propenyl-2-norbornene, 5-isopropylidene-2-norbornene, 5-(4-cyclopentenyl)-2-norbornene, 5-cyclohexylidene-2-norbornene, etc. The term “hindered double bond,” as defined herein, further excludes the double bond of a vinyl group attached to an unbranched alpha carbon.

The term “composition” refers to a mixture of materials or components which comprise the composition. Accordingly, the term “a composition comprising” and similar terms are not intended to exclude the presence of any additional components of the composition, whether or not the same is specifically disclosed.

The term “acyclic” refers to a series of atoms in a polymer or compound where such a series is linear or branched. Accordingly, the term “acyclic hydrocarbyl group” refers to a hydrocarbyl group that is linear or branched.

The term “cyclic” refers to a series of atoms in a polymer or compound where such a series includes one or more rings. Accordingly, the term “cyclic hydrocarbyl group” refers to a hydrocarbyl group that contains one or more rings. A “cyclic hydrocarbyl group,” as used herein, may contain acyclic (linear or branched) portions in addition to the one or more rings.

The term “substituted” refers to a substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms with, for example, an alkyl group. The term “unsubstituted” refers to the absence of such a substitution.

The term “heteroatom,” as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand, refers to any main group atom that is not carbon or hydrogen. Suitable heteroatoms include but are not limited to nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, and the halogens.

As used herein, the terms “hydrocarbyl,” “hydrocarbyl group,” and like terms refer to compounds composed entirely of hydrogen and carbon, including aliphatic, aromatic, acyclic, cyclic, polycyclic, branched, unbranched, saturated, and unsaturated compounds.

The terms “hydrocarbyl,” “hydrocarbyl group,” “alkyl,” “alkyl group,” “aryl,” “aryl group,” “cycloalkene” and like terms are intended to include every possible isomer, including every structural isomer or stereoisomer. The same applies for like terms including but not limited to heterohydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylene, heterohydrocarbylene, alkylene, heteroalkyl, heteroalkylene, arylene, heteroaryl, heteroarylene, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylene, heterocycloalkyl, and heterocycloalkylene.

The term “endocyclic double bond” refers to a double bond between two carbon atoms that are members of a ring. The term “exocyclic double bond” refers to a double bond between two carbon atoms where only one of the carbon atoms is a member of a ring.

“Active catalyst,” “active catalyst composition,” and like terms refer to a transition metal compound that is, with or without a co-catalyst, capable of polymerization of unsaturated monomers. An active catalyst may be a “procatalyst” that becomes active to polymerize unsaturated monomers without a co-catalyst. Alternatively, an active catalyst may a “procatalyst” that becomes active, in combination with a co-catalyst, to polymerize unsaturated monomers.

The term “procatalyst” is used interchangeably with “catalyst,” “precatalyst,” “catalyst precursor,” “transition metal catalyst,” “transition metal catalyst precursor,” “polymerization catalyst,” “polymerization catalyst precursor,” “transition metal complex,” “transition metal compound,” “metal complex,” “metal compound,” “complex,” “metal-ligand complex,” and like terms.

“Co-catalyst” refers to a compound that can activate certain procatalysts to form an active catalyst capable of polymerization of unsaturated monomers. The term “co-catalyst” is used interchangeably with “activator” and like terms.

“Polymer” refers to a compound prepared by polymerizing monomers, whether of the same or a different type. The generic term “polymer” thus embraces the term “homopolymer” that refers to polymers prepared from only one type of monomer and the terms “interpolymer” or “copolymer” as defined herein. Trace amounts of impurities, for example, catalyst residues, may be incorporated into and/or within the polymer.

“Interpolymer” or “copolymer” refer to a polymer prepared by polymerizing at least two different types of monomers. These generic terms include both polymers prepared from two different types of monomers and polymers prepared from more than two different types of monomers (e.g., terpolymers, tetrapolymers, etc.). These generic terms embrace all forms of interpolymers or copolymers, such as random, block, homogeneous, heterogeneous, etc.

An “ethylene-based polymer” or “ethylene polymer” is a polymer that contains a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of polymerized ethylene, based on the weight of the polymer, and, optionally, may further contain polymerized units of at least one comonomer. An “ethylene-based interpolymer” is an interpolymer that contains, in polymerized form, a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of ethylene, based on the weight of the interpolymer, and further contains polymerized units of at least one comonomer. Preferably, the ethylene-based interpolymer is a random interpolymer (i.e., comprises a random distribution of its monomeric constituents). An “ethylene homopolymer” is a polymer that comprises repeating units derived from ethylene but does not exclude residual amounts of other components.

A “propylene-based polymer” or “propylene polymer” is a polymer that contains a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of polymerized propylene, based on the weight of the polymer, and, optionally, may further contain polymerized units of at least one comonomer. A “propylene-based interpolymer” is an interpolymer that contains, in polymerized form, a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of propylene, based on the weight of the interpolymer, and further contains polymerized units of at least one comonomer. Preferably, the propylene-based interpolymer is a random interpolymer (i.e., comprises a random distribution of its monomeric constituents). A “propylene homopolymer” is a polymer that comprises repeating units derived from propylene but does not exclude residual amounts of other components.

An “ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer” is an interpolymer that contains a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of polymerized ethylene, based on the weight of the interpolymer, and further contains polymerized units of at least one alpha-olefin. Preferably, the ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer is a random interpolymer (i.e., comprises a random distribution of its monomeric constituents). An “ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer” is a copolymer that contains a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of polymerized ethylene, based on the weight of the copolymer, and further contains polymerized units of an alpha-olefin. Preferably, the ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer is a random copolymer (i.e., comprises a random distribution of its monomeric constituents).

A “propylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer” is an interpolymer that contains a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of polymerized propylene, based on the weight of the interpolymer, and further contains polymerized units of at least one alpha-olefin. Preferably, the propylene/alpha-olefin interpolymer is a random interpolymer (i.e., comprises a random distribution of its monomeric constituents). A “propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer” is an interpolymer that contains a majority amount (greater than 50 wt %) of polymerized propylene, based on the weight of the copolymer, and further contains polymerized units of an alpha-olefin. Preferably, the propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer is a random copolymer (i.e., comprises a random distribution of its monomeric constituents).

“Polyolefin” refers to a polymer produced from olefin monomers, where an olefin monomer (also called an alkene) is a linear, branched, or cyclic compound of carbon and hydrogen having at least one double bond.

The terms “chain transfer agent component” and “chain transfer agent” as used herein, refers to a compound or mixture of compounds that is capable of causing reversible or irreversible polymeryl exchange with active catalyst sites. Irreversible chain transfer refers to a transfer of a growing polymer chain from the active catalyst to the chain transfer agent that results in termination of polymer chain growth. Reversible chain transfer refers to transfers of growing polymer chain back and forth between the active catalyst and the chain transfer agent.

The term “olefin block copolymer” or “OBC” refers to an ethylene/alpha-olefin multi-block interpolymer and includes ethylene and one or more copolymerizable alpha-olefin comonomers in polymerized form, characterized by multiple blocks or segments of two or more (preferably three or more) polymerized monomer units, the blocks or segments differing in chemical or physical properties. Specifically, the term “olefin block copolymer” refers to a polymer comprising two or more (preferably three or more) chemically distinct regions or segments (referred to as “blocks”) joined in a linear manner, that is, a polymer comprising chemically differentiated units which are joined (covalently bonded) end-to-end with respect to polymerized functionality, rather than in pendent or grafted fashion. The blocks differ in the amount or type of comonomer incorporated therein, the density, the amount of crystallinity, the type of crystallinity (e.g., polyethylene versus polypropylene), the crystallite size attributable to a polymer of such composition, the type or degree of tacticity (isotactic or syndiotactic), region-regularity or region-irregularity, the amount of branching, including long chain branching or hyper-branching, the homogeneity, and/or any other chemical or physical property. The block copolymers are characterized by unique distributions of both polymer polydispersity (PDI or Mw/Mn) and block length distribution, e.g., based on the effect of the use of a shuttling agent(s) in combination with catalyst systems. Non-limiting examples of the olefin block copolymers of the present disclosure, as well as the processes for preparing the same, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,858,706 B2, 8,198,374 B2, 8,318,864 B2, 8,609,779 B2, 8,710,143 B2, 8,785,551 B2, and 9,243,090 B2, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The term “block composite” (“BC”) refers to a polymer comprising three polymer components: (i) an ethylene-based polymer (EP) having an ethylene content from 10 mol % to 90 mol % (a soft copolymer), based on the total moles of polymerized monomer units in the ethylene-based polymer (EP); (ii) an alpha-olefin-based polymer (AOP) having an alpha-olefin content of greater than 90 mol % (a hard copolymer), based on the total moles of polymerized monomer units in the alpha-olefin-based polymer (AOP); and (iii) a block copolymer (diblock copolymer) having an ethylene block (EB) and an alpha-olefin block (AOB); wherein the ethylene block of the block copolymer is the same composition as the EP of component (i) of the block composite and the alpha-olefin block of the block copolymer is the same composition as the AOP of component (ii) of the block composite. Additionally, in the block composite, the compositional split between the amount of EP and AOP will be essentially the same as that between the corresponding blocks in the block copolymer. Non-limiting examples of the block composites of the present disclosure, as well as processes for preparing the same, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,686,087 and 8,716,400, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The term “specified block composite” (“SBC”) refers to a polymer comprising three polymer components: (i) an ethylene-based polymer (EP) having an ethylene content from 78 mol % to 90 mol % (a soft copolymer), based on the total moles of polymerized monomer units in the ethylene-based polymer (EP); (ii) an alpha-olefin-based polymer (AOP) having an alpha-olefin content of from 61 mol % to 90 mol % (a hard copolymer), based on the total moles of polymerized monomer units in the alpha-olefin-based polymer (AOP); and (iii) a block copolymer (diblock copolymer) having an ethylene block (EB) and an alpha-olefin block (AOB); wherein the ethylene block of the block copolymer is the same composition as the EP of component (i) of the specified block composite and the alpha-olefin block of the block copolymer is the same composition as the AOP of component (ii) of the specified block composite. Additionally, in the specified block composite, the compositional split between the amount of EP and AOP will be essentially the same as that between the corresponding blocks in the block copolymer. Non-limiting examples of the specified block composites of the present disclosure, as well as processes for preparing the same, are disclosed in WO 2017/044547, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The term “crystalline block composite” (“CBC”) refers to polymers comprising three components: (i) a crystalline ethylene based polymer (CEP) having an ethylene content of greater than 90 mol %, based on the total moles of polymerized monomer units in the crystalline ethylene based polymer (CEP); (ii) a crystalline alpha-olefin based polymer (CAOP) having an alpha-olefin content of greater than 90 mol %, based on the total moles of polymerized monomer units in the crystalline alpha-olefin based copolymer (CAOP); and (iii) a block copolymer comprising a crystalline ethylene block (CEB) and a crystalline alpha-olefin block (CAOB); wherein the CEB of the block copolymer is the same composition as the CEP of component (i) of the crystalline block composite and the CAOB of the block copolymer is the same composition as the CAOP of component (ii) of the crystalline block composite. Additionally, in the crystalline block composite, the compositional split between the amount of CEP and CAOP will be essentially the same as that between the corresponding blocks in the block copolymer. Non-limiting examples of the crystalline block composites of the present disclosure, as well as the processes for preparing the same, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,822,598 B2 and WO 2016/01028961 A1, which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The term “crystalline” refers to a polymer that possesses a first order transition or crystalline melting point (Tm) as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or equivalent techniques. The term may be used interchangeably with the term “semicrystalline.” The term “amorphous” refers to a polymer lacking a crystalline melting point as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or equivalent technique.

(A) Polyolefin Component

In certain embodiments, the curable composition of the present disclosure may comprise from 15 wt % to 98 wt % (such as from 35 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 50 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 75 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 80 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 85 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 90 wt % to 98 wt %) of the (A) polyolefin component, based on the total weight of the curable composition.

In certain embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component comprises an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹. In certain embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component comprises a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A². In further embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component comprises an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A². In further embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component comprises an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², wherein the (A) polyolefin component comprises a ratio of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹to the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²of from 1:99 to 99:1, or from 10:90 to 90:10, or from 20:80 to 80:20, or from 30:70 to 70:30, or from 40:60 to 60:40, or 50:50.

As discussed further below, the (A) polyolefin component may further comprise polymers other than the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², such as ethylene-based polymers. Examples of ethylene-based polymers include but are not limited to ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers, such as those available as ENGAGE™ from The Dow Chemical Company, and olefin block copolymers available as INFUSE™ from The Dow Chemical Company. These ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and olefin block copolymers have low or no unsaturations.

As one of ordinary skill in the art would understand in view of the formula A¹L¹L²A², A¹is covalently bonded to L¹through a carbon-carbon single bond, L¹is covalently bonded to L²through a carbon-carbon single bond, and L²is covalently bonded to A²through a carbon-carbon single bond. Accordingly, when it is stated herein that L¹of the formula A¹L¹L²A²is a polyolefin, it is understood that L¹is a divalent polyolefinyl group (a polyolefin missing two hydrogens) that is covalently bonded to each of the A¹and L²groups through carbon-carbon single bonds. Likewise, when it is stated that L¹of the formula A¹L¹L²A²is a polymer, it is understood that L¹is a divalent polymeryl group (a polymer missing two hydrogens) that is covalently bonded to each of the A¹and L²groups through carbon-carbon single bonds. For example, when it is stated that L¹is an ethylene homopolymer, it is understood that L¹is a divalent ethylene homopolymeryl group (an ethylene homopolymer missing two hydrogens) that is covalently bonded to each of the A¹and L²groups through carbon-carbon single bonds. As a further example, when it is stated that L¹is an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, it is understood that L¹is a divalent ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymeryl group (an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer missing two hydrogens) that is covalently bonded to each of the A¹and L²groups through carbon-carbon single bonds.

Similarly, as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand in view of the formula A¹L¹, A¹is covalently bonded to L¹through a carbon-carbon single bond. Accordingly, wherein it is stated herein that L¹of the formula A¹L¹is a polyolefin, it is understood that L¹is a polyolefinyl group (a polyolefin missing one hydrogen) that is covalently bonded to the A¹group through a carbon-carbon single bond.

L¹at each occurrence independently is a polyolefin resulting from the coordination polymerization of unsaturated monomers (and comonomers). Examples of suitable monomers (and comonomers) include but are not limited to ethylene and alpha-olefins of 3 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 5-ethyl-1-nonene, 1-octadecene and 1-eicosene; conjugated or nonconjugated dienes, such as butadiene, isoprene, 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 1,5-heptadiene, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,3-octadiene, 1,4-octadiene, 1,5-octadiene, 1,6-octadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,9-decadiene, 7-methyl-1,6-octadiene, 4-ethylidene-8-methyl-1,7-nonadiene, and 5,9-dimethyl-1,4,8-decatriene, 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene, and mixed isomers of dihydromyrcene and dihydroocimene; norbornene and alkenyl, alkylidene, cycloalkenyl and cycloalkylidene norbornenes, such as 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, dicyclopentadiene, 5-methylene-2-norbornene, 5-propenyl-2-norbornene, 5-isopropylidene-2-norbornene, 5-(4-cyclopentenyl)-2-norbornene, 5-cyclohexylidene-2-norbornene, and norbornadiene; and aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrenes, mono or poly alkylstyrenes (including styrene, o-methylstyrene, t-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, o,p-dimethylstyrene, o-ethylstyrene, m-ethylstyrene and p-ethylstyrene).

L¹may be linear (unbranched), branched, or cyclic. The presence or absence of branching in L¹, and the amount of branching (if branching is present), can vary widely and may depend on the desired processing conditions and the desired polymer properties. If branching is present in L¹, the branching may be short chain branching or long chain branching. Exemplary types of long chain branching that may be present in L¹include but are not limited to T-type branching and H-type branching. Accordingly, in some embodiments, L¹may comprise long chain branching. In other words, in some embodiments, L¹may comprise one or more long chain branches, wherein each long chain branch optionally comprises an A²group as defined herein.

In some embodiments, the A¹group of each of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²correlates to the last inserted monomer or comonomer based on the coordination polymerization of monomers and comonomers to form L¹. Accordingly, the selection of the monomers and comonomers for the coordination polymerization of L¹will indicate what the A¹group and the Y¹group may be. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a vinyl group. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group. In some embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

In further embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein A¹comprises a ratio of the vinyl group to the vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH— of from 0.99:0.01 to 0.01:0.99, and wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

In further embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, wherein A¹comprises a ratio of the vinyl group to the vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— of from 0.99:0.01 to 0.01:0.99, and wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

In further embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein A¹comprises a ratio of the vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— to the vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH— of from 0.99:0.01 to 0.01:0.99, and wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

In further embodiments, the A¹group is a mixture of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, wherein A¹comprises a ratio of the vinyl group to the sum of the vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, the vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, and the vinyl group of from 0.99:0.01 to 0.01:0.99, and wherein Y¹is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

In certain embodiments, L¹is a homopolymer comprising units derived from one monomer. The monomer may be selected from any of the suitable monomers discussed previously. In further embodiments, L¹is an ethylene homopolymer comprising units derived from ethylene. In further embodiments, L¹is a propylene homopolymer comprising units derived from propylene.

In some embodiments, L¹is an interpolymer comprising units derived from at least two different types of monomers, such as a monomer and a comonomer. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, L¹is an interpolymer comprising units derived from a monomer and at least one comonomer that is different from the monomer. Each of the monomer and the at least one comonomer that is different from the monomer may be selected from any of the suitable monomers discussed previously.

In further embodiments, L¹is a copolymer comprising units derived from two different types of monomers, such as a monomer and a comonomer. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, L¹is a copolymer comprising units derived from a monomer and a comonomer that is different from the monomer. Each of the monomer and the comonomer may be selected from any of the suitable monomers discussed previously.

In certain embodiments, L¹is an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. In some embodiments, L¹is an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprising units derived from ethylene and a C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin, wherein each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²comprises an amount of ethylene that is greater than or equal to 50 wt %, or greater than or equal to 60 wt %, or greater than or equal to 70 wt %, or greater than or equal to 75 wt %, or greater than or equal to 80 wt %, or greater than or equal to 85 wt %, or greater than or equal to 88 wt %, or greater than or equal to 89 wt %, or greater than or equal to 90 wt %, based on the total weight of each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A². The C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin may be selected from any of the suitable alpha-olefins discussed previously. In certain embodiments, the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin may be propylene, isobutylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, or the like. In some embodiments, L¹is an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprising units derived from ethylene and a C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin, wherein the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene.

In further embodiments, L¹is a propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer. L¹may be a propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprising units derived from propylene and either ethylene or a C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin, wherein each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²comprises an amount of propylene that is greater than or equal to 50 wt %, or greater than or equal to 60 wt %, or greater than or equal to 70 wt %, or greater than or equal to 75 wt %, or greater than or equal to 80 wt %, or greater than or equal to 85 wt %, or greater than or equal to 88 wt %, or greater than or equal to 89 wt %, or greater than or equal to 90 wt %, based on the total weight of each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A². The C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin may be any of the suitable alpha-olefins discussed above. In certain embodiments, the C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin may be isobutylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-pentene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 1-heptene, 1-octene, 1-nonene, 1-decene, or the like. In certain embodiments, L¹may be a propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprising units derived from propylene and either ethylene or a C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin, wherein the C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene.

In certain embodiments, L¹is a terpolymer comprising units derived from three different types of monomers, each of which may be selected from any of the suitable monomers discussed above. In further embodiments, L¹is a terpolymer comprising ethylene or propylene as a first monomer, a C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin or styrene as a second monomer, and a diene or polar monomer as a third monomer.

In some embodiments, L¹comprises from 0 to 10 wt % of units derived from diene monomers. For example, L¹may comprise from 1 to 8 wt %, or from 1 to 5 wt %, or from 1 to 3 wt % of units derived from diene monomers. In further embodiments, L¹may be substantially free of units derived from diene monomers. For example, in certain embodiments, L¹may comprise from 0 to 0.2 wt %, or from 0 to 0.01 wt %, or from 0 to 0.001 wt %, or from 0 to 0.0001 wt % of units derived from diene monomers.

In certain embodiments, L¹is an olefin block copolymer as defined herein. In further embodiments, L¹is a block composite, a specified block composite, or a crystalline block composite as defined herein.

In certain embodiments, L²is —CH₂CH(Y²)—, such that the telechelic polyolefin is A¹L¹CH₂CH(Y²)A², wherein Y²is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group. In certain embodiments, the Y²group is hydrogen. In further embodiments, the Y²group is a C₁to C₁₀alkyl group, or a C₁to C₆alkyl group, or a C₁to C₃alkyl group. In further embodiments, the Y²group is an ethyl group.

In some embodiments, A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond. In further embodiments, A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising two or more hindered double bonds.

In certain embodiments, due to the hindered double bond, the A²group is a group that is not readily incorporated by an active catalyst under the process conditions used to make the polyolefin L¹, such that direct incorporation of A²along the backbone chain of L¹is less than or equal to 0.5 mol %, or less than or equal to 0.1 mol %, or is not detected, as determined by the ¹³C NMR method described herein or similar ¹³C NMR methods.

In some embodiments, A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond, wherein the hindered double bond is selected from the group consisting of the double bond of a vinylidene group, the double bond of a vinylene group, the double bond of a trisubstituted alkene, and the double bond of a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon.

In further embodiments, A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising two or more hindered double bonds, wherein each hindered double bond is independently selected from the group consisting of the double bond of a vinylidene group, the double bond of a vinylene group, the double bond of a trisubstituted alkene, and the double bond of a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon.

In certain embodiments, A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a functional group, wherein the functional group is selected from the group consisting of a vinylidene group, a vinylene group, a trisubstituted alkene, and a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon.

In further embodiments, A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising two or more functional groups, wherein each functional group is independently selected from the group consisting of a vinylidene group, a vinylene group, a trisubstituted alkene, and a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon.

The A²group may be a cyclic or acyclic (linear or branched) hydrocarbyl group. If A²is a cyclic hydrocarbyl group, A²may comprise one or more rings, wherein each ring may be a monocyclic, bicyclic, or polycyclic ring, and wherein each ring may comprise one or more hindered double bonds.

Furthermore, if A²is a cyclic hydrocarbyl group, each hindered double bond or functional group therein may be an endocyclic double bond, an exocyclic double bond, or an acyclic double bond. For example, A²may be a cyclic hydrocarbyl group comprising a vinylene group, wherein the double bond of the vinylene group may be an endocyclic double bond or an acyclic double bond. In further embodiments, A²may be a cyclic hydrocarbyl group comprising a vinylidene group, wherein the double bond of the vinylidene group may be an exocyclic double bond or an acyclic double bond. In further embodiments, A²may be a cyclic hydrocarbyl group comprising a trisubstituted alkene, wherein the double bond of the trisubstituted alkene may be an endocyclic double bond, an exocyclic double bond, or an acyclic double bond. In further embodiments, A²may be a cyclic hydrocarbyl group comprising a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon, wherein the vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon is an acyclic double bond.

In any of the embodiments described herein, A²may comprise from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 25 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 15 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 9 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 4 carbon atoms, or 3 carbon atoms.

In certain embodiments, A²is a C₃to C₃₀cyclic hydrocarbyl group comprising an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkene. In further embodiments, A²is an alkyl-substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkene comprising from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 25 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 15 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 10 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 9 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 7 carbon atoms, or from 3 to 6 carbon atoms.

Exemplary unsubstituted cycloalkenes include but are not limited to cyclohexene, cycloheptene, cyclooctene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, 1,4-cyclohexadiene, and 1,5-cyclooctadiene. Exemplary alkyl-substituted cycloalkenes include but are not limited to alkyl-substituted cyclohexene, alkyl-substituted cycloheptene, alkyl-substituted cyclooctene, alkyl-substituted 1,3-cyclohexadiene, alkyl-substituted 1,4-cyclohexadiene, and alkyl-substituted 1,5-cyclooctadiene.

In some embodiments, A²is a methyl-substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkene selected from the group consisting of a methyl-substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexene, a methyl-substituted or unsubstituted cycloheptene, and a methyl-substituted or unsubstituted cyclooctene. In some embodiments, A²is a methyl-substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexene.

In some embodiments, A²is a C₁to C₁₀acyclic alkyl group, or a C₃to C₁₀acyclic alkyl group, or a C₄to C₈acyclic alkyl group.

Exemplary A²groups include but are not limited to the following:

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With regard to each of (AA) to (AZ) and (AZ1), the custom-character symbol (squiggly line symbol) denotes the point of connection to L²in the formula A¹L¹L²A², for example, the point of connection to the carbon attached to a hydrogen, “Y²,” and “A¹L¹CH₂” in the formula A¹L¹CH₂CH(Y²)A². In addition, with regard to each of (AA) to (AZ) and (AZ1), the custom-character symbol (squiggly line symbol) denotes the point of connection to the carbon attached to a hydrogen and Y²in the chain transfer agent formulas of Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃and Zn(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₂discussed below.

With regard to each of (AA) to (AF), the endocyclic double bond may be between any two adjacent carbon atoms that are ring members.

With regard to each of (AD) to (AF), the pendant methyl group may be connected to any carbon atom that is a ring member.

With regard to each of (AG) to (AL), the exocyclic double bond may be connected to any ring member carbon atom that is not already connected to more than two carbon atoms.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the GPC method described herein or similar GPC methods, a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 250,000 g/mol.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the GPC method described herein or similar GPC methods, a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 250,000 g/mol.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the GPC method described herein or similar GPC methods, an average molar mass (Mz) of from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 5,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 10,000 to 500,000 g/mol.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with ASTM D-792, Method B, a density of from 0.850 to 0.965 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.950 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.935 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.925 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.910 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.900 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.885 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.880 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.875 g/cc.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with ASTM D-1238, condition 190° C./2.16 kg, a melt index (I2) of from 0.01 to 2000 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 1,500 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 1,000 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 500 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 100 g/10 minutes, or from 0.5 to 50 g/10 minutes, or from 0.5 to 30 g/10 minutes.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the DSC method described herein or similar DSC methods, a Tm in the range of from −25° C. to 165° C., or from −25° C. to 150° C., or from −25° C. to 125° C., or from −25° C. to 100° C., or from 0° C. to 80° C., or from 10° C. to 60° C.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with ASTM D-3236, a Brookfield viscosity (as measured at 177° C.) of from 10 to 10⁸cP, or from 10 to 10⁷cP, or from 10 to 10⁶cP, or from 10 to 750,000 cP, or from 10 to 500,000 cP, or from 10 to 250,000 cP, or from 10 to 100,000 cP, or from 10 to 75,000 cP, or from 10 to 50,000 cP, or from 10 to 40,000 cP.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the DSC method described herein or similar DSC methods, an enthalpy of melting (ΔHm) of from 0 to 235 J/g, or from 0 to 200 J/g, or from 10 to 175 J/g, or from 10 to 150 J/g, or from 10 to 125 J/g, or from 20 to 117 J/g.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the DSC method described herein or similar DSC methods, a wt % crystallinity of from 0 to 80%, or from 0 to 60%, or from 5 to 50%, or from 7 to 40%, based on PE ΔHm of 292 J/g.

In some embodiments, the (A) polyolefin component (or each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A²) comprises or has, in accordance with the DSC method described herein or similar DSC methods, a T_gof from −80 to 100° C., or from −80 to 75° C., or from −80 to 50° C., or from −80 to 25° C., or from −80 to 0° C., or from −80 to −15° C., or from −70 to −30° C.

In some embodiments, L¹is substantially free of units derived from diene monomers, and the polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹comprises a total number of unsaturations of equal to or greater than 0.6, or equal to or greater than 0.7, or equal to or greater than 0.8, or equal to or greater than 0.9, or equal to or greater than 1.0, or equal to or greater than 1.1, or equal to or greater than 1.2, or equal to or greater than 1.3; and the polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²comprises a total number of unsaturations of equal to or greater than 1.1, or equal to or greater than 1.2, or equal to or greater than 1.3, or equal to or greater than 1.4, or equal to or greater than 1.5, or equal to or greater than 1.6, or equal to or greater than 1.7, or equal to or greater than 1.8, or equal to or greater than 1.9. The total number of unsaturations may be defined as (unsaturations/1000C)*(1000C/chain)=(unsaturations/1000C)*(Mn/M_CH2/1000), where unsaturations/1000C is measured by ¹H NMR, Mn is the number average molecular weight as measured by GPC and corrected for composition as measured by ¹³C NMR, M_CH2=14 g/mol. As reported, Mn measured by GPC is the polymer backbone number average molecular weight. Unsaturations/1000C as measured by 1H NMR is relative to total carbons in the polymer chain. For ethylene, propylene, octene, and ethylidene norbornene there are 2, 3, 8, and 9 total carbon atoms respectively, per 2 backbone carbon atoms. Therefore, the Mn corrected for composition is Mn as measured by GPC times (mol % C2/2+mol % C3/3+mol % C8/8+mol % ENB/9)/2. ¹³C NMR, ¹HNMR, and GPC here refer to the methods described herein or similar methods. “Substantially free,” as used here, refers to, for example, L¹comprising from 0 to 0.001 wt % of units derived from diene monomers, based on the total weight of each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A².

In some embodiments, L¹comprises from 1 to 8 wt %, or from 1 to 5 wt %, or from 1 to 3 wt % of units derived from diene monomers, based on the total weight of each of the polyolefins of the formulas A¹L¹and A¹L¹L²A², and the polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹comprises a total number of unsaturations of equal to or greater than (X^D+0.6), equal to or greater than (X^D+0.7), equal to or greater than (X^D+0.8), equal to or greater than (X^D+0.9), equal to or greater than (X^D+1), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.1), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.2), or equal to or greater than (X^D+1.3), and the polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²comprises a total number of unsaturations of equal to or greater than (X^D+1.1), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.2), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.3), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.4), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.5), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.6), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.7), equal to or greater than (X^D+1.8), or equal to or greater than (X^D+1.9), wherein X^Dis the number of unsaturations from the units derived from diene monomers in L¹, and wherein unsaturations are measured as described in the previous paragraph.

Preparing the (A) Polyolefin Component

The present disclosure further relates to a process for preparing a polyolefin component comprising an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹, the process comprising:

1) combining starting materials comprising (a1) a monomer component, (b1) a chain transfer agent component, and (c1) a catalyst component comprising a procatalyst to form a solution and polymerizing from greater than 10 mol % to less than or equal to 99 mol % of the (a1) monomer component in the solution;

2) heating the solution; and

3) recovering a product comprising the polyolefin component comprising the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹, wherein:

the (b1) chain transfer agent component comprises an aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃, and

d at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₁₀alkyl group;

L¹is a polyolefin;

A¹is selected from the group consisting of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, a mixture of a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, and a mixture of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—; and

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

The present disclosure further relates to a process for preparing a polyolefin component comprising a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², the process comprising:

2) heating the solution; and

3) recovering a product comprising the polyolefin component comprising the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², wherein:

the (b1) chain transfer agent component comprises an organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃;

L¹at each occurrence independently is a polyolefin;

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and

L²is a C₁to C₃₂hydrocarbylene group;

Y²at each occurrence independently is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and

A²at each occurrence independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond.

The present disclosure further relates to a process for preparing a polyolefin component comprising a polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², the process comprising:

2) heating the solution; and

3) recovering a product comprising the polyolefin component comprising the polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², wherein:

the (b1) chain transfer agent component comprises an aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃and an organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃;

d at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₁₀alkyl group;

L¹at each occurrence independently is a polyolefin;

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and

L²is a C₁to C₃₂hydrocarbylene group;

Y²at each occurrence independently is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and

A²at each occurrence independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond.

Each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²prepared by the above processes may comprise a weight average molecular weight from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol. Polymers other than the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²that are suitable for inclusion in the (A) polyolefin component (discussed below) may be prepared independently from the above processes and subsequently blended with the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and/or the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A².

For the process of preparing a polyolefin component comprising an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A², the (b1) chain transfer agent component may comprise a ratio of the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃to the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃from 1:99 to 99:1, or from 10:90 to 90:10, or from 20:80 to 80:20, or from 30:70 to 70:30, or from 40:60 to 60:40, or 50:50

The previously described embodiments for each of the L¹, A¹, Y¹, L², Y², and A²groups apply with respect to the present processes disclosed herein. Similarly, the previously described embodiments for the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²apply with respect to the present processes disclosed herein.

The starting materials in step 1) of any of the above processes may further comprise a (d1) solvent. The (d1) solvent of the starting materials may be any aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbon. Suitable solvents include but are not limited to toluene, xylene, hexane, pentane, benzene, heptane, Isopar™, and combinations thereof. Beyond this, the starting materials in step 1) may further comprise hydrogen, adjuvants, scavengers, and/or polymerization aids.

Step 1) of any of the above processes is a coordination polymerization step to form L¹from the monomers and comonomers of the (a1) monomer component. During step 1), polymeryl aluminum species can form via chain transfer between the (b1) chain transfer agent component and an active catalyst from the (c1) catalyst component. Subsequently, the polymeryl aluminum species undergo beta-hydride elimination during step 2) to form a product comprising the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and/or the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L^{2 A}A ²of the (A) polyolefin component, which is recovered during step 3).

Step 1) of any of the above processes is preferably carried out as a solution polymerization step. Most preferably, step 1) is performed as a continuous solution polymerization step in which the starting materials are continuously supplied to a reaction zone and polymer products are continuously removed therefrom. Within the scope of the terms “continuous” and “continuously,” as used in this context, are those processes in which there are intermittent additions of reactants and removal of products at regular or irregular intervals, so that, over time, the overall process is substantially continuous.

Step 1) of any of the above processes may be performed at a temperature from 60° C., or 80° C., or 100° C., or 110° C., or 115° C. to 120° C., or 130° C., or 140° C., or 150° C. For example, in certain embodiments, step 1) may be performed at a temperature from 60 to 150° C., or from 80 to 140° C., or from 100 to 130° C.

One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the amounts of each component of the starting materials, including components (a1) to (d1), may be varied in order to produce polymers differing in one or more chemical or physical properties.

Without limiting in any way the scope of the invention, one means for carrying out step 1) is as follows. In a stirred-tank reactor, the monomers of the (a1) monomer component are introduced continuously together with any solvent or diluent. The reactor contains a liquid phase composed substantially of monomers together with any solvent or diluent and dissolved polymer. Preferred solvents include C_4-10hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof, especially alkanes such as hexane or mixtures of alkanes, as well as one or more of the monomers employed in the polymerization. The (b1) chain transfer agent component and the (c1) catalyst component are continuously or intermittently introduced in the reactor liquid phase or any recycled portion thereof. The reactor temperature and pressure may be controlled by adjusting the solvent/monomer ratio, the addition rate of the (c1) catalyst component, as well as by cooling or heating coils, jackets or both. The polymerization rate is controlled by the rate of addition of the (c1) catalyst component. If the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene and at least one comonomer, the ethylene content of the polymer product is determined by the ratio of ethylene to comonomer in the reactor, which is controlled by manipulating the respective feed rates of these components to the reactor. The polymer product molecular weight is controlled, optionally, by controlling other polymerization variables such as the temperature, monomer concentration, or others known in the art. In a continuous process, the mean residence time of the active catalyst and polymer in the reactor generally is from 5 minutes to 8 hours, and preferably from 10 minutes to 6 hours.

Alternatively, step 1) of any of the above processes may be conducted under differentiated process conditions in two or more reactors, connected in series, operating under steady state polymerization conditions or in two or more zones of a reactor operating under plug flow polymerization conditions. Alternatively, step 1) of any of the above processes may be conducted in one or more continuous loop reactors with or without monomer, catalyst, or chain transfer agent gradients established between differing regions thereof, optionally accompanied by separated addition of catalysts and/or chain transfer agent, and operating under adiabatic or non-adiabatic solution polymerization conditions or combinations of the foregoing reactor conditions.

Following step 1), the polymer solution is heated in accordance with step 2), as further described below. Such heating includes, but is not limited to, heating in a post-reactor heater. Following step 2), the polymer product is recovered in step 3) by means known in the art. Such means include contacting the polymer solution with a catalyst kill agent such as water, steam or an alcohol, flashing off gaseous monomers as well as residual solvent or diluent at reduced pressure, and, if necessary, conducting further devolatilization in equipment such as a devolatilizing extruder.

In some embodiments, the solution in step 2) of any of the above processes is heated at a temperature of at least 160° C., or at least 180° C., or at least 200° C., or at least 210° C., or at least 220° C., or at least 230° C., or at least 240° C., or at least 250° C., or at least 260° C., or at least 270° C., or at least 280° C., or at least 290° C., or at least 300° C. for a time of at least 30 seconds, or at least 1 minute, or at least 5 minutes, or at least 10 minutes, or at least 15 minutes, or at least 20 minutes, or at least 30 minutes, or at least 45 minutes, or at least 1 hour, or at least 6 hours, or least 12 hours, or at least 18 hours, or at least 24 hours

In some embodiments, the solution in step 2) of any of the above processes is heated to a temperature of at least 160° C., or at least 180° C., or at least 200° C., or at least 210° C., or at least 220° C., or at least 230° C., or at least 240° C., or at least 250° C., or at least 260° C., or at least 270° C., or at least 280° C., or at least 290° C., or at least 300° C. and held at a temperature of at least 160° C., or at least 180° C., or at least 200° C., or at least 210° C., or at least 220° C., or at least 230° C., or at least 240° C., or at least 250° C., or at least 260° C., or at least 270° C., or at least 280° C., or at least 290° C., or at least 300° C. for a time of at least 30 seconds, or at least 1 minute, or at least 5 minutes, or at least 10 minutes, or at least 15 minutes, or at least 20 minutes, or at least 30 minutes, or at least 45 minutes, or at least 1 hour, or at least 6 hours, or least 12 hours, or at least 18 hours, or at least 24 hours.

For example, in certain embodiments, the solution in step 2) of any of the above processes is heated at a temperature from 160 to 300° C., or from 180 to 300° C., or from 200 to 300° C., or from 210 to 300° C., or from 220 to 290° C., or from 230 to 290° C., or from 240 to 280° C.

In further embodiments, the solution in step 2) of any of the above processes is heated at a temperature from 160 to 300° C., or from 180 to 300° C., or from 200 to 300° C., or from 210 to 300° C., or from 220 to 290° C., or from 230 to 290° C., or from 240 to 280° C. for a time from 30 seconds to 24 hours, or from 30 seconds to 18 hours, or from 30 seconds to 12 hours, or from 30 seconds to 6 hours, or from 30 seconds to 1 hour, or from 30 seconds to 45 minutes, or from 30 seconds to 30 minutes, or from 30 seconds to 20 minutes, or from 1 minute to 20 minutes, or from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

In further embodiments, the solution in step 2) of any of the above processes is heated to a temperature from 160 to 300° C., or from 180 to 300° C., or from 200 to 300° C., or from 210 to 300° C., or from 220 to 290° C., or from 230 to 290° C., or from 240 to 280° C. and held at a temperature from 160 to 300° C., or from 180 to 300° C., or from 200 to 300° C., or from 210 to 300° C., or from 220 to 290° C., or from 230 to 290° C., or from 240 to 280° C. for a time from 30 seconds to 24 hours, or from 30 seconds to 18 hours, or from 30 seconds to 12 hours, or from 30 seconds to 6 hours, or from 30 seconds to 1 hour, or from 30 seconds to 45 minutes, or from 30 seconds to 30 minutes, or from 30 seconds to 20 minutes, or from 1 minute to 20 minutes, or from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

The (a1) Monomer Component

The (a1) monomer component comprises any monomer selected from the monomers and comonomers discussed herein with regard to L¹. Examples of suitable monomers and comonomers include but are not limited to ethylene and alpha-olefins of 3 to 30 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 5-ethyl-1-nonene, 1-octadecene and 1-eicosene; conjugated or nonconjugated dienes, such as butadiene, isoprene, 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,4-pentadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 1,5-heptadiene, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,3-octadiene, 1,4-octadiene, 1,5-octadiene, 1,6-octadiene, 1,7-octadiene, 1,9-decadiene, 7-methyl-1,6-octadiene, 4-ethylidene-8-methyl-1,7-nonadiene, and 5,9-dimethyl-1,4,8-decatriene, 5-methyl-1,4-hexadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene, and mixed isomers of dihydromyrcene and dihydroocimene; norbornene and alkenyl, alkylidene, cycloalkenyl and cycloalkylidene norbornenes, such as 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, 5-vinyl-2-norbornene, dicyclopentadiene, 5-methylene-2-norbornene, 5-propenyl-2-norbornene, 5-isopropylidene-2-norbornene, 5-(4-cyclopentenyl)-2-norbornene, 5-cyclohexylidene-2-norbornene, and norbornadiene; aromatic vinyl compounds such as styrenes, mono or poly alkylstyrenes (including styrene, o-methylstyrene, t-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, o,p-dimethylstyrene, o-ethylstyrene, m-ethylstyrene and p-ethylstyrene).

In some embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers. In some embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers. In some embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers and comonomers of a C3 to C30 alpha-olefin. The C3 to C30 alpha olefin may be selected from propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 5-ethyl-1-nonene, 1-octadecene and 1-eicosene. In some embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers and comonomers of ethylene or a C4 to C30 alpha-olefin. The C4 to C30 alpha-olefin may be selected from 1-butene, 1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene, 3-methyl-1-pentene, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, 1-dodecene, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, 5-ethyl-1-nonene, 1-octadecene and 1-eicosene.

In certain embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers and comonomers of a C3 to C30 alpha-olefin, wherein the C3 to C30 alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-hexene, 1-butene, and 1-octene. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers and propylene comonomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers and 1-hexene comonomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers and 1-butene comonomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises ethylene monomers and 1-octene comonomers.

In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers and comonomers of ethylene or a C4 to C30 alpha-olefin, wherein the C4 to C30 alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-hexene, 1-butene, and 1-octene. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers and ethylene comonomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers and 1-hexene comonomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers and 1-butene comonomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises propylene monomers and 1-octene comonomers.

In certain embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises from greater than or equal to 50 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt % (e.g., from greater than or equal to 60 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 70 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 75 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 80 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 85 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 90 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %) of ethylene monomers and from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 50 wt % (e.g., from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 40 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 30 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 25 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 20 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 15 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 10 wt %) of comonomers of a C3 to C30 alpha-olefin, wherein the C3 to C30 alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-hexene, 1-butene, and 1-octene.

In certain embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises from greater than or equal to 50 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt % (e.g., from greater than or equal to 60 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 70 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 75 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 80 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 85 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 90 wt % to less than or equal to 99 wt %) of propylene monomers and from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 50 wt % (e.g., from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 40 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 30 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 25 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 20 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 15 wt %, or from greater than or equal to 1 wt % to less than or equal to 10 wt %) of comonomers of ethylene or a C4 to C30 alpha-olefin, wherein the C4 to C30 alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-hexene, 1-butene, and 1-octene.

In some embodiments, the (a1) monomer component comprises from 0 to 10 wt % of diene monomers. For example, the (a1) monomer component may comprise from 0.5 to 8 wt %, or from 1 to 5 wt %, or from 1 to 3 wt % of diene monomers. In further embodiments, the (a1) monomer component may be substantially free of diene monomers. For example, in certain embodiments, the (a1) monomer component may comprise from 0 to 0.2 wt %, or from 0 to 0.01 wt %, or from 0 to 0.001 wt %, or from 0 to 0.0001 wt % of diene monomers.

The (b1) Chain Transfer Agent Component

The (b1) chain transfer agent component may comprise any chain transfer agent described herein or disclosed in U.S. provisional application Nos. 62/786,084, 62/786,100, 62/786,119, and 62/786,110.

The aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃may be a tri(C_1-8) alkyl aluminum. Non-limiting examples of the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃are triethyl aluminum, tri(i-propyl) aluminum, tri(i-butyl) aluminum, tri(n-hexyl) aluminum, and tri(n-octyl) aluminum.

Without being bound by any particular theory, the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃contributes to the formation of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹while organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃contributes to the formation of the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A².

In certain embodiments, the (b1) chain transfer agent component comprises an organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A₂)₃, wherein: Y²at each occurrence independently is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and A²at each occurrence independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond. In further embodiments, the (b1) chain transfer agent component is the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃. Y²and A²may be any of the previously described embodiments. In certain embodiments, Y²of the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a methyl group, and an ethyl group. In certain embodiments, A²of the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃may be selected from among (AA) to (AZ) and (AZ1) discussed previously. In further embodiments, A²of the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃is selected from the group consisting of (AC), (AF), (AM), (AO), (AP), (AS), and (AZ1). The pendant methyl group of (AF) may be connected to any carbon atom that is a ring member.

The organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃may be prepared by a thermal process comprising: (a) combining starting materials comprising a hydrocarbon of the formula CH₂═C(Y²)A², an aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃, and an optional solvent to form an organoaluminum solution, (b) heating the organoaluminum solution to a temperature from 60 to 200° C., or from 80 to 180° C., or from 100 to 150° C., or from 110 to 130° C. and holding the organo-aluminum solution at the temperature of from 60 to 200° C., or from 80 to 180° C., or from 100 to 150° C., or from 110 to 130° C. for a time from 30 minutes to 200 hours, or from 30 minutes to 100 hours, or from 30 minutes to 50 hours, or from 30 minutes to 25 hours, or from 1 hour to 10 hours, or from 1 hour to 5 hours, or from 3 hours to 5 hours, and (c) recovering a product comprising the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃, wherein: d at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₁₀alkyl group; Y²at each occurrence independently is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and A²at each occurrence independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond. In certain embodiments, the carbon of d that is attached to Al is a carbon that is connected to a tertiary carbon. For example, in certain embodiments, the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃is triisobutylaluminum. In certain embodiments, in step (b), the organoaluminum solution is heated at a temperature from 60 to 200° C., or from 80 to 180° C., or from 100 to 150° C., or from 110 to 130° C. In further embodiments, in step (b), the organoaluminum solution is heated at a temperature from 60 to 200° C., or from 80 to 180° C., or from 100 to 150° C., or from 110 to 130° C. for a time from 30 minutes to 200 hours, or from 30 minutes to 100 hours, or from 30 minutes to 50 hours, or from 30 minutes to 25 hours, or from 1 hour to 10 hours, or from 1 hour to 5 hours, or from 3 hours to 5 hours.

For the thermal process of preparing the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A₂)₃, Y²and A²may be any of the previously described embodiments. The optional solvent may be any discussed herein. The starting materials in step (a) may comprise a ratio of the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃to the hydrocarbon of the formula CH₂═C(Y²)A²of 1:10, or 1:5, or 1:3. The starting materials in step (a) may comprise one or more hydrocarbons of the formula CH₂═C(Y²)A², wherein: Y²at each occurrence of each hydrocarbon independently is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; A²at each of occurrence of each hydrocarbon independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond; and the starting materials comprise a ratio of the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(d)₃to the one or more hydrocarbons of the formula CH₂═C(Y²)A²of 1:10, or 1:5, or 1:3. In certain embodiments, Y²may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a methyl group, and an ethyl group, and A²may be selected from among (AA) to (AZ) and (AZ1) discussed previously. In further embodiments, A²may be selected from the group consisting of (AC), (AF), (AM), (AO), (AP), (AS), and (AZ1). The pendant methyl group of (AF) may be connected to any carbon atom that is a ring member. In this process of preparing the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃, any excess hydrocarbon of the formula CH₂═C(Y²)A²may be removed through the use of vacuum and optional heating.

Alternatively, the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃may be prepared a catalytic process comprising: (a) combining starting materials comprising a hydrocarbon of the formula CH₂═CHA², an aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(Y²)₃, a procatalyst, an optional co-catalyst, and an optional solvent, and (b) recovering a product comprising the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A²)₃, wherein step (a) is conducted at a temperature from 1° C. to 50° C., or from 10° C. to 40° C., or from 20° C. to 30° C. for a time of 1 to 50 hours, or from 10 to 40 hours, or from 15 to 25 hours, and wherein: Y²at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group; and A²at each occurrence independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond.

For the catalytic process of preparing the organoaluminum compound of the formula Al(CH₂CH(Y²)A₂)₃, Y²will be a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group while A²may be any of the previously described embodiments. Each of the procatalyst, the optional co-catalyst, and the optional solvent may be any disclosed herein. The starting materials in step (a) may comprise a ratio of the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(Y²)₃to the hydrocarbon of the formula CH₂═CHA²of from 1:10, or 1:5, or 1:3. The starting materials in step (a) may comprise one or more hydrocarbons of the formula CH₂═CHA², wherein: A²at each occurrence of each hydrocarbon independently is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond; and the starting materials comprise a ratio of the aluminum alkyl of the formula Al(Y²)₃to the one or more hydrocarbons of the formula CH₂═C(Y²)A²of from 1:10, or 1:5, or 1:3. In certain embodiments, Y²may be a C₁to C₁₀alkyl group, and A²may be selected from among (AA) to (AZ) and (AZ1) discussed previously. In further embodiments, A²may be selected from the group consisting of (AC), (AF), (AM), (AO), (AP), (AS), and (AZ1). The pendant methyl group of (AF) may be connected to any carbon atom that is a ring member.

The (c1) Catalyst Component

In certain embodiments, the (c1) catalyst component comprises a procatalyst. In these embodiments, the procatalyst becomes an active catalyst to polymerize unsaturated monomers without a co-catalyst. In further embodiments, the (c1) catalyst component comprises a procatalyst and a co-catalyst, whereby an active catalyst is formed by the combination of the procatalyst and the co-catalyst. In these embodiments, the (c1) active catalyst component may comprise a ratio of the procatalyst to the co-catalyst of 1:2, or 1:1.5, or 1:1.2.

Suitable procatalysts include but are not limited to those disclosed in WO 2005/090426, WO 2005/090427, WO 2007/035485, WO 2009/012215, WO 2014/105411, WO 2017/173080, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0199930, 2007/0167578, 2008/0311812, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,858,706 B2, 7,355,089 B2, 8,058,373 B2, and 8,785,554 B2. With reference to the paragraphs below, the term “procatalyst” is interchangeable with the terms “catalyst,” “precatalyst,” “catalyst precursor,” “transition metal catalyst,” “transition metal catalyst precursor,” “polymerization catalyst,” “polymerization catalyst precursor,” “transition metal complex,” “transition metal compound,” “metal complex,” “metal compound,” “complex,” and “metal-ligand complex,” and like terms.

Both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts may be employed. Examples of heterogeneous catalysts include the well known Ziegler-Natta compositions, especially Group 4 metal halides supported on Group 2 metal halides or mixed halides and alkoxides and the well known chromium or vanadium based catalysts. Preferably, the catalysts for use herein are homogeneous catalysts comprising a relatively pure organometallic compound or metal complex, especially compounds or complexes based on metals selected from Groups 3-10 or the Lanthanide series of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Metal complexes for use herein may be selected from Groups 3 to 15 of the Periodic Table of the Elements containing one or more delocalized, π-bonded ligands or polyvalent Lewis base ligands. Examples include metallocene, half-metallocene, constrained geometry, and polyvalent pyridylamine, or other polychelating base complexes. The complexes are generically depicted by the formula: MK_kX_xZ_z, or a dimer thereof, wherein

M is a metal selected from Groups 3-15, preferably 3-10, more preferably 4-10, and most preferably Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements;

K independently at each occurrence is a group containing delocalized π-electrons or one or more electron pairs through which K is bound to M, said K group containing up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen atoms, optionally two or more K groups may be joined together forming a bridged structure, and further optionally one or more K groups may be bound to Z, to X or to both Z and X;

X independently at each occurrence is a monovalent, anionic moiety having up to 40 non-hydrogen atoms, optionally one or more X groups may be bonded together thereby forming a divalent or polyvalent anionic group, and, further optionally, one or more X groups and one or more Z groups may be bonded together thereby forming a moiety that is both covalently bound to M and coordinated thereto; or two X groups together form a divalent anionic ligand group of up to 40 non-hydrogen atoms or together are a conjugated diene having from 4 to 30 non-hydrogen atoms bound by means of delocalized π-electrons to M, whereupon M is in the +2 formal oxidation state, and

Z independently at each occurrence is a neutral, Lewis base donor ligand of up to 50 non-hydrogen atoms containing at least one unshared electron pair through which Z is coordinated to M;

k is an integer from 0 to 3; x is an integer from 1 to 4; z is a number from 0 to 3; and

the sum, k+x, is equal to the formal oxidation state of M.

Suitable metal complexes include those containing from 1 to 3 π-bonded anionic or neutral ligand groups, which may be cyclic or non-cyclic delocalized π-bonded anionic ligand groups. Exemplary of such π-bonded groups are conjugated or nonconjugated, cyclic or non-cyclic diene and dienyl groups, allyl groups, boratabenzene groups, phosphole, and arene groups. By the term “π-bonded” is meant that the ligand group is bonded to the transition metal by a sharing of electrons from a partially delocalized π-bond.

Each atom in the delocalized π-bonded group may independently be substituted with a radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyl, halohydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyl-substituted heteroatoms wherein the heteroatom is selected from Group 14-16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and such hydrocarbyl-substituted heteroatom radicals further substituted with a Group 15 or 16 hetero atom containing moiety. In addition, two or more such radicals may together form a fused ring system, including partially or fully hydrogenated fused ring systems, or they may form a metallocycle with the metal. Included within the term “hydrocarbyl” are C_1-20straight, branched and cyclic alkyl radicals, C_6-20aromatic radicals, C_7-20alkyl-substituted aromatic radicals, and C_7-20aryl-substituted alkyl radicals. Suitable hydrocarbyl-substituted heteroatom radicals include mono-, di- and tri-substituted radicals of boron, silicon, germanium, nitrogen, phosphorus or oxygen wherein each of the hydrocarbyl groups contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples include N,N-dimethylamino, pyrrolidinyl, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl, methyldi(t-butyl)silyl, triphenylgermyl, and trimethylgermyl groups. Examples of Group 15 or 16 hetero atom containing moieties include amino, phosphino, alkoxy, or alkylthio moieties or divalent derivatives thereof, for example, amide, phosphide, alkyleneoxy or alkylenethio groups bonded to the transition metal or Lanthanide metal, and bonded to the hydrocarbyl group, π-bonded group, or hydrocarbyl-substituted heteroatom.

Examples of suitable anionic, delocalized π-bonded groups include cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fluorenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, tetrahydrofluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, pentadienyl, cyclohexadienyl, dihydroanthracenyl, hexahydroanthracenyl, decahydroanthracenyl groups, phosphole, and boratabenzyl groups, as well as inertly substituted derivatives thereof, especially C_1-10hydrocarbyl-substituted or tris(C_1-10hydrocarbyl)silyl-substituted derivatives thereof. Preferred anionic delocalized π-bonded groups are cyclopentadienyl, pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, tetramethylcyclopentadienyl, tetramethylsilylcyclopentadienyl, indenyl, 2,3-dimethylindenyl, fluorenyl, 2-methylindenyl, 2-methyl-4-phenylindenyl, tetrahydrofluorenyl, octahydrofluorenyl, 1-indacenyl, 3-pyrrolidinoinden-1-yl, 3,4-(cyclopenta(1)phenanthren-1-yl, and tetrahydroindenyl.

The boratabenzenyl ligands are anionic ligands which are boron containing analogues to benzene. They are previously known in the art having been described by G. Herberich, et al., in Organometallics, 14,1, 471-480 (1995). Preferred boratabenzenyl ligands correspond to the formula:

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wherein R¹is an inert substituent, preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl, halo or germyl, said R¹having up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, and optionally two adjacent R¹groups may be joined together. In complexes involving divalent derivatives of such delocalized π-bonded groups one atom thereof is bonded by means of a covalent bond or a covalently bonded divalent group to another atom of the complex thereby forming a bridged system.

Phospholes are anionic ligands that are phosphorus containing analogues to a cyclopentadienyl group. They are previously known in the art having been described by WO 98/50392, and elsewhere. Preferred phosphole ligands correspond to the formula:

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wherein R¹is as previously defined.

Suitable transition metal complexes for use herein correspond to the formula: MK_kX_xZ_z, or a dimer thereof, wherein:

M is a Group 4 metal;

K is a group containing delocalized π-electrons through which K is bound to M, said K group containing up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen atoms, optionally two K groups may be joined together forming a bridged structure, and further optionally one K may be bound to X or Z;

X at each occurrence is a monovalent, anionic moiety having up to 40 non-hydrogen atoms, optionally one or more X and one or more K groups are bonded together to form a metallocycle, and further optionally one or more X and one or more Z groups are bonded together thereby forming a moiety that is both covalently bound to M and coordinated thereto;

Z independently at each occurrence is a neutral, Lewis base donor ligand of up to 50 non-hydrogen atoms containing at least one unshared electron pair through which Z is coordinated to M;

k is an integer from 0 to 3; x is an integer from 1 to 4; z is a number from 0 to 3; and the sum,

k+x, is equal to the formal oxidation state of M.

Suitable complexes include those containing either one or two K groups. The latter complexes include those containing a bridging group linking the two K groups. Suitable bridging groups are those corresponding to the formula (ER′₂)_ewherein E is silicon, germanium, tin, or carbon, R′ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen or a group selected from silyl, hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy and combinations thereof, said R′ having up to 30 carbon or silicon atoms, and e is 1 to 8. Illustratively, R′ independently at each occurrence is methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl, tert-butyl, phenyl, methoxy, ethoxy or phenoxy.

Examples of the complexes containing two K groups are compounds corresponding to the formula:

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wherein:

M is titanium, zirconium or hafnium, preferably zirconium or hafnium, in the +2 or +4 formal oxidation state; R³at each occurrence independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, cyano, halo and combinations thereof, said R³having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, or adjacent R³groups together form a divalent derivative (that is, a hydrocarbadiyl, siladiyl or germadiyl group) thereby forming a fused ring system, and

X″ independently at each occurrence is an anionic ligand group of up to 40 non-hydrogen atoms, or two X″ groups together form a divalent anionic ligand group of up to 40 non-hydrogen atoms or together are a conjugated diene having from 4 to 30 non-hydrogen atoms bound by means of delocalized π-electrons to M, whereupon M is in the +2 formal oxidation state, and R′, E and e are as previously defined.

Exemplary bridged ligands containing two π-bonded groups are: dimethylbis(cyclopentadienyl)silane, dimethylbis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)silane, dimethylbis(2-ethylcyclopentadien-1-yl)silane, dimethylbis(2-t-butylcyclopentadien-1-yl)silane, 2,2-bis(tetramethylcyclopentadienyl)propane, dimethylbis(inden-1-yl)silane, dimethylbis(tetrahydroinden-1-yl)silane, dimethylbis(fluoren-1-yl)silane, dimethylbis(tetrahydrofluoren-1-yl)silane, dimethylbis(2-methyl-4-phenylinden-1-yl)-silane, dimethylbis(2-methylinden-1-yl)silane, dimethyl(cyclopentadienyl)(fluoren-1-yl)silane, dimethyl(cyclopentadienyl)(octahydrofluoren-1-yl)silane, dimethyl(cyclopentadienyl)(tetrahydrofluoren-1-yl)silane, (1,1,2,2-tetramethy)-1,2-bis(cyclopentadienyl)disilane, (1,2-bis(cyclopentadienyl)ethane, and dimethyl(cyclopentadienyl)-1-(fluoren-1-yl)methane.

Suitable X″ groups are selected from hydride, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halohydrocarbyl, halosilyl, silylhydrocarbyl and aminohydrocarbyl groups, or two X″ groups together form a divalent derivative of a conjugated diene or else together they form a neutral, π-bonded, conjugated diene. Exemplary X″ groups are C1-20 hydrocarbyl groups.

A further class of metal complexes utilized in the present disclosure corresponds to the preceding formula: MKZ_zX_x, or a dimer thereof, wherein M, K, X, x and z are as previously defined, and Z is a substituent of up to 50 non-hydrogen atoms that together with K forms a metallocycle with M.

Suitable Z substituents include groups containing up to 30 non-hydrogen atoms comprising at least one atom that is oxygen, sulfur, boron or a member of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements directly attached to K, and a different atom, selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulfur that is covalently bonded to M.

More specifically this class of Group 4 metal complexes used according to the present invention includes “constrained geometry catalysts” corresponding to the formula:

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wherein: M is titanium or zirconium, preferably titanium in the +2, +3, or +4 formal oxidation state;

K¹is a delocalized, π-bonded ligand group optionally substituted with from 1 to 5 R²groups,

R²at each occurrence independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, cyano, halo and combinations thereof, said R²having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, or adjacent R²groups together form a divalent derivative (that is, a hydrocarbadiyl, siladiyl or germadiyl group) thereby forming a fused ring system, each X is a halo, hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy or silyl group, said group having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, or two X groups together form a neutral C5-30 conjugated diene or a divalent derivative thereof;

x is 1 or 2;

Y is —O—, —S—, —NR′—, —PR′—;

and X′ is SiR′₂, CR′₂, SiR′₂SiR′₂, CR′₂CR′₂, CR′═CR′, CR′₂SiR′₂, or GeR′₂, wherein R′ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen or a group selected from silyl, hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy and combinations thereof, said R′ having up to 30 carbon or silicon atoms.

Specific examples of the foregoing constrained geometry metal complexes include compounds corresponding to the formula:

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wherein,

Ar is an aryl group of from 6 to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen;

R⁴independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, Ar, or a group other than Ar selected from hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, trihydrocarbylgermyl, halide, hydrocarbyloxy, trihydrocarbylsiloxy, bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino, hydrocarbadiylamino, hydrocarbylimino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino, hydrocarbadiylphosphino, hydrocarbylsulfido, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl-substituted hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsiloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino-substituted hydrocarbyl, di(hydrocarbyl)amino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyleneamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylenephosphino-substituted hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbylsulfido-substituted hydrocarbyl, said R group having up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen atoms, and optionally two adjacent R⁴groups may be joined together forming a polycyclic fused ring group;

M is titanium;

X′ is SiR⁶₂, CR⁶₂, SiR⁶₂SiR⁶₂, CR⁶₂CR⁶₂, CR⁶═CR⁶, CR⁶₂SiR⁶₂, BR⁶, BR⁶L″, or GeR⁶₂;

Y is —O—, —S—, —NR⁵—, —PR⁵—; —NR⁵₂, or —PR⁵₂;

R⁵, independently at each occurrence is hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, or trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, said R⁵having up to 20 atoms other than hydrogen, and optionally two R⁵groups or R⁵together with Y or Z form a ring system;

- R⁶, independently at each occurrence, is hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy, silyl, halogenated alkyl, halogenated aryl, —NR⁵₂, and combinations thereof, said R⁶having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally, two

R⁶groups or R⁶together with Z forms a ring system;

Z is a neutral diene or a monodentate or polydentate Lewis base optionally bonded to R⁵, R⁶, or X;

X is hydrogen, a monovalent anionic ligand group having up to 60 atoms not counting hydrogen, or two X groups are joined together thereby forming a divalent ligand group;

x is 1 or 2; and

z is 0, 1 or 2.

Additional examples of suitable metal complexes herein are polycyclic complexes corresponding to the formula:

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where M is titanium in the +2, +3 or +4 formal oxidation state;

R⁷independently at each occurrence is hydride, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halide, hydrocarbyloxy, hydrocarbylsiloxy, hydrocarbylsilylamino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino, hydrocarbyleneamino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino, hydrocarbylene-phosphino, hydrocarbylsulfido, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsiloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilylamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, di(hydrocarbyl)amino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyleneamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylene-phosphino-substituted hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbylsulfido-substituted hydrocarbyl, said R⁷group having up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen, and optionally two or more of the foregoing groups may together form a divalent derivative;

R⁸is a divalent hydrocarbylene- or substituted hydrocarbylene group forming a fused system with the remainder of the metal complex, said R⁸containing from 1 to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen;

X^ais a divalent moiety, or a moiety comprising one π-bond and a neutral two electron pair able to form a coordinate-covalent bond to M, said X^acomprising boron, or a member of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and also comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or oxygen;

X is a monovalent anionic ligand group having up to 60 atoms exclusive of the class of ligands that are cyclic, delocalized, n-bound ligand groups and optionally two X groups together form a divalent ligand group;

Z independently at each occurrence is a neutral ligating compound having up to 20 atoms;

x is 0, 1 or 2; and

z is zero or 1.

Additional examples of metal complexes that are usefully employed as catalysts are complexes of polyvalent Lewis bases, such as compounds corresponding to the formula:

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wherein T^bis a bridging group, preferably containing 2 or more atoms other than hydrogen,

X^band Y^bare each independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus; more preferably both X^band Y^bare nitrogen,

R^band R^b′ independently each occurrence are hydrogen or C_1-50hydrocarbyl groups optionally containing one or more heteroatoms or inertly substituted derivative thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable R^band R^b′ groups include alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, (poly)alkylaryl and cycloalkyl groups, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen and halogen substituted derivatives thereof. Specific examples of suitable R^band R^b′ groups include methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, octyl, phenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-trifluoromethylphenyl, and benzyl;

g and g′ are each independently 0 or 1;

M^bis a metallic element selected from Groups 3 to 15, or the Lanthanide series of the Periodic Table of the Elements. Preferably, M^bis a Group 3-13 metal, more preferably M^bis a Group 4-10 metal;

- L^bis a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent anionic ligand containing from 1 to 50 atoms, not counting hydrogen. Examples of suitable L^bgroups include halide; hydride; hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy; di(hydrocarbyl)amido, hydrocarbyleneamido, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphido; hydrocarbylsulfido; hydrocarbyloxy, tri(hydrocarbylsilyl)alkyl; and carboxylates. More preferred L^bgroups are C_1-20alkyl, C_7-20aralkyl, and chloride;

h and h′ are each independently an integer from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, more preferably from 1 to 3, and j is 1 or 2, with the value h×j selected to provide charge balance;

Z^bis a neutral ligand group coordinated to M^b, and containing up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen. Preferred Z^bgroups include aliphatic and aromatic amines, phosphines, and ethers, alkenes, alkadienes, and inertly substituted derivatives thereof. Suitable inert substituents include halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, di(hydrocarbyl)amine, tri(hydrocarbyl)silyl, and nitrile groups. Preferred Z^bgroups include triphenylphosphine, tetrahydrofuran, pyridine, and 1,4-diphenylbutadiene;

f is an integer from 1 to 3;

two or three of T^b, R^band R^b′ may be joined together to form a single or multiple ring structure;

h is an integer from 1 to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, more preferably from 1 to 3;

In one embodiment, it is preferred that R^bhave relatively low steric hindrance with respect to X^b. In this embodiment, most preferred R^bgroups are straight chain alkyl groups, straight chain alkenyl groups, branched chain alkyl groups wherein the closest branching point is at least 3 atoms removed from X^b, and halo, dihydrocarbylamino, alkoxy or trihydrocarbylsilyl substituted derivatives thereof. Highly preferred R^bgroups in this embodiment are C1-8 straight chain alkyl groups.

At the same time, in this embodiment R^b′ preferably has relatively high steric hindrance with respect to Y^b. Non-limiting examples of suitable R^b′ groups for this embodiment include alkyl or alkenyl groups containing one or more secondary or tertiary carbon centers, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aliphatic or aromatic heterocyclic groups, organic or inorganic oligomeric, polymeric or cyclic groups, and halo, dihydrocarbylamino, alkoxy or trihydrocarbylsilyl substituted derivatives thereof. Preferred R^b′ groups in this embodiment contain from 3 to 40, more preferably from 3 to 30, and most preferably from 4 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen and are branched or cyclic. Examples of preferred T^bgroups are structures corresponding to the following formulas:

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wherein

Each R^dis C_1-10hydrocarbyl group, preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, t-butyl, phenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, benzyl, or tolyl. Each R^eis C_1-10hydrocarbyl, preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, t-butyl, phenyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, benzyl, or tolyl. In addition, two or more R^dor R^egroups, or mixtures of Rd and Re groups may together form a divalent or polyvalent derivative of a hydrocarbyl group, such as, 1,4-butylene, 1,5-pentylene, or a cyclic ring, or a multicyclic fused ring, polyvalent hydrocarbyl- or heterohydrocarbyl-group, such as naphthalene-1,8-diyl.

Suitable examples of the foregoing polyvalent Lewis base complexes include:

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wherein R^d′ at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-50 hydrocarbyl groups optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, or inertly substituted derivative thereof, or further optionally, two adjacent R^d′ groups may together form a divalent bridging group;

d′ is 4;

M^b′ is a Group 4 metal, preferably titanium or hafnium, or a Group 10 metal, preferably Ni or Pd;

L^b′ is a monovalent ligand of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably halide or hydrocarbyl, or two L^b′ groups together are a divalent or neutral ligand group, preferably a C_2-50hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or diene group.

The polyvalent Lewis base complexes for use in the present invention especially include Group 4 metal derivatives, especially hafnium derivatives of hydrocarbylamine substituted heteroaryl compounds corresponding to the formula:

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wherein:

R¹¹is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, aryl, and inertly substituted derivatives thereof containing from 1 to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen or a divalent derivative thereof;

T¹is a divalent bridging group of from 1 to 41 atoms other than hydrogen, preferably 1 to 20 atoms other than hydrogen, and most preferably a mono- or di-C1-20 hydrocarbyl substituted methylene or silane group; and

R¹²is a C_5-20heteroaryl group containing Lewis base functionality, especially a pyridin-2-yl- or substituted pyridin-2-yl group or a divalent derivative thereof;

M¹is a Group 4 metal, preferably hafnium;

X¹is an anionic, neutral or dianionic ligand group;

x′ is a number from 0 to 5 indicating the number of such X¹groups; and bonds, optional bonds and electron donative interactions are represented by lines, dotted lines and arrows respectively.

Suitable complexes are those wherein ligand formation results from hydrogen elimination from the amine group and optionally from the loss of one or more additional groups, especially from R¹². In addition, electron donation from the Lewis base functionality, preferably an electron pair, provides additional stability to the metal center. Suitable metal complexes correspond to the formula:

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wherein M¹, X¹, x′, R¹¹and T¹are as previously defined,

R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵and R¹⁶are hydrogen, halo, or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, or silyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or adjacent R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵or
R¹⁶groups may be joined together thereby forming fused ring derivatives, and bonds, optional bonds and electron pair donative interactions are represented by lines, dotted lines and arrows respectively. Suitable examples of the foregoing metal complexes correspond to the formula:

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wherein

M¹, X¹, and x′ are as previously defined,
R¹⁵and R¹⁶are as previously defined, preferably R¹³, R¹⁴, and R¹⁵are hydrogen, or C1-C4 alkyl, and R¹⁶is C_6-20aryl, most preferably naphthalenyl;
R^aindependently at each occurrence is C_1-4alkyl, and a is 1-5, most preferably R^ain two ortho-positions to the nitrogen is isopropyl or t-butyl;
R¹⁷and R¹⁸independently at each occurrence are hydrogen, halogen, or a C_1-20alkyl or aryl group, most preferably one of R¹⁷and R¹⁸is hydrogen and the other is a C6-20 aryl group, especially 2-isopropyl, phenyl or a fused polycyclic aryl group, most preferably an anthracenyl group, and bonds, optional bonds and electron pair donative interactions are represented by lines, dotted lines and arrows respectively.

Exemplary metal complexes for use herein as catalysts correspond to the formula:

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wherein X¹at each occurrence is halide, N,N-dimethylamido, or C_1-4alkyl, and preferably at each occurrence X¹is methyl;

R^findependently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, C1-20 alkyl, or C6-20 aryl, or two adjacent R^fgroups are joined together thereby forming a ring, and f is 1-5; and
R^cindependently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, C_1-20alkyl, or C_6-20aryl, or two adjacent R^cgroups are joined together thereby forming a ring, and c is 1-5.

Suitable examples of metal complexes for use as catalysts according to the present invention are complexes of the following formulas:

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wherein R^xis C1-4 alkyl or cycloalkyl, preferably methyl, isopropyl, t-butyl or cyclohexyl; and

X¹at each occurrence is halide, N,N-dimethylamido, or C1-4 alkyl, preferably methyl.

Examples of metal complexes usefully employed as catalysts according to the present invention include:

[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(o-tolyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium dimethyl;
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(o-tolyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium di(N,N-dimethylamido);
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(o-tolyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium dichloride;
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(2-isopropylphenyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium dimethyl;
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(2-isopropylphenyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium di(N,N-dimethylamido);
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(2-isopropylphenyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium dichloride;
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(phenanthren-5-yl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafhium dimethyl;
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(phenanthren-5-yl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafhium di(N,N-dimethylamido); and
[N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(phenanthren-5-yl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium dichloride.

Under the reaction conditions used to prepare the metal complexes used in the present disclosure, the hydrogen of the 2-position of the a-naphthalene group substituted at the 6-position of the pyridin-2-yl group is subject to elimination, thereby uniquely forming metal complexes wherein the metal is covalently bonded to both the resulting amide group and to the 2-position of the α-naphthalenyl group, as well as stabilized by coordination to the pyridinyl nitrogen atom through the electron pair of the nitrogen atom.

Further procatalysts that are suitable include imidazole-amine compounds corresponding to those disclosed in WO 2007/130307A2, WO 2007/130306A2, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20090306318A1, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Such imidazole-amine compounds include those corresponding to the formula:

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wherein

X independently each occurrence is an anionic ligand, or two X groups together form a dianionic ligand group, or a neutral diene; T is a cycloaliphatic or aromatic group containing one or more rings; R¹independently each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, or a univalent, polyatomic anionic ligand, or two or more R¹groups are joined together thereby forming a polyvalent fused ring system; R²independently each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, or a univalent, polyatomic anionic ligand, or two or more R²groups are joined together thereby forming a polyvalent fused ring system; and R⁴is hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, or trihydrocarbylsilylmethyl of from 1 to 20 carbons.

Further examples of such imidazole-amine compounds include but are not limited to the following:

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wherein:

R¹independently each occurrence is a C_3-12alkyl group wherein the carbon attached to the phenyl ring is secondary or tertiary substituted; R²independently each occurrence is hydrogen or a C_1-2alkyl group; R⁴is methyl or isopropyl; R⁵is hydrogen or C_1-6alkyl; R⁶is hydrogen, C_1-6alkyl or cycloalkyl, or two adjacent R⁶groups together form a fused aromatic ring; T′ is oxygen, sulfur, or a C_1-20hydrocarbyl-substituted nitrogen or phosphorus group; T″ is nitrogen or phosphorus; and X is methyl or benzyl.

Additional suitable metal complexes of polyvalent Lewis bases for use herein include compounds corresponding to the formula:

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wherein:

R²⁰is an aromatic or inertly substituted aromatic group containing from 5 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or a polyvalent derivative thereof;
T³is a hydrocarbylene or hydrocarbyl silane group having from 1 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof;
M³is a Group 4 metal, preferably zirconium or hafnium;
G is an anionic, neutral or dianionic ligand group; preferably a halide, hydrocarbyl, silane, trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, or dihydrocarbylamide group having up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;
g is a number from 1 to 5 indicating the number of such G groups; and bonds and electron donative interactions are represented by lines and arrows respectively.

Illustratively, such complexes correspond to the formula:

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wherein:

T³is a divalent bridging group of from 2 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably a substituted or unsubstituted, C3-6 alkylene group;
and Ar²independently at each occurrence is an arylene or an alkyl- or aryl-substituted arylene group of from 6 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;
M³is a Group 4 metal, preferably hafnium or zirconium;
G independently at each occurrence is an anionic, neutral or dianionic ligand group;
g is a number from 1 to 5 indicating the number of such X groups; and electron donative interactions are represented by arrows.

Suitable examples of metal complexes of foregoing formula include the following compounds

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where M³is Hf or Zr;

Ar⁴is C_6-20aryl or inertly substituted derivatives thereof, especially 3,5-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 3,5-di(isobutyl)phenyl, dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl, or anthracen-5-yl, and

T⁴independently at each occurrence comprises a C_3-6alkylene group, a C_3-6cycloalkylene group, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof;

R²¹independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, or trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen; and

G, independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 G groups together are a divalent derivative of the foregoing hydrocarbyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl groups.

Suitable compounds are compounds of the formulas:

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wherein Ar⁴is 3,5-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 3,5-di(isobutyl)phenyl, dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl, or anthracen-5-yl,

R²¹is hydrogen, halo, or C_1-4alkyl, especially methyl

T⁴is propan-1,3-diyl or butan-1,4-diyl, and

G is chloro, methyl or benzyl.

Exemplary metal complexes of the foregoing formula are:

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Suitable metal complexes for use according to the present disclosure further include compounds corresponding to the formula:

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where:

M is zirconium or hafnium;
R²⁰independently at each occurrence is a divalent aromatic or inertly substituted aromatic group containing from 5 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;
T³is a divalent hydrocarbon or silane group having from 3 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof; and
R^Dindependently at each occurrence is a monovalent ligand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen, or two R^Dgroups together are a divalent ligand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen.

Such complexes may correspond to the formula:

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wherein:

Ar²independently at each occurrence is an arylene or an alkyl-, aryl-, alkoxy- or amino-substituted arylene group of from 6 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen or any atoms of any substituent;
T³is a divalent hydrocarbon bridging group of from 3 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably a divalent substituted or unsubstituted C_3-6aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or bis(alkylene)-substituted cycloaliphatic group having at least 3 carbon atoms separating oxygen atoms; and
R^Dindependently at each occurrence is a monovalent ligand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen, or two R^Dgroups together are a divalent ligand group of from 1 to 40 atoms, not counting hydrogen.

Further examples of metal complexes suitable for use herein include compounds of the formula:

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where

Ar⁴independently at each occurrence is C_6-20aryl or inertly substituted derivatives thereof, especially 3,5-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 3,5-di(isobutyl)phenyl, dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl, naphthyl, anthracen-5-yl, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl;
T⁴independently at each occurrence is a propylene-1,3-diyl group, a bis(alkylene)cyclohexan-1,2-diyl group, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof substituted with from 1 to 5 alkyl, aryl or aralkyl substituents having up to 20 carbons each;
R²¹independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen; and
R^D, independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R^Dgroups together are a divalent hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen.

Exemplary metal complexes are compounds of the formula:

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where, Ar⁴, independently at each occurrence, is 3,5-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 3,5-di(isobutyl)phenyl, dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl, or anthracen-5-yl,

R21 independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen;
T⁴is propan-1,3-diyl or bis(methylene)cyclohexan-1,2-diyl; and
R^D, independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R^Dgroups together are a hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or hydrocarbylsilanediyl group of up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen.

Suitable metal complexes according to the present disclosure correspond to the formulas:

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wherein, R^Dindependently at each occurrence is chloro, methyl or benzyl.

Specific examples of suitable metal complexes are the following compounds:

A) bis((2-oxoyl-3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-1,3-propanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-1,3-propanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-1,3-propanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-1,3-propanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-1,3-propanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-1,3-propanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
B) bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7, 8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-1,4-butanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7, 8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-1,4-butanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7, 8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-1,4-butanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-1,4-butanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-1,4-butanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-1,4-butanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
C) bis((2-oxoyl-3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
D) bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans-1,2-cyclohexanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans-1,2-cyclohexanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride,
bis((2-oxoyl3-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans-1,2-cyclohexanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans-1,2-cyclohexanediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans-1,2-cyclohexanediylhafnium (IV) dichloride, and
bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1H-pyrrole-1-yl)-5-(methyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans-1,2-cyclohexanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl.

The foregoing metal complexes may be conveniently prepared by standard metallation and ligand exchange procedures involving a source of the transition metal and a neutral polyfunctional ligand source. The techniques employed are the same as or analogous to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,976 and US2004/0010103, and elsewhere.

The foregoing polyvalent Lewis base complexes are conveniently prepared by standard metallation and ligand exchange procedures involving a source of the Group 4 metal and the neutral polyfunctional ligand source. In addition, the complexes may also be prepared by means of an amide elimination and hydrocarbylation process starting from the corresponding Group 4 metal tetraamide and a hydrocarbylating agent, such as trimethylaluminum. Other techniques may be used as well. These complexes are known from the disclosures of, among others, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,320,005, 6,103,657, WO 02/38628, WO 03/40195, and US 04/0220050.

Catalysts having high comonomer incorporation properties are also known to reincorporate in situ prepared long chain olefins resulting incidentally during the polymerization through β-hydride elimination and chain termination of growing polymer, or other process. The concentration of such long chain olefins is particularly enhanced by use of continuous solution polymerization conditions at high conversions, especially ethylene conversions of 95 percent or greater, more preferably at ethylene conversions of 97 percent or greater. Under such conditions a small but detectable quantity of olefin terminated polymer may be reincorporated into a growing polymer chain, resulting in the formation of long chain branches, that is, branches of a carbon length greater than would result from other deliberately added comonomer. Moreover, such chains reflect the presence of other comonomers present in the reaction mixture. That is, the chains may include short chain or long chain branching as well, depending on the comonomer composition of the reaction mixture. Long chain branching of olefin polymers is further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,236, 5,278,272, and 5,665,800.

Alternatively, branching, including hyper-branching, may be induced in a particular segment of the present multi-block copolymers by the use of specific catalysts known to result in “chain-walking” in the resulting polymer. For example, certain homogeneous bridged bis indenyl- or partially hydrogenated bis indenyl-zirconium catalysts, disclosed by Kaminski, et al., J. Mol. Catal. A: Chemical, 102 (1995) 59-65; Zambelli, et al., Macromolecules, 1988, 21, 617-622; or Dias, et al., J. Mol. Catal. A: Chemical, 185 (2002) 57-64 may be used to prepare branched copolymers from single monomers, including ethylene.

Additional complexes suitable for use include Group 4-10 derivatives corresponding to the formula:

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wherein

M²is a metal of Groups 4-10 of the Periodic Table of the elements, preferably Group 4 metals, Ni(II) or Pd(II), most preferably zirconium;
T²is a nitrogen, oxygen or phosphorus containing group;
X²is halo, hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbyloxy;
t is one or two;
x″ is a number selected to provide charge balance;
and T²and N are linked by a bridging ligand.
Such catalysts have been previously disclosed in J. Am. Chem. Soc., 118, 267-268 (1996), J. Am. Chem. Soc., 117, 6414-6415 (1995), and Organometallics, 16, 1514-1516, (1997), among other disclosures.

Suitable examples of the foregoing metal complexes for use as catalysts are aromatic diimine or aromatic dioxyimine complexes of Group 4 metals, especially zirconium, corresponding to the formula:

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wherein;

M², X²and T²are as previously defined;
R^dindependently in each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, or R^e; and
R^eindependently in each occurrence is C1-20 hydrocarbyl or a heteroatom-, especially a F, N, S or P-substituted derivative thereof, more preferably C1-20 hydrocarbyl or a F or N substituted derivative thereof, most preferably alkyl, dialkylaminoalkyl, pyrrolyl, piperidenyl, perfluorophenyl, cycloalkyl, (poly)alkylaryl, or aralkyl.

Suitable examples of the foregoing metal complexes for use as catalysts are aromatic dioxyimine complexes of zirconium, corresponding to the formula:

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wherein;

X²is as previously defined, preferably C1-10 hydrocarbyl, most preferably methyl or benzyl; and
R^e′ is methyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 2-methylcyclohexyl, 2,4-dimethylcyclohexyl, 2-pyrrolyl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolyl, 2-piperidenyl, N-methyl-2-piperidenyl, benzyl, o-tolyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, perfluorophenyl, 2,6-di(isopropyl)phenyl, or 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl.

The foregoing complexes for use as also include certain phosphinimine complexes are disclosed in EP-A-890581. These complexes correspond to the formula: [(R^f)₃—P═N]_fM(K²)(R^f)_3-f, wherein: R^fis a monovalent ligand or two R^fgroups together are a divalent ligand, preferably

R^fis hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl;
M is a Group 4 metal,
K²is a group containing delocalized π-electrons through which K²is bound to M, said K²group containing up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen atoms, and f is 1 or 2.

Further suitable procatalysts include a those disclosed in WO 2017/173080 A1, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Such procatalysts include the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i):

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wherein M is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium;

wherein each Z1 is independently a monodentate or polydentate ligand that is neutral, monoanionic, or dianionic, wherein nn is an integer, and wherein Z1 and nn are chosen in such a way that the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i) is overall neutral;

wherein each Q¹and Q¹⁰independently is selected from the group consisting of (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, (C₃-C₄₀)heteroaryl, and substituted (C₃-C₄₀)heteroaryl;

wherein each Q², Q³, Q⁴, Q⁷, Q⁸, and Q⁹independently is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbyl, substituted (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbyl, (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbyl, substituted (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbyl, halogen, and nitro (NO₂);

wherein each Q⁵and Q⁶independently is selected from the group consisting of a (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, substituted (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, and [(Si)₁—(C+Si)₄₀] substituted organosilyl;

wherein each N independently is nitrogen;

optionally, two or more of the Q^1-5groups can combine together to form a ring structure, with such ring structure having from 5 to 16 atoms in the ring excluding any hydrogen atoms; and

optionally, two or more of the Q^6-10groups can combine together to form a ring structure, with such ring structure having from 5 to 16 atoms in the ring excluding any hydrogen atoms.

The metal ligand complex of Formula (i) above, and all specific embodiments thereof herein, is intended to include every possible stereoisomer, including coordination isomers, thereof.

The metal ligand complex of Formula (i) above provides for homoleptic as well as heteroleptic procatalyst components.

In an alternative embodiment, each of the (C₁-C₄₀) hydrocarbyl and (C₁-C₄₀) heterohydrocarbyl of any one or more of Q¹, Q², Q³, Q⁴, Q⁵, Q⁶, Q⁷, Q⁸, Q⁹and Q¹⁰each independently is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R^Ssubstituents, and wherein each R^Sindependently is a halogen atom, polyfluoro substitution, perfluoro substitution, unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl, (C₆-C₁₈)aryl, F₃C, FCH₂O, F₂HCO, F₃CO, (R^C1)₃Si, (R^C1)₃Ge, (R^C1)O, (R^C1)S, (R^C1)S(O), (R^C1)S(O)₂, (R^C1)₂P, (R^C1)₂N, (R^C1)₂C═N, NC, NO₂, (R^C1)C(O)O, (R^C1)OC(O), (R^C1)C(O)N(R^C1), or (R^C1)₂NC(O), or two of the R^Sare taken together to form an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)alkylene where each R^Sindependently is an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl, and wherein independently each R^C1is hydrogen, unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)hydrocarbyl or an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)heterohydrocarbyl, or absent (e.g., absent when N comprises —N═). In particular embodiments, Q⁵and Q⁶are each independently (C₁-C₄₀) primary or secondary alkyl groups with respect to their connection to the amine nitrogen of the parent ligand structure. The terms primary and secondary alkyl groups are given their usual and customary meaning herein; i.e., primary indicating that the carbon atom directly linked to the ligand nitrogen bears at least two hydrogen atoms and secondary indicates that the carbon atom directly linked to the ligand nitrogen bears only one hydrogen atom.

Optionally, two or more Q^1-5groups or two or more Q^6-10groups each independently can combine together to form ring structures, with such ring structures having from 5 to 16 atoms in the ring excluding any hydrogen atoms.

In preferred embodiments, Q⁵and Q⁶are each independently (C₁-C₄₀) primary or secondary alkyl groups and most preferably, Q⁵and Q⁶are each independently propyl, isopropyl, neopentyl, hexyl, isobutyl and benzyl.

In particular embodiments, Q¹and Q¹⁰of the olefin polymerization procatalyst of Formula (i) are substituted phenyl groups; as shown in Formula (ii),

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wherein J¹-J¹⁰are each independently selected from the group consisting of R^Ssubstituents and hydrogen; and wherein each R^Sindependently is a halogen atom, polyfluoro substitution, perfluoro substitution, unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl, (C₆-C₁₈)aryl, F₃C, FCH₂O, F₂HCO, F₃CO, (R^C1)₃SI, (R^C1)₃Ge, (R^C1)O, (R^C1)S, (R^C1)S(O), (R^C1)S(O)₂, (R^C1)₂P, (R^C1)₂N, (R^C1)₂═N, NC, NO₂, (R^C1)C(O)O, (R^C1)OC(O), (R^C1)C(O)N(R^C1), or (R^C1)₂NC(O), or two of the R^Sare taken together to form an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)alkylene where each R^Sindependently is an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)alkyl, and wherein independently each R^C1is hydrogen, unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)hydrocarbyl or an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₈)heterohydrocarbyl, or absent (e.g., absent when N comprises —N═). More preferably, J¹, J⁵, J⁶and J¹⁰of Formula (ii) are each independently selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, (C₁-C₈) alkyl groups, and (C₁-C₈) alkoxyl groups. Most preferably, J¹, J⁵, J⁶and J¹⁰of Formula (ii) are each independently methyl; ethyl or isopropyl.

The term “[(Si)₁—(C+Si)₄₀] substituted organosilyl” means a substituted silyl radical with 1 to 40 silicon atoms and 0 to 39 carbon atoms such that the total number of carbon plus silicon atoms is between 1 and 40. Examples of [(Si)₁—(C+Si)₄₀] substituted organosilyl include trimethylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, dimethylphenylsilyl, diphenylmethylsilyl, triphenylsilyl, and triethylsilyl.

Preferably, there are no O—O, S—S, or O—S bonds, other than O—S bonds in an S(O) or S(O)₂diradical functional group, in the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i). More preferably, there are no O—O, P—P, S—S, or O—S bonds, other than O—S bonds in an S(O) or S(O)₂diradical functional group, in the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i).

M is titanium, zirconium, or hafnium. In one embodiment, M is titanium. In another embodiment, M is zirconium. In another embodiment, M is hafnium. In some embodiments, M is in a formal oxidation state of +2, +3, or +4. Each Z1 independently is a monodentate or polydentate ligand that is neutral, monoanionic, or dianionic. Z1 and nn are chosen in such a way that the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i) is, overall, neutral. In some embodiments each Z1 independently is the monodentate ligand. In one embodiment when there are two or more Z1 monodentate ligands, each Z1 is the same. In some embodiments the monodentate ligand is the monoanionic ligand. The monoanionic ligand has a net formal oxidation state of −1. Each monoanionic ligand may independently be hydride, (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbyl carbanion, (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbyl carbanion, halide, nitrate, carbonate, phosphate, borate, borohydride, sulfate, HC(O)O⁻, alkoxide or aryloxide (RO⁻), (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbylC(O)O⁻, HC(O)N(H)⁻,(C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbylC(O)N(H)⁻, (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbylC(O)N((C₁-C₂₀)hydrocarbyl)⁻, R^KR^LB⁻, R^KR^LN⁻, R^KO⁻, R^KS⁻, R^KR^LP⁻, or R^MR^KR^LSi⁻, wherein each R^K, R^L, and R^Mindependently is hydrogen, (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbyl, or (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbyl, or R^Kand R^Lare taken together to form a (C₂-C₄₀)hydrocarbylene or (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbylene and R^Mis as defined above.

In some embodiments at least one monodentate ligand of Z1 independently is the neutral ligand. In one embodiment, the neutral ligand is a neutral Lewis base group that is R^X1NR^KR^L, R^KOR^L, R^KSR^L, or R^X1PR^KR^L, wherein each R^X1independently is hydrogen, (C₁-C₄₀)hydrocarbyl, [(C₁-C₁₀)hydrocarbyl]₃Si, [(C₁-C₁₀)hydrocarbyl]₃Si(C₁-C₁₀)hydrocarbyl, or (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbyl and each R^Kand R^Lindependently is as defined above.

In some embodiments, each Z1 is a monodentate ligand that independently is a halogen atom, unsubstituted (C₁-C₂₀)hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted (C₁-C₂₀)hydrocarbylC(O)O—, or R^KR^LN— wherein each of R^Kand R^Lindependently is an unsubstituted (C₁-C₂₀)hydrocarbyl. In some embodiments each monodentate ligand Z1 is a chlorine atom, (C₁-C₁₀)hydrocarbyl (e.g., (C₁-C₆)alkyl or benzyl), unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₀)hydrocarbylC(O)O—, or R^KR^LN— wherein each of R^Kand R^Lindependently is an unsubstituted (C₁-C₁₀)hydrocarbyl.

In some embodiments there are at least two Z1s and the two Z1s are taken together to form the bidentate ligand. In some embodiments the bidentate ligand is a neutral bidentate ligand. In one embodiment, the neutral bidentate ligand is a diene of Formula (R^D1)₂C═C(R^D1)—C(R^D1)═C(R^D1)₂, wherein each R^D1independently is H, unsubstituted (C₁-C₆)alkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl. In some embodiments the bidentate ligand is a monoanionic-mono(Lewis base) ligand. The monoanionic-mono(Lewis base) ligand may be a 1,3-dionate of Formula (D): R^E1—C(O⁻)═CH—C(═O)—R^E1(D), wherein each R^E1independently is H, unsubstituted (C₁-C₆)alkyl, phenyl, or naphthyl. In some embodiments the bidentate ligand is a dianionic ligand. The dianionic ligand has a net formal oxidation state of −2. In one embodiment, each dianionic ligand independently is carbonate, oxalate (i.e., ⁻O₂CC(O)O⁻), (C₂-C₄₀)hydrocarbylene dicarbanion, (C₁-C₄₀)heterohydrocarbylene dicarbanion, phosphate, or sulfate.

As previously mentioned, number and charge (neutral, monoanionic, dianionic) of Z1 are selected depending on the formal oxidation state of M such that the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i) is, overall, neutral.

In some embodiments each Z1 is the same, wherein each Z1 is methyl; isobutyl; neopentyl; neophyl; trimethylsilylmethyl; phenyl; benzyl; or chloro. In some embodiments nn is 2 and each Z1 is the same.

In some embodiments at least two Z1 are different. In some embodiments, each Z1 is a different one of methyl; isobutyl; neopentyl; neophyl; trimethylsilylmethyl; phenyl; benzyl; and chloro.

In one embodiment, the metal-ligand complex of Formula (i) is a mononuclear metal complex.

Further suitable procatalysts include those disclosed in Acc. Chem. Res., 2015, 48 (8), pp 2209-2220, including but not limited to those of the following structures:

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Suitable procatalyst further include “single-component catalysts” that can catalyze olefin polymerization without the use of a co-catalyst. Such simple-component catalysts include those disclosed in Watson, P. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1982, 104, 337-339; Yasuda, H.; Ihara, E. Adv. Polym. Sci. 1997, 133, 53-101; Ihara, E.; Nodono, M.; Katsura, K.; Adachi, Y.; Yasuda, H.; Yamagashira, M.; Hashimoto, H.; Kanehisa, N.; and Kai, Y. Organometallics 1998, 17, 3945-3956; Long, D. P.; Bianconi, P. A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 12453-12454; Gilchrist, J. H.; Bercaw, J. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 12021-12028; Mitchell, J. P.; Hajela, S.; Brookhart, S. K.; Hardcastle, K. I.; Henling, L. M.; Bercaw, J. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 1045-1053; Evans, W. J.; DeCoster, D. M.; Greaves, J. Organometallics 1996, 15, 3210-3221; Evans, W. J.; DeCoster, D. M.; Greaves, J. Macromolecules 1995, 28, 7929-7936; Shapiro, P. J.; Cotter, W. D.; Schaefer, W. P.; Labinger, J. A.; Bercaw, J. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1994, 116, 4623-4640; Schaverien, C. J. Organometallics 1994, 13, 69-82; Coughlin, E. B. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 7606-7607; Piers, W. E.; Bercaw, J. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 9406-9407; Burger, B. J.; Thompson, M. E., Cotter, W. D.; Bercaw, J. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990,112, 1566-1577; Shapiro, P. J.; Bunel, E.; Schaefer, W. P. Organometallics 1990, 9, 867-869; Jeske, G.; Lauke, H.; Mauermann, H.; Swepston, P. N.; Schumann, H.; Marks, T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 8091-8103; Jeske, G.; Schock, L. E.; Swepston, P. N.; Schumann, H.; Marks, T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 8103-8110; and Organometallics, 2001, 20 (9), pp 1752-1761. Exemplary, non-limiting formulas of such simple-component catalysts include:

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wherein:

M is Sm or Y; and R is a monovalent ligand of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably halide or hydrocarbyl.

Suitable procatalysts include but are not limited to the following named as (Cat 1) to (Cat 17).

(Cat 1) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 03/40195 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,764 B2 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 2) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 03/40195 and WO 04/24740 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 3) may be prepared according to methods known in the art and has the following structure:

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(Cat 4) may be prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0010103 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 5) may be prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,858,706 B2 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 6) may be prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 7,858,706 B2 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 7) may be prepared by the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,444 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 8) may be prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2003/004286 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 9) may be prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2003/004286 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 10) is commercially available from Sigma-Aldrich and has the following structure:

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(Cat 11) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 2017/173080 A1 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 12) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 2017/173080 A1 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 13) may be prepared according to the teachings of Macromolecules (Washington, D.C., United States), 43(19), 7903-7904 (2010) and has the following structure:

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(Cat 14) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 2011/102989 A1 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 15) may be prepared according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 8,101,696 B2 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 16) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 2018/170138 A1 and has the following structure:

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(Cat 17) may be prepared according to the teachings of WO 2018/170138 A1 and has the following structure:

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In certain embodiments, the (c1) catalyst component comprises a procatalyst and a co-catalyst. In these embodiments, the procatalyst may be activated to form an active catalyst by combination with a co-catalyst (activator), preferably a cation forming co-catalyst, a strong Lewis acid, or a combination thereof.

Suitable cation forming co-catalysts include those previously known in the art for metal olefin polymerization complexes. Examples include neutral Lewis acids, such as C_1-30hydrocarbyl substituted Group 13 compounds, especially tri(hydrocarbyl)boron compounds and halogenated (including perhalogenated) derivatives thereof, having from 1 to 10 carbons in each hydrocarbyl or halogenated hydrocarbyl group, more especially perfluorinated tri(aryl)boron compounds, and most especially tris(pentafluoro-phenyl)borane; nonpolymeric, compatible, noncoordinating, ion forming compounds (including the use of such compounds under oxidizing conditions), especially the use of ammonium-, phosphonium-, oxonium-, carbonium-, silylium- or sulfonium-salts of compatible, noncoordinating anions, or ferrocenium-, lead- or silver salts of compatible, noncoordinating anions; and combinations of the foregoing cation forming cocatalysts and techniques. The foregoing activating co-catalysts and activating techniques have been previously taught with respect to different metal complexes for olefin polymerizations in the following references: EP-A-277,003; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,153,157; 5,064,802; 5,321,106; 5,721,185; 5,350,723; 5,425,872; 5,625,087; 5,883,204; 5,919,983; 5,783,512; WO 99/15534, and WO99/42467.

Combinations of neutral Lewis acids, especially the combination of a trialkyl aluminum compound having from 1 to 4 carbons in each alkyl group and a halogenated tri(hydrocarbyl)boron compound having from 1 to 20 carbons in each hydrocarbyl group, especially tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, further combinations of such neutral Lewis acid mixtures with a polymeric or oligomeric alumoxane, and combinations of a single neutral Lewis acid, especially tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane with a polymeric or oligomeric alumoxane may be used as activating cocatalysts. Exemplary molar ratios of metal complex:tris(pentafluorophenyl-borane:alumoxane are from 1:1:1 to 1:5:20, such as from 1:1:1.5 to 1:5:10.

Suitable ion forming compounds useful as co-catalysts in one embodiment of the present disclosure comprise a cation which is a Brønsted acid capable of donating a proton, and a compatible, noncoordinating anion, A⁻. As used herein, the term “noncoordinating” refers to an anion or substance which either does not coordinate to the Group 4 metal containing precursor complex and the catalytic derivative derived there from, or which is only weakly coordinated to such complexes thereby remaining sufficiently labile to be displaced by a neutral Lewis base. A noncoordinating anion specifically refers to an anion which when functioning as a charge balancing anion in a cationic metal complex does not transfer an anionic substituent or fragment thereof to said cation thereby forming neutral complexes. “Compatible anions” are anions which are not degraded to neutrality when the initially formed complex decomposes and are noninterfering with desired subsequent polymerization or other uses of the complex.

Suitable anions are those containing a single coordination complex comprising a charge-bearing metal or metalloid core which anion is capable of balancing the charge of the active catalyst species (the metal cation) which may be formed when the two components are combined. Also, said anion should be sufficiently labile to be displaced by olefinic, diolefinic and acetylenically unsaturated compounds or other neutral Lewis bases such as ethers or nitriles. Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, aluminum, gold and platinum. Suitable metalloids include, but are not limited to, boron, phosphorus, and silicon. Compounds containing anions which comprise coordination complexes containing a single metal or metalloid atom are, of course, well known and many, particularly such compounds containing a single boron atom in the anion portion, are available commercially.

In one aspect, suitable cocatalysts may be represented by the following general formula:

(L*-H)_g⁺(A)^g−, wherein

L* is a neutral Lewis base;

(L*H)⁺is a conjugate Brønsted acid of L*;

A^g− is a noncoordinating, compatible anion having a charge of g⁻, and g is an integer from 1 to 3.

More particularly, A^g− corresponds to the formula: [M′Q₄]⁻; wherein:

M′ is boron or aluminum in the +3 formal oxidation state; and

Q independently in each occurrence is selected from hydride, dialkyl-amido, halide, hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxide, halosubstituted-hydrocarbyl, halosubstituted hydrocarbyloxy, and halo-substituted silylhydrocarbyl radicals (including perhalogenated hydrocarbyl-perhalogenated hydrocarbyloxy- and perhalogenated silylhydrocarbyl radicals), each Q having up to 20 carbons with the proviso that in not more than one occurrence is Q halide. Examples of suitable hydrocarbyloxide Q groups are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,433.

In an exemplary embodiment, g is one, that is, the counter ion has a single negative charge and is A⁻. Activating cocatalysts comprising boron which are particularly useful in the preparation of catalysts of this disclosure may be represented by the following general formula: (L*-H)⁺(BQ₄)⁻; wherein:

L* is as previously defined;

B is boron in a formal oxidation state of 3; and

Q is a hydrocarbyl-, hydrocarbyloxy-, fluorinated hydrocarbyl-, fluorinated hydrocarbyloxy-, or fluorinated silylhydrocarbyl-group of up to 20 nonhydrogen atoms, with the proviso that in not more than one occasion is Q hydrocarbyl.

Especially useful Lewis base salts are ammonium salts, more preferably trialkyl-ammonium salts containing one or more C_12-40alkyl groups. In this aspect, for example, Q in each occurrence can be a fluorinated aryl group, especially, a pentafluorophenyl group.

Illustrative, but not limiting, examples of boron compounds which may be used as an activating cocatalyst in the preparation of the improved catalysts of this disclosure include the tri-substituted ammonium salts such as:

trimethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

triethylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

tripropylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

tri(n-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

tri(sec-butyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethylanilinium n-butyltris(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethylanilinium benzyltris(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(4-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-2,3,5,6 tetrafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(4-(triisopropylsilyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethylanilinium pentafluorophenoxytris(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-diethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

N,N-dimethyl-2,4,6-trimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

dimethyloctadecylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

methyldioctadecylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate;

a number of dialkyl ammonium salts such as:

di-(i-propyl)ammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

methyloctadecylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

methyloctadodecylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and

dioctadecylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate;

various tri-substituted phosphonium salts such as:

triphenylphosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

methyldioctadecylphosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and

tri(2,6-dimethylphenyl)phosphonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate;

di-substituted oxonium salts such as:

diphenyloxonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate,

di(o-tolyl)oxonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and

di(octadecyl)oxonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; and

di-substituted sulfonium salts such as:

di(o-tolyl)sulfonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, and

methylcotadecylsulfonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

Further to this aspect of the disclosure, examples of useful (L*-H)⁺ cations include, but are not limited to, methyldioctadecylammonium cations, dimethyloctadecylammonium cations, and ammonium cations derived from mixtures of trialkyl amines containing one or two C_14-18alkyl groups.

Another suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst comprises a salt of a cationic oxidizing agent and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the formula: (Ox^h+)_g(A^g−)_h, wherein

Ox^h+ is a cationic oxidizing agent having a charge of h+;

h is an integer from 1 to 3; and

A^g− and g are as previously defined.

Examples of cationic oxidizing agents include: ferrocenium, hydrocarbyl-substituted ferrocenium, Ag⁺, or Pb⁺². Particularly useful examples of A^g− are those anions previously defined with respect to the Bronsted acid containing activating cocatalysts, especially tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

Another suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst can be a compound which is a salt of a carbenium ion and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the following formula: [C]⁺A⁻

wherein:

[C]⁺ is a C_1-20carbenium ion; and

is a noncoordinating, compatible anion having a charge of −1. For example, one carbenium ion that works well is the trityl cation, that is triphenylmethylium.

A further suitable ion forming, activating cocatalyst comprises a compound which is a salt of a silylium ion and a noncoordinating, compatible anion represented by the formula: (Q¹₃Si)⁺A⁻

wherein:

- Q¹is C_1-10hydrocarbyl, and A⁻ is as previously defined.

Suitable silylium salt activating cocatalysts include trimethylsilylium tetrakispentafluorophenylborate, triethylsilylium tetrakispentafluorophenylborate, and ether substituted adducts thereof. Silylium salts have been previously generically disclosed in J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm. 1993, 383-384, as well as in Lambert, J. B., et al., Organometallics 1994, 13, 2430-2443. The use of the above silylium salts as activating cocatalysts for addition polymerization catalysts is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,087.

Certain complexes of alcohols, mercaptans, silanols, and oximes with tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane are also effective catalyst activators and may be used according to the present disclosure. Such cocatalysts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,433.

Suitable activating cocatalysts for use herein also include polymeric or oligomeric alumoxanes (also called aluminoxanes), especially methylalumoxane (MAO), triisobutyl aluminum modified methylalumoxane (MMAO), or isobutylalumoxane; Lewis acid modified alumoxanes, especially perhalogenated tri(hydrocarbyl)aluminum- or perhalogenated tri(hydrocarbyl)boron modified alumoxanes, having from 1 to 10 carbons in each hydrocarbyl or halogenated hydrocarbyl group, and most especially tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane modified alumoxanes. Such co-catalysts are previously disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,214,760, 6,160,146, 6,140,521, and 6,696,379.

A class of co-catalysts comprising non-coordinating anions generically referred to as expanded anions, further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,671, may be suitably employed to activate the metal complexes of the present disclosure for olefin polymerization. Generally, these co-catalysts (illustrated by those having imidazolide, substituted imidazolide, imidazolinide, substituted imidazolinide, benzimidazolide, or substituted benzimidazolide anions) may be depicted as follows:

embedded image

wherein:

A*⁺ is a cation, especially a proton containing cation, and can be trihydrocarbyl ammonium cation containing one or two C_10-40alkyl groups, especially a methyldi(C_14-20alkyl)ammonium cation,

Q³, independently in each occurrence, is hydrogen or a halo, hydrocarbyl, halocarbyl, halohydrocarbyl, silylhydrocarbyl, or silyl, (including for example mono-, di- and tri(hydrocarbyl)silyl) group of up to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen, such as C_1-20alkyl, and

Q²is tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane or tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane).

Examples of these catalyst activators include trihydrocarbylammonium-salts, especially, methyldi(C_14-20alkyl)ammonium-salts of:

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)imidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-2-undecylimidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-2-heptadecylimidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-4,5-bis(undecyl)imidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-4,5-bis(heptadecyl)imidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)imidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-2-undecylimidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-2-heptadecylimidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-4,5-bis(undecyl)imidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-4,5-bis(heptadecyl)imidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane)-5,6-bis(undecyl)benzimidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)imidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-2-undecylimidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-2-heptadecylimidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-4,5-bis(undecyl)imidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-4,5-bis(heptadecyl)imidazolide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)imidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-2-undecylimidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-2-heptadecylimidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-4,5-bis(undecyl)imidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-4,5-bis(heptadecyl)imidazolinide,

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazolide, and

bis(tris(pentafluorophenyl)alumane)-5,6-bis(undecyl)benzimidazolide.

Other activators include those described in the PCT publication WO 98/07515, such as tris(2,2′,2″-nonafluorobiphenyl)fluoroaluminate. Combinations of activators are also contemplated by the disclosure, for example, alumoxanes and ionizing activators in combinations, see for example, EP-A-0 573120, PCT publications WO 94/07928 and WO 95/14044, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,153,157 and 5,453,410. For example, and in general terms, WO 98/09996 describes activating catalyst compounds with perchlorates, periodates and iodates, including their hydrates. WO 99/18135 describes the use of organoboroaluminum activators. WO 03/10171 discloses catalyst activators that are adducts of Brønsted acids with Lewis acids. Other activators or methods for activating a catalyst compound are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,849,852, 5,859,653, and 5,869,723, in EP-A-615981, and in PCT publication WO 98/32775. All of the foregoing catalyst activators as well as any other known activator for transition metal complex catalysts may be employed alone or in combination according to the present disclosure. In one aspect, however, the co-catalyst can be alumoxane-free. In another aspect, for example, the co-catalyst can be free of any specifically-named activator or class of activators as disclosed herein.

In a further aspect, the molar ratio of procatalyst/co-catalyst employed generally ranges from 1:10,000 to 100:1, for example, from 1:5000 to 10:1, or from 1:1000 to 1:1. Alumoxane, when used by itself as an activating co-catalyst, can be employed in large quantity, generally at least 100 times the quantity of metal complex on a molar basis.

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, where used as an activating co-catalyst can be employed generally in a molar ratio to the metal complex of from 0.5:1 to 10:1, such as from 1:1 to 6:1 and from 1:1 to 5:1. The remaining activating co-catalysts are generally employed in approximately equimolar quantity with the metal complex.

In exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the co-catalyst is [(C_16-18H_33-37)—₂CH₃NH] tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate salt.

Suitable co-catalysts also include those disclosed in U.S. Provisional Pat. App. Nos. 62/650,423, 62/650,412, and 62/650,453, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Such co-catalysts include those of the ionic complex comprising an anion and a countercation, the anion having the structure:

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wherein: M is aluminum, boron, or gallium; n is 2, 3, or 4; each R is independently selected from the group consisting of: radical (II) and radical (III):

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each Y is independently carbon or silicon; each R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴, and R²⁵is independently chosen from (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, —OR^C, —O—, —SR^C, —H, or —F, wherein when R is a radical according to radical (III), at least one of R^21-25is a halogen-substituted (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, a halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, or —F; and provided that: when each R is a radical (II) and Y is carbon, at least one of R^11-13is a halogen-substituted (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl , a halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, or —F; or when M is aluminum and n is 4 and each R is a radical (II), and each Y is carbon: each R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³of each R is a halogen-substituted (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, a halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, or —F; or a total number of halogen atoms in R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³of each R is at least six; each X is a monodentate ligand independently chosen from halogen-substituted (C₁-C₂₀)alkyl, (C₁-C₂₀)alkyl, halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, triflate, or —S(O)₃; optionally, two groups R are covalently connected; each R^Nand R^Cis independently (C₁-C₃₀)hydrocarbyl or —H.

Such co-catalysts further include the bimetallic activator complex comprising an anion and a countercation, the anion having a structure:

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where: each M is independently aluminum, boron, or gallium; L is chosen from a species having at least two Lewis basic sites; each Q is independently a monodentate ligand; n is 0, 1, or 2, wherein when n is 0, Q is not present; x is 0, 1, or 2, wherein when x is 0, Q is not present; each R is independently selected from the group consisting of radical (II) and radical (III):

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each Y is independently carbon or silicon; each R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴,and R²⁵, is independently chosen from (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, —H, —NR^N₂, —OR^C, —SR^C, or halogen, wherein when R is radical (II), at least one of R^11-13is perhalogenated (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl , perhalogenated (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, or —F; and when R is radical (III), at least one of R^21-25is perhalogenated (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, perhalogenated (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, or —F; optionally, when n is 0 or 1, two R groups are covalently connected; and each R^Nor R^Cis independently (C₁-C₃₀)hydrocarbyl or —H.

Such co-catalysts further include the metallic activator comprising an anion and a countercation, the anion having a structure:

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where: n is 0 or 1; each R is independently selected from the group consisting of radical (II) and radical (III):

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each Y is independently carbon or silicon; each R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, R²¹, R²², R²³, R²⁴, and R²⁵is independently chosen from (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, halogen-substituted (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, —OR^C, —SR^C, —H, —F or Cl, wherein at least one of R^11-13and one of R^21-25is a halogen-substituted (C₁-C₄₀)alkyl, a halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl, or —F; and each X is a monodentate ligand independently chosen from halogen-substituted (C₁-C₂₀)alkyl or halogen-substituted (C₆-C₄₀)aryl; optionally, two X groups are covalently connected; each R^Cis independently halogen-substituted (C₁-C₃₀)hydrocarbyl; provided that when the countercation is (Ph)₃C⁺, and the anion is Al(C₆F₅)₄.

(B) Curing Component

The curable composition further comprises a (B) curing component comprising a crosslinking agent. In certain embodiments, the curable composition of the present disclosure may comprise from 0.01 wt % to 2 wt % (or from 0.05 wt % to 2 wt %, or from 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, or from 0.1 wt % to 1 wt %, or from 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt %, or from 0.2 wt % to less than or equal to 0.5 wt %) of the (B) curing component comprising a crosslinking agent, based on the total weight of the curable composition. In further embodiments, the curable composition comprises from 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 0.5 wt %, or from 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 0.47 wt %, or from 0.2 wt % to less than or equal to 0.47 wt % of the (B) curing component comprising a crosslinking agent, based on the total weight of the curable composition.

In certain embodiments, the (B) curing component further comprises co-agents, curing additives, accelerators, and/or scorch inhibitors. In certain embodiments, the (B) curing component comprises a crosslinking agent and a co-agent. In further embodiments, the (B) curing component contains only the crosslinking agent.

Non-limiting examples of suitable cross-linking agents include peroxides; phenols; azides; aldehyde-amine reaction products; substituted ureas; substituted guanidines; substituted xanthates; substituted dithiocarbamates; sulfur-containing compounds, such as thiazoles, sulfenamides, thiuramidisulfides, paraquinonedioxime, dibenzoparaquinonedioxime, sulfur; imidazoles; silanes; metal oxides, such as zinc, magnesium, and lead oxides; dinitroso compounds, such as p-quinone-dioxime and p,p′-dibenzoylquinone-dioxime; and phenol-formaldehyde resins containing hydroxymethyl or halomethyl functional groups and combinations thereof. The suitability of any of these cross-linking agents will be largely governed by the choice of polymers, as is well known to those skilled in the compounding art.

The crosslinking agent may include one or more organic peroxides including but not limited to alkyl peroxides, aryl peroxides, peroxyesters, peroxycarbonates, diacylperoxides, peroxyketals, cyclic peroxides, dialkyl peroxides, peroxy esters, peroxy dicarbonates, or combinations of two or more thereof. Examples of peroxides include but are not limited to di-tertbutyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, di(3,3,5-trimethyl hexanoyl)peroxide, t-butyl peroxypivalate, t-butyl peroxyneodecanoate, di(sec-butyl)peroxydicarbonate, t-amyl peroxyneodecanoate, 1,1-di-t-butyl peroxy-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane, t-butyl-cumyl peroxide, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tertiary-butyl-peroxyl)hexane, 1,3-bis(tertiary-butyl-peroxyl-isopropyl)benzene, or a combination thereof. An exemplary crosslinking agent is dicumyl peroxide commercially available under the tradename LUPEROX® from Arkema or the tradename TRIGONOX® from Akzo Nobel. A further exemplary crosslinking agent is VAROX® DBPH-50 from Vanderbilt Chemicals. When the cross-linking agent is a peroxide, certain processing aids and cure activators such as stearic acid and ZnO may also be used.

When peroxide based curing agents are used, co-activators or coagents may be used in combination therewith. Suitable coagents include but are not limited trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA), triallyl cyanurate (TAC), triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC), and 1,4-phenylenedimaleimide (available from TCI Chemicals).

Suitable coagents further include but are not limited to the alkenyl-functional monocyclic organosiloxanes disclosed in WO 2019/000311 and WO 2019/000654, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. For example, the coagent may be a monocyclic organosiloxane of the formula [R1,R2SiO2/2]n, wherein subscript n is an integer greater than or equal to 3; each R1 is independently a (C2-C4)alkenyl or a H2C═C(R1a)-C(═O)—O—(CH₂)m- wherein R1a is H or methyl and subscript m is an integer from 1 to 4; and each R2 is independently H, (C1-C4)alkyl, phenyl, or R1. Examples of such monocyclic organosiloxanes include but are not limited to 2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8-tetravinyl cyclotetrasiloxane, 2,4,6-trimethyl-2,4,6-trivinyl-cyclotrisiloxane, or a combination thereof.

A scorch inhibitor/retardant is a molecule that inhibits premature curing, or a collection of such molecules. Examples of a scorch inhibitor/retardant are hindered phenols; semihindered phenols; TEMPO; TEMPO derivatives; 1,1-diphenylethylene; 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene (also known as alpha-methyl styrene dimer or AMSD); and allyl-containing compounds described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,925B1, column 2, line 62, to column 3, line 46.

Suitable cross-linking agents include those that are sulfur based, such as elemental sulfur. When sulfur based curing agents are employed, accelerators and cure activators may be used as well, such as amines, disulfides, guanidines, thioureas, thiazoles, thiurams, sulfenamides, dithiocarbamates, xanthates, 4,4′-dithiodimorpholine, thiuram di-and polysulfides, alkylphenol disulfides, and 2-morpholino-dithiobenzothiazole, tetramethylthiuram disulfide (TMTD), dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide (DPTT), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), 2-mercaptobenzothiazolate disulfide (MBTS), zinc-2-mercaptobenozothiazolate (ZMBT), zinc diethyldithiocarbamatezinc (ZDEC), zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate (ZDBC), dipentamethylenethiuram tetrasulfide (DPTT), N-t-butylbenzothiazole-2-sulfanamide (TBBS), and mixtures thereof.

Additional crosslinking agents include, but are not limited to, phenolic resins, azides, aldehyde-amine reaction products, vinyl silanes, hydrosilylation agents, substituted ureas, substituted guanidines, substituted xanthates, substituted dithiocarbamates, and combinations thereof. The crosslinking agent may be a phenolic curing agent or a peroxide curing agent, with an optional co-agent, or hydrosilylation cross-linking agent with a hydrosilylation catalyst, or dibutyl tin dilaurate (“DBTDL”), with an optional co-agent alumina trihydrate (“ATH”). Popular industrial catalysts are “Speier's catalyst,” H₂PtCl₆, and Karstedt's catalyst, an alkene-stabilized platinum(0) catalyst.

When a cross-linking agent is used, the cross-linking can be induced by activating the cross-linking agent in the curable formulation. The cross-linking agent can be activated by exposing it to a temperature above its decomposition temperature. Temperatures range from 50° C. to 300° C., such as 80° C. to 275° C. Time can be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art depending on polymers and cure components selected.

Alternatively, the cross-linking agent can be activated by exposing it to a radiation that causes the generation of free radicals from the cross-linking agent. Non-limiting examples of suitable radiation include UV or visible radiation, electron beam or beta ray, gamma rays, X-rays, or neutron rays. Radiation is believed to activate the cross-linking by generating radicals in the polymer which may subsequently combine and cross-link. Radiation dosage depends upon many factors and can be determined by those skilled in the art. UV or visible radiation activiation can occur when the cross-linking agent is a peroxide photoinitiator, such as dibenzoyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, di-t-butyl peroxide, diacetyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxydisulfates, and 2,2-bis(terbutylperoxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane.

In some embodiments, dual cure systems, which comprises at least two activation methods, may be effectively employed, such as combinations selected from heat, moisture cure, and radiation. For instance, it may be desirable to employ a peroxide cross-linking agent in conjunction with a silane cross-linking agent, a peroxide cross-linking agent in conjunction with radiation, a sulfur-containing cross-linking agent in conjunction with a silane cross-linking agent, or the like. Those skilled in the art will be readily able to select the amount of cross-linking agent, based on the desired cross-linking level, the characteristics of the polymer such as molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, comonomer content, the presence of cross-linking enhancing coagents, other additives and the like.

When the (A) polyolefin component is at least partially crosslinked, the degree of crosslinking may be measured by dissolving the composition in a solvent for specified duration, and calculating the percent gel or unextractable component. The percent gel normally increases with increasing crosslinking levels. For cured articles according to the invention, the percent gel content may be from 5 to 100 percent, or from 10 to 95 percent, or from 20 to 90 percent, or from 30 to 85 percent, or from 40 to 80 percent.

Applications and End Uses

The compositions of the present disclosure can be employed in a variety of conventional fabrication processes to produce useful articles, including objects prepared by cast, blown, calendered, or extrusion processes; molded articles, such as blow molded, injection molded, or rotomolded articles; extrusions; fibers; and woven or non-woven fabrics. Compositions of the present disclosure can further include but are not limited to other natural or synthetic polymers, oils, UV stabilizers, pigments, tackifiers, fillers (such as talc, calcium carbonate, glass fiber, carbon fiber), additives, reinforcing agents such as calcium or magnesium carbonate, fatty acids and salts thereof, ignition resistant additives, scorch inhibitors, antioxdiants, stabilizers, colorants, extenders, carbon black, crosslinkers, blowing agents, activators such as zinc oxide or zinc stearate, silica, aluminum silicates, plasticizers such as dialkyl esters of dicarboxylic acids, antidegradants, softeners, waxes, (poly)alcohols, (poly)alcohol ethers, polyesters, metal salts, scavengers, nucleating agents, stability control agents, flame retardants, lubricants, processing aids, extrusion aids, and chemical protectors.

Fibers may be prepared from the present compositions. Fibers that may be prepared include staple fibers, tow, multicomponent, sheath/core, twisted, and monofilament. Suitable fiber forming processes include spinbonded, melt blown techniques, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,430,563, 4,663,220, 4,668,566, and 4,322,027, gel spun fibers as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,110, woven and nonwoven fabrics, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,706, or structures made from such fibers, including blends with other fibers, such as polyester, nylon or cotton, thermoformed articles, extruded shapes, including profile extrusions and co-extrusions, calendared articles, and drawn, twisted, or crimped yarns or fibers. The new polymers described herein are also useful for wire and cable coating operations, as well as in sheet extrusion for vacuum forming operations, and forming molded articles, including the use of injection molding, blow molding process, or rotomolding processes. Compositions can also be formed into fabricated articles such as those previously mentioned using conventional polyolefin processing techniques which are well known to those skilled in the art of polyolefin processing.

Dispersions (both aqueous and non-aqueous) can also be formed using the present formulations comprising the same.

Additives and adjuvants may be included in any formulation. Suitable additives include fillers, such as organic or inorganic particles, including clays, talc, titanium dioxide, zeolites, powdered metals, organic or inorganic fibers, including carbon fibers, silicon nitride fibers, steel wire or mesh, and nylon or polyester cording, nano-sized particles, clays, and so forth; tackifiers, oil extenders, including paraffinic or napthelenic oils; and other natural and synthetic polymers, including other polymers according to the invention.

Suitable polymers for blending (and for inclusion in the (A) polyolefin component) include thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic polymers including natural and synthetic polymers. Such polymers include unsaturated polyolefin thermoplastics (EPDM, polybutadiene, etc.), polyolefin thermoplastics with low or no unsaturations (PE, PP, ethylene/alpha-olefin interpolymers), other elastomers (SBCs, PVC, EVA, ionomers, etc.), and other engineering thermoplastics (styrenics, polyamides, polyesters, etc.). Exemplary polymers for blending include polypropylene, (both impact modifying polypropylene, isotactic polypropylene, atactic polypropylene, and random ethylene/propylene copolymers), various types of polyethylene, including high pressure, free-radical LDPE, Ziegler Natta LLDPE, metallocene PE, including multiple reactor PE (“in reactor” blends of Ziegler-Natta PE and metallocene PE, such as products disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,545,088, 6,538,070, 6,566,446, 5,844,045, 5,869,575, and 6,448,341), etlhylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers, polystyrene, impact modified polystyrene, ABS, styrene/butadiene block copolymers and hydrogenated derivatives thereof (SBS and SEBS), ethylene-based olefin block copolymers (such as those available under the trade name INFUSETM available from the Dow Chemical Company), propylene-based olefin block copolymers (such as those available under the trade name INTUNE™ available from the Dow Chemical Company), and thermoplastic polyurethanes. Homogeneous polymers such as olefin plastomers and elastomers, such as ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers and propylene-based copolymers with low or no unsaturations (for example polymers available under the trade designation VERSIFY™ available from The Dow Chemical Company, ENGAGE™ from The Dow Chemical Company, TAFMER™ from Mitsui Chemicals, Exact™ from ExxonMobil, and VISTAMAXX™ available from ExxonMobil) can also be useful as components in blends comprising the present polymers.

Suitable end uses include crosslinkable or non-crosslinkable formulations for films; fibers; soft touch goods, such as tooth brush handles and appliance handles; gaskets and profiles; adhesives (functional adhesives, cross-linked adhesives, hot melt adhesives); footwear (including shoe soles and shoe liners); auto interior parts and profiles; foam goods (both open and closed cell); impact modifiers for other thermoplastic polymers such as high density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, or other olefin polymers; coated fabrics; hoses; tubing; weather stripping; cap liners; flooring; construction or building parts; woodworking; coatings (powder coatings, water-based coatings for beverage and food liners, solvent-based coatings for industrial metal coatings); waterproofing; photovoltaic applications; wire and cable applications; thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) applications; EPDM thermosets; seals, belts, conveyor belts, automotive timing belts and the like, gaskets, dampeners; tire compounds; highly filled compounds, sidewall and tread compounds; coagents for thermoset rubbers; crosslinked tubing; liquid (low viscosity) reaction injection molding; injection molded skins; 3D printing; and piping.

Compositions may also contain anti-ozonants or anti-oxidants that are known to a rubber chemist of ordinary skill. The anti-ozonants may be physical protectants such as waxy materials that come to the surface and protect the part from oxygen or ozone or they may be chemical protectors that react with oxygen or ozone. Suitable chemical protectors include styrenated phenols, butylated octylated phenol, butylated di(dimethylbenzyl) phenol, p-phenylenediamines, butylated reaction products of p-cresol and dicyclopentadiene (DCPD), polyphenolic anitioxidants, hydroquinone derivatives, quinoline, diphenylene antioxidants, thioester antioxidants, and blends thereof. Some representative trade names of such products are Wingstay™ S antioxidant, Polystay™ 100 antioxidant, Polystay™ 100 AZ antioxidant, Polystay™ 200 antioxidant, Wingstay™ L antioxidant, Wingstay™ LHLS antioxidant, Wingstay™ K antioxidant, Wingstay™ 29 antioxidant, Wingstay™ SN-1 antioxidant, and Irganox™ antioxidants. In some applications, the anti-oxidants and anti-ozonants used will preferably be non-staining and non-migratory.

For providing additional stability against UV radiation, hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and UV absorbers may be also used. Suitable examples include Tinuvin™ 123, Tinuvin™ 144, Tinuvin™ 622, Tinuvin™ 765, Tinuvin™ 770, and Tinuvin™ 780, available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and Chemisorb™ T944, available from Cytex Plastics, Houston Tex., USA. A Lewis acid may be additionally included with a HALS compound in order to achieve superior surface quality, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,681.

For some compositions, additional mixing process may be employed to pre-disperse the anti-oxidants, anti-ozonants, carbon black, UV absorbers, and/or light stabilizers to form a masterbatch, and subsequently to form polymer blends there from.

Compositions according to the invention may also contain organic or inorganic fillers or other additives such as starch, talc, calcium carbonate, glass fibers, polymeric fibers (including nylon, rayon, cotton, polyester, and polyaramide), metal fibers, flakes or particles, expandable layered silicates, phosphates or carbonates, such as clays, mica, silica, alumina, aluminosilicates or aluminophosphates, carbon whiskers, carbon fibers, nanoparticles including nanotubes, wollastonite, graphite, zeolites, and ceramics, such as silicon carbide, silicon nitride or titanias. Silane based or other coupling agents may also be employed for better filler bonding. Non-limiting examples of suitable silane coupling agents include γ-chloropropyl trimethoxysilane, vinyl trimethoxysilane, vinyl triethoxysilane, vinyl-tris-(β-methoxy)silane, allyltrimethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane, β-(3,4-ethoxy-cyclohexyl)ethyl trimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane, γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane, N-β-(aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane, and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate, vinyl triacetoxysilane, γ-(meth)acryloxy, propyl trimethoxysilane, and combinations thereof.

Suitable blowing agents include but are not limited to inorganic blowing agents, organic blow agents, chemical blowing agents, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable inorganic blowing agents include carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, water, air, nitrogen, and helium. Non-limiting examples of suitable organic blowing agents include aliphatic hydrocarbons having 1-6 carbon atoms, aliphatic alcohols having 1-3 carbon atoms, and fully and partially halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons having 1-4 carbon atoms. Non-limiting examples of suitable aliphatic hydrocarbons include methane, ethane, propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, neopentane, and the like. Non-limiting examples of suitable aliphatic alcohols include methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol. Non-limiting examples of suitable fully and partially halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons include fluorocarbons, chlorocarbons, and chlorofluorocarbons. Non-limiting examples of suitable fluorocarbons include methyl fluoride, perfluoromethane, ethyl fluoride, 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (HFC-143a), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-ethane (HFC-134a), pentafluoroethane, difluoromethane, perfluoroethane, 2,2-difluoropropane, 1,1,1-trifluoropropane, perfluoropropane, dichloropropane, difluoropropane, perfluorobutane, perfluorocyclobutane. Non-limiting examples of suitable partially halogenated chlorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons include methyl chloride, methylene chloride, ethyl chloride, 1,1,1-tricliloroethane, 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane (HCFC-14 Ib), 1-chloro-1,1 difluoroethane (HCFC-142b), 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123) and 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124). Non-limiting examples of suitable fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons include trichloromonofluoromethane (CFC-Il), dichlorodifluoromethane (CFC-12), trichlorotrifluoroethane (CFC-113), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane (CFC-114), chloroheptafluoropropane, and dichlorohexafluoropropane. Non-limiting examples of suitable chemical blowing agents include azodicarbonamide, azodiisobutyro-nitrile, benezenesulfonhydrazide, 4,4-oxybenzene sulfonyl-semicarbazide, p-toluene sulfonyl semi-carbazide, barium azodicarboxylate, N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-dinitrosoterephthalamide, and trihydrazino triazine. In some embodiments, the blowing agent is azodicarbonamide isobutane, CO₂, or a mixture of thereof.

The (A) polyolefin component of the present disclosure can also be chemically modified, such as by grafting (for example by use of maleic anhydride (MAH), silanes, glycidyl methacrylate, or other grafting agent), halogenation, amination, sulfonation, or other chemical modification.

Specific Embodiments

The following are non-limiting embodiments that exemplify the present invention and provide detailed disclosures for any claims in this application. Unless stated otherwise, any measured property or characterization in the following embodiments is accordance with the test methods disclosed herein.

1. A curable composition for a crosslinked foam, the curable composition comprising (A) a polyolefin component comprising an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹; (B) a curing component comprising a cross-linking agent; and (C) an additive component comprising a blowing agent, wherein:

L¹is a polyolefin;

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

2. A curable composition for a crosslinked foam, the curable composition comprising (A) a polyolefin component comprising a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²; (B) a curing component comprising a cross-linking agent; and (C) an additive component comprising a blowing agent, wherein:

L¹is a polyolefin;

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group;

L²is a C₁to C₃₂hydrocarbylene group; and

A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond.

3. A curable composition for a crosslinked foam, the curable composition comprising (A) a polyolefin component comprising an unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and a telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²; (B) a curing component comprising a cross-linking agent; and (C) an additive component comprising a blowing agent, wherein:

L¹at each occurrence independently is a polyolefin;

Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group;

L²is a C₁to C₃₂hydrocarbylene group; and

A²is a hydrocarbyl group comprising a hindered double bond.

4. The curable composition of embodiment 3, wherein the (A) polyolefin component comprises a ratio of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹to the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²of from 10:90 to 90:10, or from 20:80 to 80:20, or from 40:60 to 60:40, or 50:50.

5. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the (A) polyolefin component further comprises an ethylene-based polymer.

6. The curable composition of embodiment 1, wherein the (A) polyolefin component further comprises an ethylene-based polymer, and wherein the (A) polyolefin component comprises a ratio of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹to the ethylene-based polymer of from 10:90 to 90:10, or from 20:80 to 80:20, or from 40:60 to 60:40, or 50:50.

7. The curable composition of embodiment 2, wherein the (A) polyolefin component further comprises an ethylene-based polymer, and wherein the (A) polyolefin component comprises a ratio of the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²to the ethylene-based polymer of from 10:90 to 90:10, or from 20:80 to 80:20, or from 40:60 to 60:40, or 50:50.

8. The curable composition of any of embodiments 5-7, wherein the ethylene-based polymer is an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer.

9. The curable composition of embodiment 8, wherein the ethylene-based polymer is selected from the group consisting of an ethylene/propylene copolymer, an ethylene/1-butene copolymer, an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer, and an ethylene/1-octene copolymer.

10. The curable composition of any of embodiments 5-7, wherein the ethylene-based polymer is an olefin block copolymer.

11. The curable composition of any of embodiments 5-10, wherein the ethylene-based polymer has a density of from 0.850 to 0.915 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.900 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.890 g/cc, or from 0.860 to 0.885 g/cc.

12. The curable composition of any of embodiments 5-11, wherein the ethylene-based polymer has a melt index (I2) of from 0.01 to 500 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 100 g/10 minutes, or from 0.5 to 50 g/10 minutes, or from 0.5 to 30 g/10 minutes.

13. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the (C) additive component further comprises a blowing agent activator and a filler.

14. The curable composition of embodiment 13, wherein the blowing agent is azodicabonamide or an azodicabonamide-based agent, and the blowing agent activator is zinc oxide, zinc stearate, or a combination thereof.

15. The curable composition of embodiment 13 or 14, wherein the filler is titanium dioxide.

16. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the curable composition comprises:

the (A) polyolefin component in an amount of from 20 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 35 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 50 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 75 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 80 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 85 wt % to 98 wt %, or from 90 wt % to 98 wt %, based on the total weight of the curable composition;

the (B) curing component in an amount of from 0.1 wt % to 2 wt %, or from 0.1 wt % to 1 wt %, or from 0.1 wt % to 0.5 wt %, based on the total weight of the curable composition; and

the (C) additive component in an amount of from 0.5 wt % to 10 wt %, or from 0.5 wt % to 8 wt %, or from 0.5 wt % to 5 wt %, based on the total weight of the curable composition.

17. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the (B) curing component comprising the crosslinking agent is present in an amount of from 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 0.5 wt % or from 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 0.47 wt %, based on the total weight of the curable composition.

18. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the crosslinking agent is a peroxide, and the crosslinking agent is present in an amount of from 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 0.5 wt % or from 0.1 wt % to less than or equal to 0.47 wt %, based on the total weight of the curable composition.

19. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each L¹independently is an ethylene homopolymer comprising units derived from ethylene,

wherein each A¹independently is a vinyl group, a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, or a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, and wherein each Y¹independently is a methyl group.

20. The curable composition of any of embodiments 1-18,

wherein each L¹indepedently is a propylene homopolymer comprising units derived from propylene,

wherein each A¹indepedently is a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, or a mixture of a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)— and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, and

wherein Y¹at each occurrence independently is a methyl group.

21. The curable composition of any of embodiments 1-18, wherein each L¹independently is an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprising units derived from ethylene and a C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin, and wherein the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of propylene, 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene.

22. The curable composition of embodiment 21, wherein the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin is propylene and each L¹independently is an ethylene/propylene copolymer; and

wherein each A¹independently is a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, a mixture of a vinyl group and a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, or a mixture of a vinyl group, a vinylidene group of the formula CH₂═C(Y¹)—, and a vinylene group of the formula Y¹CH═CH—, and

wherein Y¹at each occurrence independently is a methyl group.

23. The curable composition of embodiment 21, wherein the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin is 1-butene and each L¹indepedently is an ethylene/1-butene copolymer,

wherein Y¹at each occurrence independently is an ethyl group.

24. The curable composition of embodiment 21, wherein the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin is 1-hexene and each L¹independently is an ethylene/1-hexene copolymer,

wherein Y¹at each occurrence independently is a butyl group.

25. The curable composition of embodiment 21, wherein the C₃to C₃₀alpha-olefin is 1-octene and each L¹independently is an ethylene/1-octene copolymer,

wherein Y¹at each occurrence independently is a C6 alkyl group.

26. The curable composition of any of embodiments 1-18, wherein each L¹independently is a propylene/alpha-olefin copolymer comprising units derived from propylene and either ethylene or a C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin, wherein the C₄to C₃₀alpha-olefin is selected from the group consisting of 1-butene, 1-hexene, and 1-octene.

27. The curable composition of embodiment 26, wherein each L¹independently is a propylene/ethylene copolymer, and

wherein Y¹at each occurrence independently is a methyl group.

28. The curable composition of any of embodiment 2-27, wherein L²is —CH₂CH(Y²)—, and wherein Y²is hydrogen or a C₁to C₃₀hydrocarbyl group.

29. The curable composition of embodiment 28, wherein Y²is hydrogen or a C1 to C10 alkyl group.

30. The curable composition of any embodiments 2-29, wherein the hindered double bond is selected from the group consisting of the double bond of a vinylidene group, the double bond of a vinylene group, the double bond of a trisubstituted alkene, and the double bond of a vinyl group attached to a branched alpha carbon.

31. The curable composition of any of embodiments 2-30, wherein each A²independently is a C₃to C₃₀cyclic hydrocarbyl group or a C₃to C₃₀acyclic hydrocarbyl group.

32. The curable composition of any of embodiments 2-31, wherein each A²independently is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted cycloalkene, an alkyl-substituted cycloalkene, and an acyclic alkyl group.

33. The curable composition of any of embodiments 2-32, wherein each A²independently is selected from the group consisting of:

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34. The curable composition of any of embodiments 2-33, wherein each A²independently is selected from the group consisting of (AC), (AF), (AM), (AO), (AP), (AS), and (AZ1).

35. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 250,000 g/mol.

36. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 250,000 g/mol.

37. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has an average molar mass (Mz) of from 1,000 to 10,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 1,000,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 750,000 g/mol, or from 1,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 5,000 to 500,000 g/mol, or from 10,000 to 500,000 g/mol.

38. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has an Mw/Mn (PDI) of from 1 to 10, or from 1 to 7, or from 1 to 5, or from 1.5 to 4, and or from 2 to 4.

39. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a density of from 0.850 to 0.965 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.950 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.935 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.925 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.910 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.900 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.885 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.880 g/cc, or from 0.854 to 0.875 g/cc.

40. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a melt index (12) of from 0.01 to 2000 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 1,500 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 1,000 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 500 g/10 minutes, or from 0.01 to 100 g/10 minutes, or from 0.5 to 50 g/10 minutes, or from 0.5 to 30 g/10 minutes.

41. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a Tm of from −25° C. to 165° C., or from −25° C. to 150° C., or from −25° C. to 125° C., or from −25° C. to 100° C., or from 0° C. to 80° C., or from 10° C. to 60° C.

42. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a Brookfield viscosity (at 177° C.) of from 10 to 10⁸cP, or from 10 to 10⁷cP, or from 10 to 10⁶cP, or from 10 to 750,000 cP, or from 10 to 500,000 cP, or from 10 to 250,000 cP, or from 10 to 100,000 cP, or from 10 to 75,000 cP, or from 10 to 50,000 cP, or from 10 to 40,000 cP.

43. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has an enthalpy of melting (ΔHm) of from 0 to 235 J/g, or from 0 to 200 J/g, or from 10 to 175 J/g, or from 10 to 150 J/g, or from 10 to 125 J/g, or from 20 to 117 J/g.

44. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²has a T_gof from −80 to 100° C., or from −80 to 75° C., or from −80 to 50° C., or from −80 to 25° C., or from −80 to 0° C., or from −80 to −15° C., or from −70 to −30° C.

45. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein each of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹and the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²comprises from 0 wt % to 0.001 wt % of units derived from diene monomers.

46. The curable composition of any of embodiments 2-45, wherein the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²comprises a total number of unsaturations of from equal to or greater than 1.1, or from equal to or greater than 1.2, or from equal to or greater than 1.3, or from equal to or greater than 1.4, or from equal to or greater than 1.5, or from equal to or greater than 1.6, or rom equal to or greater than 1.7, or from equal to or greater than 1.8, or from equal to or greater than 1.9.

47. The curable composition of any of embodiments 1 and 3-45, wherein the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹comprises a total number of unsaturations of equal to or greater than 0.6, or equal to or greater than 0.7, or equal to or greater than 0.8, or equal to or greater than 0.9, or equal to or greater than 1.0, or equal to or greater than 1.1, or equal to or greater than 1.2, or equal to or greater than 1.3.

48. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the curable composition has an MH-ML of greater than or equal to 2.9 dNm, or greater than or equal to 3 dNm, or greater than or equal to 3.3 dNm, or greater than or equal to 3.6 dNm, or greater than or equal to 3.9 dNm, or greater than or equal to 4 dNm, or greater than or equal to 4.2 dNm after curing at 180° C. for 15 minutes.

49. The curable composition of any of the previous embodiments, wherein the curable composition has an MH-ML from greater than or equal to 2.9 dNm to less than or equal to 20 dNm, or from greater than or equal to 2.9 dNm to less than or equal to 15 dNm, or from greater than or equal to 2.9 dNm to less than or equal to 10 dNm, of from greater than or equal to 2.9 dNm to less than or equal to 5 dNm, or from greater than or equal to 2.9 dNm to less than or equal to 4.2 dNm after curing at 180° C. for 15 minutes.

50. The curable composition of any of embodiments 1 and 3-49, wherein L¹of the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹is covalently bonded to A¹through a carbon-carbon single bond.

51. The curable composition of any of embodiments 2-50, wherein L¹of the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²is covalently bonded to each of A^land L²through carbon-carbon single bonds, and wherein L²of the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L2A2is covalently bonded to A²through a carbon-carbon single bond.

52. An article made from the curable composition of any of the previous embodiments.

53. The article of embodiment 52, wherein the article is a crosslinked foam.

54. The article of embodiment 52 or 53, wherein the article is a footwear article.

55. The article of any of embodiments 52-54, wherein the article has an expansion ratio from 100% to 200%, or from 130% to 170%, or from 145% to 155%.

56. The article of any of embodiments 52-55, wherein the article has, in accordance with ASTM D624, a Type C tear of greater than or equal to 8.5 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 8.9 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 9.0 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 10 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 11 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 12 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 13 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 13.8 N/mm.

57. The article of any of embodiments 52-56, wherein the article has, in accordance with ASTM D624, a Type C tear of from greater than or equal to 8.5 N/mm to less than or equal to 30 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 8.9 N/mm to less than or equal to 25 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 8.9 N/mm to less than or equal to 20 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 8.9 N/mm to less than or equal to 15 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 8.9 N/mm to less than or equal to 14 N/mm.

58. The article of any of embodiments 52-57, wherein the article has, in accordance with the method described herein, a split tear of greater than or equal to 2.5 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 2.7 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 2.9 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 3.1 N/mm, or greater than or equal to 3.3 N/mm.

59. The article of any of embodiments 52-58, wherein the article has, in accordance with the method described herein, a split tear of from greater than or equal to 2.7 N/mm to less than or equal to 10 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 2.7 N/mm to less than or equal to 8 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 2.7 N/mm to less than or equal to 6 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 2.7 N/mm to less than or equal to 5 N/mm, or from greater than or equal to 2.7 N/mm to less than or equal to 4 N/mm.

60. The article of any of embodiments 52-59, wherein the article has, in accordance with ASTM D638, a Type 4 tensile stress at break of greater than or equal to 1.6 MPa, or greater than or equal to 1.7 MPa, or greater than or equal to 1.8 MPa, or greater than or equal to 1.9 MPa, or greater than or equal to 2.0 MPa.

61. The article of any of embodiments 52-60, wherein the article has, in accordance with ASTM D638, a Type 4 tensile stress at break of from greater than or equal to 1.6 MPa to less than or equal to 10 MPa, or from greater than or equal to 1.6 MPa to less than or equal to 8 MPa, or from greater than or equal to 1.6 MPa to less than or equal to 6 MPa, or from greater than or equal to 1.6 MPa to less than or equal to 4 MPa, or from greater than or equal to 1.6 MPa to less than or equal to 2.2 MPa.

62. The article of any of embodiments 52-61, wherein the article has, in accordance with ASTM D638, a Type 4 tensile strain at break of greater than or equal to 220%, or greater than or equal to 250% MPa, or greater than or equal to 280%, or greater than or equal to 300%, or greater than or equal to 370%.

63. The article of any of embodiments 52-62, wherein the article has, in accordance with ASTM D638, a Type 4 tensile strain at break of from greater than or equal to 220% to less than or equal to 700%, or from greater than or equal to 220% to less than or equal to 600%, or from greater than or equal to 220% to less than or equal to 500%, or from greater than or equal to 220% to less than or equal to 400%, or from greater than or equal to 220% to less than or equal to 380%.

64. The article of any of embodiments 52-63, wherein the article has, in accordance with the method described herein, a rebound of greater than or equal to 60%, or greater than or equal to 65%, or greater than or equal to 67%, or greater than or equal to 69%, or greater than or equal to 71%.

65. The article of any of embodiments 52-64, wherein the article has, in accordance with the method described herein, a rebound of from greater than or equal to 60% to less than or equal to 90%, or from greater than or equal to 60% to less than or equal to 85%, or from greater than or equal to 60% to less than or equal to 80%, or from greater than or equal to 60% to less than or equal to 75%, or from greater than or equal to 60% to less than or equal to 73%.

66. The article of any of embodiments 52-65, wherein the article has, in accordance with the method described herein, an Asker C hardness of greater than or equal to 35, or greater than or equal to 40, or greater than or equal to 50, or greater than or equal to 55, or greater than or equal to 60.

67. The article of any of embodiments 52-66, wherein the article has, in accordance with the method described herein, an Asker C hardness of from greater than or equal to 35 to less than or equal to 80, or from greater than or equal to 35 to less than or equal to 75, or from greater than or equal to 35 to less than or equal to 70, or from greater than or equal to 35 to less than or equal to 65, or from greater than or equal to 35 to less than or equal to 62.

Testing Methods

Unless stated otherwise, the measurable properties discussed in the foregoing disclosure and the examples that follow are in accordance with the following analytical methods.

Density

Samples that were measured for density were prepared according to ASTM D-1928, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Measurements were made within one hour of sample pressing using ASTM D-792, Method B, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Melt Index/Melt Flow Rate

Melt index (I₂) was measured in accordance with ASTM D-1238, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, Condition 190° C./2.16 kg, and was reported in grams eluted per 10 minutes. Melt flow rate (I₁₀) was measured in accordance with ASTM D-1238, Condition 190° C./10 kg, and was reported in grams eluted per 10 minutes.

GPC

Sample polymers were tested for their properties via GPC according to the following. A high temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography system (GPC IR) consisting of an Infra-red concentration detector (IR-5) from PolymerChar Inc (Valencia, Spain) was used for Molecular Weight (MW) and Molecular Weight Distribution (MWD) determination. The carrier solvent was 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB). The auto-sampler compartment was operated at 160° C., and the column compartment was operated at 150° C. The columns used were four Polymer Laboratories Mixed A LS, 20 micron columns. The chromatographic solvent (TCB) and the sample preparation solvent were from the same solvent source with 250 ppm of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and nitrogen sparged. The samples were prepared at a concentration of 2 mg/mL in TCB. Polymer samples were gently shaken at 160° C. for 2 hours. The injection volume was 200 μl, and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/minute.

Calibration of the GPC column set was performed with 21 narrow molecular weight distribution polystyrene standards. The molecular weights of the standards ranged from 580 to 8,400,000 g/mol, and were arranged in 6 “cocktail” mixtures, with at least a decade of separation between individual molecular weights.

The GPC column set was calibrated before running the examples by running twenty-one narrow molecular weight distribution polystyrene standards. The molecular weight (Mw) of the standards ranges from 580 to 8,400,000 grams per mole (g/mol), and the standards were contained in 6 “cocktail” mixtures. Each standard mixture had at least a decade of separation between individual molecular weights. The standard mixtures were purchased from Polymer Laboratories (Shropshire, UK). The polystyrene standards were prepared at 0.025 g in 50 mL of solvent for molecular weights equal to or greater than 1,000,000 g/mol and 0.05 g in 50 mL of solvent for molecular weights less than 1,000,000 g/mol. The polystyrene standards were dissolved at 80° C. with gentle agitation for 30 minutes. The narrow standards mixtures were run first and in order of decreasing highest molecular weight (Mw) component to minimize degradation. The polystyrene standard peak molecular weights were converted to polyethylene Mw using the Mark-Houwink constants. Upon obtaining the constants, the two values were used to construct two linear reference conventional calibrations for polyethylene molecular weight and polyethylene intrinsic viscosity as a function of elution column.

The polystyrene standard peak molecular weights were converted to polyethylene molecular weights using the following equation (as described in Williams and Ward, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Let., 6, 621 (1968)):

M
_polyethylene
=A(M_polystyrene)^B (1)

Here B has a value of 1.0, and the experimentally determined value of A is around 0.41.

A third order polynomial was used to fit the respective polyethylene-equivalent calibration points obtained from equation (1) to their observed elution volumes of polystyrene standards.

Number, weight, and z-average molecular weights were calculated according to the following equations:

$\begin{matrix} \overline{Mn} = \frac{Σ^{i} W f_{i}}{Σ^{i} ({Wf}_{i} / M_{i})} & (2) \\ \overline{Mw} = \frac{Σ^{i} (W f_{i} * M_{i})}{Σ^{i} W f_{i}} & (3) \\ \overline{Mz} = \frac{Σ^{i} (W f_{i} * M_{i}^{2})}{Σ^{i} (W f_{i} * M_{i})} & (4) \end{matrix}$

Where, Wf_iis the weight fraction of the i-th component and M_iis the molecular weight of the i-th component.

The MWD was expressed as the ratio of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn).

The accurate A value was determined by adjusting A value in equation (1) until Mw calculated using equation (3) and the corresponding retention volume polynomial, agreed with the known Mw value of 120,000 g/mol of a standard linear polyethylene homopolymer reference.

The GPC system consists of a Waters (Milford, Mass.) 150° C. high temperature chromatograph (other suitable high temperatures GPC instruments include Polymer Laboratories (Shropshire, UK) Model 210 and Model 220) equipped with an on-board differential refractometer (RI). Additional detectors could include an IR4 infra-red detector from Polymer ChAR (Valencia, Spain), Precision Detectors (Amherst, Mass.) 2-angle laser light scattering detector Model 2040, and a Viscotek (Houston, Tex.) 150R 4-capillary solution viscometer. A GPC with the last two independent detectors and at least one of the first detectors is sometimes referred to as “3D-GPC”, while the term “GPC” alone generally refers to conventional GPC. Depending on the sample, either the 15-degree angle or the 90-degree angle of the light scattering detector was used for calculation purposes.

Data collection was performed using Viscotek TriSEC software, Version 3, and a 4-channel Viscotek Data Manager DM400. The system was equipped with an on-line solvent degassing device from Polymer Laboratories (Shropshire, UK). Suitable high temperature GPC columns could be used, such as four 30 cm long Shodex HT803 13 micron columns or four 30 cm Polymer Labs columns of 20-micron mixed-pore-size packing (MixA LS, Polymer Labs). The sample carousel compartment was operated at 140° C. and the column compartment was operated at 150° C. The samples were prepared at a concentration of 0.1 grams of polymer in 50 milliliters of solvent. The chromatographic solvent and the sample preparation solvent contain 200 ppm of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Both solvents were sparged with nitrogen. The polyethylene samples were gently stirred at 160° C. for four hours (4 h). The injection volume was 200 microliters (μL). The flow rate through the GPC was set at 1 mL/minute.

NMR (¹³C and ¹H)

Sample Preparation: For ¹³C NMR, a sample was prepared by adding approximately 2.7 g of stock solvent to 0.20-0.40 g of sample in a 10 mm NMR tube. The stock solvent is tetrachlorethane-d₂containing 0.025M chromium acetylacetonate (relaxation agent). The samples were capped and sealed with Teflon tape. The samples were dissolved and homogenized by heating the tube and its contents at 135-140° C.

Sample Preparation: For ¹H NMR, a sample was prepared by adding 130 mg of sample to 3.25 g of 50/50 by weight tetrachlorethane-d₂/Perchloroethylene with 0.001 M Cr(AcAc)₃in a 10 mm NMR tube. The samples were purged by bubbling N₂through the solvent via a pipette inserted into the tube for approximately 5 minutes to prevent oxidation, capped, sealed with Teflon tape. The samples were heated and vortexed at 115° C. to ensure homogeneity.

Data Acquisition Parameters: For ¹³C NMR, the data was collected using a Bruker 400/600 MHz spectrometer equipped with a Bruker high-temperature CryoProbe (see Reference 1 noted below). The data was acquired using 256-8000 transients per data file, a 7.3 sec pulse repetition delay (6 sec delay+1.3 sec acq. time), 90 degree flip angles, and a modified inverse gated decoupling with a sample temperature of 120° C. (see Reference 2 noted below). All measurements were made on non-spinning samples in locked mode. Samples were homogenized immediately prior to insertion into the heated (125° C.) NMR Sample changer, and were allowed to thermally equilibrate in the probe for 7 minutes prior to data acquisition.

Data Acquisition Parameters: ¹H NMR was performed on a Bruker AVANCE 400/600 MHz spectrometer equipped with a Bruker high-temperature CryoProbe and a sample temperature of 120° C. Two experiments were run to obtain spectra, a control spectrum to quantify the total polymer protons, and a double presaturation experiment, which suppresses the intense polymer backbone peaks and enables high sensitivity spectra for quantitation of the end-groups. The control was run with ZG pulse, 4 scans, SWH 10,000 Hz, AQ 1.64 s, D₁14 s. The double presaturation experiment was run with a modified pulse sequence, lc1prf2.zz1, TD 32768, 100 scans, DS 4, SWH 10,000 Hz, AQ 1.64 s, D₁1 s, D₁₃13 s.

Data Analysis: The comonomer content was analyzed with corresponding matrix or algebra method. The unsaturation was analyzed with the method in Reference 3 noted below.

Reference 1: Z. Zhou, R. Kuemmerle, J. C. Stevens, D. Redwine, Y. He, X. Qiu, R. Cong, J. Klosin, N. Montañez, G. Roof, Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2009, 200, 328.

Reference 2: Z. Zhou, R. Kümmerle, X. Qiu, D. Redwine, R. Cong, A. Taha, D. Baugh, B. Winniford, Journal of Magnetic Resonance: 187 (2007) 225.

Reference 3: Z. Zhou, R. Cong, Y. He, M. Paradkar, M. Demirors, M. Cheatham, W. deGroot, Macromolecular Symposia, 2012, 312, 88.

Brookfield Viscosity

The Brookfield viscosity was measured at 177° C. in accordance with ASTM D-3236, using a Brookfield RV-DV-II-Pro viscometer and spindle SC-31.

GC/MS

Tandem gas chromatography/low resolution mass spectroscopy using electron impact ionization (EI) is performed at 70 eV on an Agilent Technologies 6890N series gas chromatograph equipped with an Agilent Technologies 5975 inert XL mass selective detector and an Agilent Technologies Capillary column (HP1MS, 15 m×0.25 mm, 0.25 micron) with respect to the following:

Programmed Method:

Oven Equilibration Time at 50° C. for 0.5 min

then 25° C./min to 200° C., and hold for 5 min

Run Time 11 min

DSC

Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed using a TA Instruments Discovery DSC, equipped with an RCS cooling unit and an autosampler. A nitrogen purge gas flow of 50 mL/min was used. The higher molecular weight samples (<50 dg/min melt index at 190° C.) were pressed into a thin film, at 190° C., on a Carver Hydraulic press, at a pressure of 20,000 psi, and for a time of 4 minutes, followed by cooling at a temperature of 23° C., at a pressure of 20,000 psi for a time of 1 minute. About 3-10 mg of material was cut from the pressed film, weighed, placed in a light aluminum pan, and crimped shut. For the low molecular weight samples (>50 dg/min melt index at 190° C.), about 3-10 mg of material was cut from the as-received bale, weighed, placed in a light aluminum pan, and crimped shut. The thermal behavior of the samples was investigated using the following temperature profile: the sample was rapidly heated to 180° C., and held isothermally for 5 minutes. The sample was then cooled to −90° C., at 10° C./min, and held isothermally for 5 minutes. The sample was then heated to 150° C. at 10° C./min. The cooling and second heating curves were used for analysis. The glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature (Tm), and heat of enthalpy (ΔHm) were obtained from the second heat data. The crystallization temperature (Tc) was obtained from the first cool data. The Tg was determined using the half-height method. The Tm and Tc were determined as the peak of the melting endotherm and crystallization exotherm, respectively. The percent crystallinity is calculated by dividing the heat of fusion (Hf), determined from the second heat curve, by a theoretical heat of fusion of 292 J/g for PE, and multiplying this quantity by 100 (for example, % cryst.=(Hf/292 J/g)×100 (for PE)). If the example contains majority propylene, the theoretical heat of fusion of 165 J/g for PP is used.

DMS

Rheology was measured on an Advanced Rheometric Expansion System (ARES), equipped with “25 mm” stainless steel parallel plates. Constant temperature dynamic frequency sweeps, in the frequency range of 0.1 to 100 rad/s, were performed under nitrogen purge at 190° C. Samples approximately “25.4 mm in diameter” and “3.2 mm thick” were compression molded on a Carver hydraulic hot press at a temperature of 190° C., at a pressure of 20,000 psi, for a time of four minutes, followed by cooling at a temperature of 23° C., at a pressure of 20,000 psi, for a time of one minute. The sample was placed on the lower plate, and allowed to melt for five minutes. The plates were then closed to a gap of 2.0 mm, and the sample trimmed to “25 mm in diameter.” The sample was allowed to equilibrate at 190° C. for five minutes, before starting the test. The complex viscosity was measured at constant strain amplitude of 10%. Viscosity at 0.1 rad/s (V0.1) and at 100 rad/s (V100) are reported, along with the ratio (V0.1/V100) of the two viscosity values.

Rubber Process Analyzer

The cure kinetic profiles (also known as curing curves) of each formulation at 180° C. were measured using an Alpha Technology RPA-2000 or MDR-2000 instrument. A 4 gram sample of the formulation was cut from the roll milled blanket (described below) and was placed between two pieces of polyester Melinex S films. The test was carried out at 180° C. over a period of 15 minutes at a frequency of 1.67 Hz and 7% strain. The rheology or curve of torque as a function of time for each formulated composition was measured from samples of uncured blanket, which was then cured during the analysis. The visco-elastic properties, such as minimum S′ torque (ML) and maximum S′ torque (MH) were measured during the cure cycle. The change in torque, MH-ML, was then calculated for each sample.

Mechanical Properties

Bun foam skin layers were submitted for ASTM D638 (Tensile, Type 4) and ASTM D624 (Tear, Type C) mechanical property test at 20 inches/minute. The sample thickness was approximately 3 mm. The split tear strength was measured by using a specimen with the dimension of 6″ (length)*1″ (width)*0.4″ (thickness) and the notch depth of 1-1.5″ at the testing speed of 2 inches/minute.

Viscosity of Curable Composition

DMS rheology was measured on the curable compositions (before crosslinking). Rheology was measured on an Advanced Rheometric Expansion System (ARES), equipped with “25 mm” stainless steel parallel plates. Constant temperature dynamic frequency sweeps, in the frequency range of 0.1 to 100 rad/s, were performed under nitrogen purge at 130° C. Samples approximately “25.4 mm in diameter” were cut from the roll milled blanket. The sample was placed on the lower plate, and allowed to melt for five minutes. The plates were then closed to a gap of 2.0 mm, and the sample trimmed to “25 mm in diameter.” The sample was allowed to equilibrate at 130° C. for five minutes, before starting the test. The complex viscosity was measured at constant strain amplitude of 7%. Viscosity at 100 rad/s is reported.

Falling Ball Rebound

A ⅝″ diameter steel ball was dropped from a height of 500 mm onto the bun foam skin and foam layers to determine the % Rebound. The % Rebound is calculated as rebound height (in mm)*100/500.

Asker C Hardness

Asker C Hardness was measured on the bun foam with skin using an Asker C durometer and a 5 s hold time. An average of five readings taken across the surface of the sample is reported.

EXAMPLES
Preparation of Chain Transfer Agents (CTA's)

Unless otherwise noted, all starting reagents and materials were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. The procatalysts (Cat 1), (Cat 13), (Cat 14), and (Cat 17), as well as any others, used in the examples below are the same as those discussed previously and prepared according to the methods discussed previously. Procatalyst (Cat 1) may also be identified as [N-(2,6-di(1-methylethyl)phenyl)amido)(2-isopropylphenyl)(α-naphthalen-2-diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)methane)]hafnium dimethyl. “Cocat A” is the co-catalyst used in the examples below and is bis(hydrogenated tallow alkyl)methyl, tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate(1-) amine.

Synthesis of tris(2-(cyclohex-3-en-1-yl)ethyl)aluminum (“CTA 1”). An exemplary chain transfer agent of the present disclosure was prepared as follows. In a drybox, 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene (3.2 mL, 24.6 mmol) and triisobutylaluminum (2.0 ml, 7.92 mmol) were added to 5 mL of decane in a vial equipped with a stirbar and a venting needle on the cap. This mixture was heated at 120° C. with stirring for 3 hours. After 3 hours, a sample was dissolved in benzene-d6 for ¹H NMR analysis, and another aliquot was hydrolyzed with water and analyzed by GC/MS. ¹H NMR showed all vinyl groups reacted and the internal double bond remained (FIG. 1A). GC/MS showed a clean peak at m/z of 110, consistent to the molecular weight of ethylcyclohexene (FIG. 1B). Accordingly, ¹H NMR and GC/MS confirmed the synthesis of tris(2-(cyclohex-3-en-1-yl)ethyl)aluminum (“CTA 1”) via non-limiting Scheme 1.

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Synthesis of tris(3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-1-yl)aluminum (“CTA 2”): In a nitrogen-filled drybox, a 40 mL vial was equipped with a stirbar and charged with DIBAL-H (8.10 mL, 9.64 mmol; 20 wt % solution in toluene) and citronellene (4.00 g, 28.93 mmol; mixture of isomers). The vial was placed in a heating block and a vent needle was inserted into the headspace. The solution was heated at 110-112° C. for 9 hours giving a colorless transparent solution ([Al]=0.88 M). The material was determined to be the desired product via ¹H NMR (FIG. 2) of an aliquot dissolved in C₆D₆as well as the GC/MS of a hydrolyzed aliquot (m/z=140). Accordingly, ¹H NMR and GC/MS confirmed the synthesis of tris(3,7-dimethyloct-6-en-1-yl)aluminum (“CTA 2”) via non-limiting Scheme 2.

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Synthesis of hex-4-en-1-yldiisobutylaluminum (“CTA 3”): An exemplary chain transfer agent of the present disclosure was prepared as follows. In a nitrogen-filled drybox, DIBAL-H (0.800 g, 5.63 mmol) and 1,4-hexadiene (0.65 mL, 5.63 mmol, d 0.710; mixture of cis and trans isomers) were added to 3 mL of dry, degassed toluene. The reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 14 hours. ¹H NMR analysis of a hydrolyzed sample (see hydrolysis procedure below) showed no reaction. The solution was heated at 60° C. with stirring for 22 hours. After the vial was allowed to cool to 25° C. an aliquot was hydrolyzed and analyzed. Complete reaction was observed by ¹H NMR indicated by the disappearance of the starting diene and appearance of signals consistent with the hydrolysis products: isobutane and 2-hexene. Hydrolysis for analysis was carried out by diluting ca 0.1 mL of the sample to ca 2 mL with C₆D₆in a vial, removing the sample from the glove box, and adding ca 0.1 mL of nitrogen-purged water via syringe. After shaking the vial the mixture was passed through a 0.45 μm syringe filter. The organic phase passes through more easily than the aqueous phase, allowing for quick isolation of the organic phase for analysis. The sample was then mixed with a small amount of silica gel and filtered again. This helps remove residual Al species that can cause gelation. Accordingly, ¹H NMR confirmed the synthesis of hex-4-en-1-yldiisobutylaluminum (“CTA 3”) via non-limiting Scheme 3.

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Synthesis of bis(-2-ethylhex-4-en-1-yl)zinc (“CTA 4”): In a nitrogen-filled drybox, diethylzinc (3.40 mL, 5.00 mmol, 20 wt % in toluene), 1,4-hexadiene (1.16 mL, 10.00 mmol, d 0.710; mixture of cis and trans isomers), and the activator [HNMe(C₁₈H₃₇)₂][B(C₆F₅)₄] (1.40 mL, 0.09 mmol, 0.064 M in methylcyclohexane) were mixed in a vial. (Cat 13) (0.045 g, 0.08 mmol)) was added as a solid and the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 20 hours. ¹H NMR and GC/MS analysis of a hydrolyzed sample (see hydrolysis procedure below) showed complete reaction. ¹H NMR indicated by the disappearance of the starting diene and appearance of signals consistent with the hydrolysis product 5-methylhept-2-ene. GC/MS showed the same expected hydrolysis product. Accordingly, ¹H NMR and GC/MS confirmed the synthesis of bis(-2-ethylhex-4-en-1-yl)zinc (“CTA 4”) via non-limiting Scheme 4.

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Synthesis of “CTA 5”: Diethylzinc (0.66 mL, 0.97 mmol; 1.47 M solution in toluene), 4-vinylcyclohexene (1.77 mL, 13.58 mmol; d 0.832), the activator ([HNMe(C₁₈H₃₇)₂][B(C₆F₅)₄]) solution in methylcyclohexane (0.60 mL, 0.039 mmol; 0.0644M) and triethylaluminum (0.53 mL, 3.88 mmol; neat, 93%) were dissolved in toluene (˜10 mL). (Cat 13) (0.023 g, 0.039 mmol) was added as a solid and the reaction mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 14 hours. An aliquot was dissolved in C₆D₆and quenched with water. GC/MS and ¹H NMR confirmed the consumption of 4-vinylcyclohexene and the formation of the desired product (m/z=138). Accordingly, this confirms that CTA 5 was prepared via non-limiting Scheme 5.

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Synthesis of “CTA 6”: The toluene solution of tris(2-(cyclohex-3-en-1-yl)ethyl)aluminum (10 mL, [Al]=0.424 M) was mixed with diisobutylzinc (0.286 g, 1.59 mmol) and 4-vinylcyclohexene (0.416 mL, 3.19 mmol; d 0.830). The solution was heated for 4 hours at 110° C. with a vent needle inserted through the septum cap of the vial to allow isobutylene to escape. During this treatment ^tBu groups from DIBZ transferred to Al and thermal elimination of isobutylene followed by 4-vinylcyclohexene insertions ensured that all alkyl groups on Al and Zn were cyclohexenylethyl groups. An aliquot (0.1 mL) of this mixture was diluted with C₆D₆(0.5 mL) and hydrolyzed for ¹H NMR analysis. ¹H NMR analysis confirmed CTA was synthesized via non-limiting Scheme 6.

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Synthesis of “CTA 7”: The synthesis of CTA 7 is exemplified in non-limiting Scheme 7 and described as follows. It was carried out in two steps. In the first step, trivinylcyclohexane (TVCH) was converted to a diene via intramolecular cyclization in the presence of catalytic amount of DIBAL-H, and in the second step additional DIBAL-H was added to form the CTA. Thus, in a nitrogen-filled drybox, DIBAL-H (0.30 g, 2.11 mmol) was added to TVCH (4.09 mL, 21.1 mmol; d 0.836). The mixture was heated at 160° C. and stirred for 2 h to form cyclized-TVCH. In a separate vial additional DIBAL-H (0.35 g, 2.46 mmol) was dissolved in decane (5 mL), followed by addition of a portion of the cyclized-TVCH (2.05 mL, 10.5 mmol) obtained above. The solution was maintained at 130° C. for 2 h to obtain the Al-TVCH solution.

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Synthesis of “CTA 8”: The synthesis of CTA 8 is exemplified in non-limiting Scheme 8 and described as follows. In a nitrogen-filled drybox, a 20 mL vial was equipped with a stirbar and charged with DIBAL-H (2.00 mL, 2.39 mmol; 20 wt % in toluene (1.196 M)) and (R)-(+)-limonene (2.32 mL, 14.35 mmol; d 0.842). The vial was placed in a heating block, a vent needle was inserted through the septum cap, and the solution was heated at 110-112° C. for 11 hours. Solvent and excess limonene were removed under vacuum at 50° C. overnight to afford the desired product as a colorless viscous oil (0.870 g, 83%).

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Synthesis of “CTA 9”: The synthesis of CTA 9 is exemplified in non-limiting Scheme 9 and described as follows. In a nitrogen-filled drybox a 40 mL vial was equipped with a stirbar and charged with DIBAL-H (2.00 g, 14.06 mmol), toluene (9.2 mL) and 7-methyl-1,6-octadiene (5.24 g, 42.19 mmol). An immediate exotherm (with some bubbling) was observed. The vial was placed in a heating block, a vent needle was inserted through the septum cap, and the solution was heated at 110-112° C. for 3 hours. After 3 hours of reaction time an aliquot showed reaction progress. The solution contained a small amount of suspended white solid particles. The reaction was continued for another 22 hours. The reaction was nearly complete. A small amount of dimer formation from the alkene reagent was observed. The reaction was continued for another 16 hours. Analysis of an aliquot showed no significant changes.

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Batch Reactor Synthesis of Telechelic Polyolefins

Three sets of non-limiting examples of the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²were synthesized via batch reactor as follows.

Set 1

With reference to Tables 1A-1C, Set 1 includes inventive telechelic polymers made in runs BR1 to BR12 that were prepared as follows. In each run, a one gallon stirred autoclave reactor is charged with Isopar™ E mixed alkanes solvent (˜1.3 kg), desired mass of propylene, or octene, and/or ethylidene norbornene (ENB) (60 g) and CTA. The reactor is heated to 120° C. and charged with ethylene (20 g). An active catalyst solution is prepared in a drybox under inert atmosphere by mixing procatalyst and an activator mixture (a mixture of 1.2 equiv of Cocat A and 10 equiv of modified methyl aluminoxane (MMAO-3A)), where the active catalyst solution has a ratio of procatalyst to Cocat A of 1:1.2. The active catalyst solution is injected into the reactor to initiate the polymerization. The reactor pressure and temperature is kept constant by feeding ethylene during the polymerization and cooling the reactor as needed. After 10 minutes, the reactor was heated to 200° C. and kept at the temperature for 20 minutes. The ethylene feed is shut off and the polymer solution transferred into a nitrogen-purged resin kettle. An additive solution containing a phosphorus stabilizer and phenolic antioxidant (Irgafos® 168 and Irganox® 1010 in a 2:1 ratio by weight in toluene) is added to give a total additive content of approximately 0.1% in the polymer. The polymer is thoroughly dried in a vacuum oven.

TABLE 1A

Step 1
Step 2

CTA 1
Ethylene
Propylene
Temp.
Time
Temp.
Time
Yield
Efficiency
Mn,
Mw,
Mw/

Run
(mmol)
(g)
(g)
(° C.)
(min)
(° C.)
(min)
(g)
(g-Pol/g-M)
g/mol
g/mol
Mn

BRA
0
22
61
120
10
200
20
35.2
9,860
143,003
727,981
5.1

BR1
0.66
20
62
120
10
200
20
54.7
15,323
29,864
109,316
3.7

BR2
1.33
19
62
120
10
200
20
60.5
16,948
19,729
61,983
3.1

BR3
2
19
61
120
10
200
20
32.6
9,132
14,129
44,304
3.1

BR4
2.66
18
62
120
10
200
20
27.8
7,788
8,840
35,203
4.0

TABLE 1B

Run

BR5
BR6
BR7
BR8
BR9
BR10
BR11
BRB
BR12

Catalyst

Cat 1
Cat 17
Cat 1
Cat 17
Cat 1
Cat 1
Cat 17
Cat A*
Cat A*

Catalyst (mmol)

0.03
0.0003
0.0065
0.031
0.035
0.0175
0.015
0.0006
0.0019

CTA

CTA 1
CTA 1
CTA 1
CTA 1
CTA 1
CTA 1
CTA 1
—
CTA1

CTA (mmol)

10
0.68
10
6.3
10
10
0.68
0
6.3

Ethylene (g)

0
5.4
5.1
4
2.3
5.7
1.9
30.6
29

Propylene (g)

100
202
301
150
—
—
—
102
101

Octene (g)

—
—
—
—
30
21
30
—
—

ENB (mL)

—
—
—
—
—
—
—
4.4
4.4

Step 1
Temp. (° C.)
120
130
120
120
120
120
120
120
120

Step 1
Time (min)
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10

Step 2
Temp. (° C.)
200
200
200
200
200
200
200
—
200

Step 2
Time (min)
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
—
20

Yield (g)

10.6
34.3
69.5
36.5
36.7
53.4
50.6
11.2
31.4

Efficiency

1,985
642,322
60,069
6,615
5,891
17,143
18,951
205,128
181,608

(g-Pol/g-M)

*Cat A = Zirconium,[2,2′′′-[1,3-propanediylbis(oxy-κO)bis[3′′,5,5′′-tris(1,1-dimethylethyl)-5′-methyl[1,1′:3′,1′′-terphenyl]-2′-olato-κO]]dimethyl-, (OC-6-33)-

TABLE 1C

Run

BR5
BR6
BR7
BR8
BR9
BR10
BR11
BRB
BR12

Mn (g/mol)

2,759
193,481
7,495
136,766
1,134
1,613
52,297
48,589
63,408

Mw (g/mol)

6,714
524,693
26,840
282,774
2,270
5,474
159,337
95,524
147,907

Mw/Mn

2.43
2.71
3.58
2.07
2.00
3.39
3.05
1.97
2.33

13C NMR
C2 mol %
—
26.3
35.8
30.9
73.3
90.5
83.3
82.9
81.7

13C NMR
C3 mol %
100.0
73.7
64.2
69.1
—
—
—
16.4
17.4

13C NMR
C8 mol %
—
—
—
—
26.7
9.5
16.7
—
—

13C NMR
ENB mol %
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
0.7
0.9

1H NMR
#Vinyls/
28
40
551
62
5190
4806
139
35
152

1000000 C.

1H NMR
#Vinylidenes/
2695
33
937
52
1971
800
23
31
66

1000000 C.

1H NMR
#Vinylenes/
215
20
6
0
423
169
47
21
93

1000000 C.

1H NMR
#Cyclohexenes/
1853
10
1093
98
6767
5313
168
—
200

1000000 C.

1H NMR
#Trisubstituted
0
3
0
0
47
32
4
4578
4119

alkenes/1000000 C.

(including ENB)

1H NMR
#Unsaturations/
4.791
0.106
2.587
0.212
14.398
11.120
0.381
4.665
4.630

1000 C.

Calculation
Unsats/chain
1.42
2.00
1.83
2.79
2.10
1.65
2.14
17.92
23.41

0.33**
1.57**

**Excluding ENB

Set 2

With reference to Table 2, Set 2 includes inventive telechelic polymers made in runs B1-B7 via a similar procedure as Set 1. Run B1 used the scavenger MMAO-3A with a (Cat 1): Cocat A: scavenger ratio of 1:1.2:10. Runs B2 to B7 used a procatalyst to cocatalyst ratio of 1:1.2. All runs in Table 2 were carried out without hydrogen. All runs had the following conditions: Ethylene (g): 20, 1-octene (g): 60, pressure (psi): 55, solvent (Isopar E, g): 1325. CTA 5 loading was based on the number of transferrable groups. Runs B1, B2, B4 and B6 were at 120° C. for 10 min. Runs B3, B5 and B7 included an additional heating step at 200° C. for 20 min (excluding the transition time from 120 to 200° C.).

TABLE 2

Polymer
Temp.
Mn,
Mw,

Run
Cat 1
CTA 5
(g)
(° C.)
g/mol
g/mol
Mw/Mn

B1
4.5
—
43.0
120
72,542
739,532
10.2

B2
2.8
2
52.0
120
49,377
208,606
4.2

B3
1.5
2
37.6
120 + 200
37,531
169,615
4.5

B4
2.5
4
86.0
120
26,232
75,541
2.9

B5
1.5
4
76.0
120 + 200
22,630
78,956
3.5

B6
2.0
8
87.3
120
15,875
35,117
2.2

B7
1.0
8
119.0
120 + 200
12,239
31,477
2.6

Set 3

Set 3 includes the following examples to synthesize inventive telechelic polyethylene polymers.

In a nitrogen-filled drybox, a vial equipped with a stir-bar is charged with octene (10 mL), Cocat A (0.023 mL of 0.075 M solution, 0.0017 mmol,) and CTA 7 (0.402 mL of 0.5 M solution, 0.2 mmol). The vial is sealed with a septum cap and placed in a heating block set to 100° C. An ethylene line (from a small cylinder) is connected and the vial headspace is slowly purged via a needle. Cat 13 (0.067 mL of 0.02 M solution, 0.0013 mmol) was injected, and the purge needle is removed to maintain a total pressure at 20 psig. The polymerization was maintained for 20 min, then the ethylene line was removed and the polymer solution was cooled down. This polymer solution was transferred to a 600 mL Parr reactor and sealed. The reactor was heated to 200 degree C. under 200 psig of ethylene pressure for 30 min. Polymer was quenched by large amount of methanol, filtrated and dried under vacuum overnight. 1H NMR (FIG. 3) confirmed the synthesis occurred via the non-limiting reaction scheme shown below.

embedded image

In a nitrogen-filled drybox, a vial equipped with a stir-bar is charged with octene (10 mL), Cocat A (0.023 mL of 0.075 M solution, 0.0017 mmol,) and CTA 8 (0.088 g, 0.2 mmol). The vial is sealed with a septum cap and placed in a heating block set to 100° C. An ethylene line (from a small cylinder) is connected and the vial headspace is slowly purged via a needle. Cat 13 (0.067 mL of 0.02 M solution, 0.0013 mmol) was injected, and the purge needle is removed to maintain a total pressure at 20 psig. The polymerization was maintained for 20 min, then the ethylene line was removed and the polymer solution was cooled down. This polymer solution was transferred to a 600 mL Parr reactor and sealed. The reactor was heated to 200 degree C. under 200 psig of ethylene pressure for 30 min. Polymer was quenched by large amount of methanol, filtrated and dried under vacuum overnight. 1H NMR (FIG. 4) analysis confirmed the synthesis occurred via the non-limiting reaction scheme below.

embedded image

Continuous Solution Polymerization

Non-limiting examples of the telechelic polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹L²A²and the unsaturated polyolefin of the formula A¹L¹were made via continuous solution polymerization as follows.

Continuous solution polymerizations are carried out in a computer controlled autoclave reactor equipped with an internal stirrer. Purified mixed alkanes solvent (Isopar™ E available from ExxonMobil), monomers, and molecular weight regulator (hydrogen or chain transfer agent) are supplied to a 3.8 L reactor equipped with a jacket for temperature control. The solvent feed to the reactor is measured by a mass-flow controller. A variable speed diaphragm pump controls the solvent flow rate and pressure to the reactor. At the discharge of the pump, a side stream is taken to provide flush flows for the procatalyst, activator, and chain transfer agent (catalyst component solutions) injection lines. These flows are measured by Micro-Motion mass flow meters and controlled by control valves. The remaining solvent is combined with monomers and hydrogen and fed to the reactor. The temperature of the solvent/monomer solution is controlled by use of a heat exchanger before entering the reactor. This stream enters the bottom of the reactor. The catalyst component solutions are metered using pumps and mass flow meters and are combined with the catalyst flush solvent and introduced into the bottom of the reactor. The reactor is liquid full at 500 psig with vigorous stirring. Polymer is removed through exit lines at the top of the reactor. All exit lines from the reactor are steam traced and insulated. The product stream is then heated at 230° C. by passing through a post reactor heater (PRH) where beta-H elimination of polymeryl-Al takes place. A small amount of isopropyl alcohol is added along with any stabilizers or other additives either before the PRH (for the comparative examples) or after the PRH (for the inventive examples) before devolatilization. The polymer product is recovered by extrusion using a devolatilizing extruder.

The polymerization process conditions and results prior to post reactor heating (PRH) for the inventive and comparative examples are listed in Tables A1 to B2. Inventive unsaturated polyolefins of the formula A¹L¹are named as Inv. MP1 to MP4. Inventive telechelic polyolefins of the formula A¹L¹L²A²are named as Inv. TP1 to TP10. Comparative polymers are named as Comp. A and B. Additional abbreviations in the tables are explained as follows: “Co.” stands for comonomer; “sccm” stands for standard cm³/min; “T” refers to temperature; “Cat” stands for Procatalyst; “Cat 1” stands for Procatalyst (Cat 1); “Cat 17” stands for Procatalyst (Cat 17), “Cocat” stands for Cocat A; “Al CTA” stands for aluminum chain transfer agent”; “TEA” stands for triethylaluminum; “TOA” stands for trioctylaluminum, “Poly Rate” stands for polymer production rate; “Conv” stands for percent ethylene conversion in reactor; and “Eff.” stands for efficiency, kg polymer/g catalyst metal.

In addition, [CTA]/[C₂H₄] refers to the molar ratio in reactor; Al/C₂*1000=(Al feed flow*Al concentration/1000000/Mw of Al)/(Total Ethylene feed flow*(1-fractional ethylene conversion rate)/Mw of Ethylene)*1000. “Al” in “Al/C₂*1000” refers to the amount of Al in the CTA used in the polymerization process, and “C2” refers to the amount of ethylene used in the polymerization process.

The properties of the inventive and comparative polymers following post reactor heating and recovery are provided in Tables C1-E2.

TABLE A1

Cat. 1
Cat. 1

C2
Co.
Co.
Solv.
H₂
T
ppm
Flow

Ex.
lbs/hr
Type
lbs/hr
lbs/hr
sccm
° C.
Hf
lbs/hr

Comp. A
1.375
Propylene
2.111
14.17
0
115
65.8
0.220

Inv. MP1
1.556
Propylene
1.641
13.93
0
115
65.8
0.225

Comp. B
1.520
Octene
1.362
14.98
352.7
115
65.8
0.286

Inv. MP2
1.521
Octene
1.520
15.01
0
115
65.8
0.170

Inv. MP3
3.33
Octene
3.60
29.26
0
115
125.5
0.212

Inv. MP4
2.78
Octene
2.41
30.44
0
115
63.2
0.385

TABLE A2

Cocat

CTA
CTA
Cocat
A

Poly

Conc.
Flow
A
Flow
[C₂H₄]/
Rate
Conv
Solids

Ex.
CTA
ppm A1
lbs/hr
ppm
lbs/hr
[CTA]
lbs/hr
%
%
Eff.

Comp. A
TEA
10000
0.928
922
0.126
51.1
2.2
86.3
14.3
0.154

Inv. MP1
TEA
10000
1.14
922
0.129
143.5
2.2
94.7
14.1
0.148

Comp. B
TEA
29.8
0.17
922
0.164
0.0
2.1
90.9
12.6
0.11

Inv. MP2
TEA
10000
0.43
922
0.098
17.3
1.82
83
13
0.194

Inv. MP3
TEA
9827
0.744
925
0.232
20.7
4.47
89.0
13.7
0.168

Inv. MP4
TEA
1920
0.723
894
0.219
21.6
3.72
97.6
8.4
0.114

TABLE B1

Cat.

Conc.
Cat.

C2

Co.
Solv.
H₂
T

ppm
Flow

Ex.
Lbs/hr
Co. Type
lbs/hr
lbs/hr
sccm
° C.
Cat
Hf
lbs/hr

Comp. A
1.375
Propylene
2.111
14.17
0
115
Cat 1
65.8
0.22

Inv. TP1
1.555
Propylene
1.633
13.95
0
115
Cat 1
65.8
0.334

Inv. TP2
1.52
Propylene
1.768
14.1
0
115
Cat 1
65.8
0.326

Comp. B
1.52
Octene
1.362
14.98
352.7
115
Cat 1
65.8
0.286

Inv. TP3
1.519
Octene
1.415
14.93
0
115
Cat 1
65.8
0.204

Inv. TP4
1.506
Octene
1.657
19.44
0
115
Cat 1
65.8
0.18

Inv. TPS
2.78
Octene
2.62
25.5
0
115
Cat 1
63.2
0.475

Inv. TP6
4.76
Octene
5.46
41.78
0
118
Cat 1
125.5
0.328

Inv. TP7
2.56
Octene
3.39
17.40
0
115
Cat 1
125.5
0.199

Inv. TP8
3.84
Octene
1.07
42.19
0
125
Cat 14
54.2
0.149

Inv. TP9
2.78
Octene
2.67
29.52
0
115
Cat 1
63.2
0.372

Inv. TP10
5.55
Octene
4.45
59.08
0
119
Cat 1
63.2
1.002

TABLE B2

Cocat

CTA
CTA
Cocat
A

Poly

Conc.
Flow
A
Flow
[C₂H₄]/
Rate
Conv
Solids

Ex.
CTA
ppm A1
lbs/hr
ppm
lbs/hr
[CTA]
lbs/hr
%
%
Eff.

Comp. A
TEA
10000
0.928
922
0.126
51.1
2.2
86.3
14.3
0.154

Inv. TP1
CTA 1
69198
0.797
922
0.192
681.6
2.0
94.6
13
0.092

Inv. TP2
CTA 1
69198
0.78
922
0.187
594.4
2.7
93.8
17.1
0.125

Comp. B
TEA
29.8
0.17
922
0.164
0
2.1
90.9
12.6
0.11

Inv. TP3
CTA 1
69198
0.179
922
0.118
130.2
2.2
93.5
13.1
0.161

Inv. TP4
CTA 1
69198
0.077
922
0.103
33.1
2.0
88.9
9.7
0.174

Inv. TP5
CTA 2
2503
0.748
894
0.27
11.6
2.7
94.0
8.4
0.091

Inv. TP6
CTA 1
9432
0.420
925
0.359
7.8
6.4
88.9
13.8
0.157

Inv. TP7
CTA 1
18302
0.370
925
0.218
76.3
3.8
96.4
19.0
0.151

Inv. TP8
CTA 1
1478
0.210
495
0.131
0.8
3.5
89.8
7.5
0.431

Inv. TP9
CTA 1
3994
0.241
894
0.212
10.0
2.7
96.4
8.3
0.114

Inv. TP10
CTA 1
3994
0.467
894
0.570
11.6
5.5
97.0
8.6
0.087

Method
Property
Units
Comp. A
Inv. MP1
Comp. B
Inv. MP2
Inv. MP3
Inv. MP4

13C NMR
% C2
mol %
70.1
76
89.4
88.7
89.1
88.3

13C NMR
% C3
mol %
29.9
24
—
—
—
—

13C NMR
% C8
mol %
—
—
10.6
11.3
10.9
11.7

1H NMR
Vinyls
#/1000000 C.
27
1076
14
441
295
291

1H NMR
Vinylidenes
#/1000000 C.
185
686
27
117
66
122

1H NMR
Vinylenes
#/1000000 C.
4
36
14
20
12
19

1H NMR
Cyclohexenes
#/1000000 C.
0
0
0
0
0
0

1H NMR
Trisubstituted
#/1000000 C.
4
31
7
15
6
10

alkenes

13C NMR
Saturated CH3
#/1000000 C.
2050
1810
—
—
—
—

NMR
Unsaturations
#/1000 C.
0.22
1.8
0.06
0.58
0.379
0.442

Calculation
Unsats/chain
#/chain
0.17
1.06
0.11
1.30
0.68
1.39

Density

g/cc
—
—
0.873
0.872
0.873
0.8715

Melt Index
I2 at 190° C.
dg/min
—
—
18.3
17.6
30.8
5.1

Melt Index
I10/I2 at

—
—
6.6
7.1
6.9
6.8

190° C.

Brookfield
Viscosity @
cP
11,687
6,952
—
—
—
—

177° C.

TABLE C2

Method
Property
Units
Comp. A
Inv. MP1
Comp. B
Inv. MP2
Inv. MP3
Inv. MP4

Conv. GPC
Mn
g/mol
9,244
7,239
19,618
22,862
18,823
32,689

Conv. GPC
Mw
g/mol
20,993
16,847
52,931
56,983
50,945
79,030

Conv. GPC
Mz
g/mol
44,770
34,657
92,282
122,456
129,351
157,436

Conv. GPC
Mw/Mn

2.27
2.33
2.7
2.49
2.71
2.42

DMS
Viscosity at 0.1
Pa-s
—
—
348
479
—
1513

rad/s (190° C.)

DMS
Viscosity at 100
Pa-s
—
—
279
303
—
725

rad/s (190° C.)

DMS
RR (V0.1/V100)

—
—
1.25
1.58
—
2.09

DMS
Tan Delta at 0.1

—
—
331
66.9
—
53.1

rad/s (190° C.)

DMS
Tan Delta at 100

—
—
3.13
2.62
—
1.68

rad/s (190° C.)

DSC
Tm
° C.
−6.3
13.8
62.1
56.3
58.9
55.8

DSC
Tc
° C.
−27.8
−3.5
48.6
61.2
68.3
61.7

DSC
Heat of Fusion
J/g
30.9
44.2
70.8
65
65.6
60.8

DSC
Wt % Crystallinity
%
10.6
15.1
24.3
22.3
22.5
20.8

TABLE D1

Polymer Properties

Method
Property
Units
Comp. A
Inv. TP1
Inv. TP2
Comp. B
Inv. TP3
Inv. TP4

13C NMR
% C2
mol %
70.1
77.4
75.6
89.4
89
88.9

13C NMR
% C3
mol %
29.9
22.6
24.4
—
—
—

13C NMR
% C8
mol %
—
—
—
10.6
11
11.1

13C NMR
% ENB
Mol %
—
—
—
—
—
—

1H NMR
Vinyls
#/1000000 C.
27
1262
1222
14
444
207

1H NMR
Vinylidenes
#/1000000 C.
185
677
722
27
101
86

1H NMR
Vinylenes
#/1000000 C.
4
62
63
14
28
23

1H NMR
Cyclohexenes
#/1000000 C.
0
1720
1680
0
450
215

1H NMR
Trisubstituted
#/1000000 C.
4
37
34
7
8
7

alkenes

13C NMR
Saturated CH3
#/1000000 C.
2050
640
440
—
—
—

NMR
Unsaturations
#/1000 C.
0.22
3.72
3.69
0.06
1.02
0.53

Calculation
Unsats/chain
#/chain
0.17
2.07
2.13
0.11
2.22
2.24

Density

g/cc
—
—
—
0.873
0.873
0.87

Melt Index
I2 at 190° C.
dg/min
—
—
—
18.3
16.8
0.9

Melt Index
I10/I2 at 190° C.

—
—
—
6.6
7
7.2

Brookfield
Viscosity @ 177° C.
cP
11,687
6,108
8,178
—
—
—

TABLE D2

Polymer Properties

Method
Property
Units
Inv. TP5
Inv. TP6
Inv. TP7
Inv. TP8
Inv. TP9
Inv. TP10

13C NMR
% C2
mol %
87.9
88.9
87.9
98.2
88.6
88.6

13C NMR
% C3
mol %
—
—
—
—
—
—

13C NMR
% C8
mol %
12.1
11.2
12.1
1.8
11.4
11.5

13C NMR
% ENB
Mol %
—
—
—
—
—
—

1H NMR
Vinyls
#/1000000 C.
285
471
1239
283
307
288

1H NMR
Vinylidenes
#/1000000 C.
97
101
465
21
105
107

1H NMR
Vinylenes
#/1000000 C.
73
23
193
12
24
24

1H NMR
Cyclohexenes
#/1000000 C.

474
1473
278
302
318

1H NMR
Trisubstituted
#/1000000 C.
242
9
110
0
10
7

alkenes

13C NMR
Saturated CH3
#/1000000 C.
—
—
—
—
—
—

NMR
Unsaturations
#/1000 C.
0.7
1.078
3.480
0.594
0.748
0.744

Calculation
Unsats/chain
#/chain
2.2
1.97
2.34
1.71
2.36
2.42

Density

g/cc
0.869
0.873
0.869
0.922
0.872
0.872

Melt Index
I2 at 190° C.
dg/min
5.4
27.3
—
1.9
4.7
5.3

Melt Index
I10/I2 at 190° C.

6.7
6.7
—
7.4
6.8
6.7

Brookfield
Viscosity @ 177° C.
cP
—
—
7906
—
—
—

TABLE E1

Polymer Properties

Method
Property
Units
Comp. A
Inv. TP1
Inv. TP2
Comp. B
Inv. TP3
Inv. TP4

Conv. GPC
Mn
g/mol
9,244
6,925
7,149
19,618
22,713
43,792

Conv. GPC
Mw
g/mol
20,993
16,138
16,622
52,931
56,021
123,693

Conv. GPC
Mz
g/mol
44,770
39,246
47,921
92,282
129,181
283,832

Conv. GPC
Mw/Mn

2.27
2.33
2.33
2.7
2.47
2.83

DMS
Viscosity at 0.1 rad/s (190° C.)
Pa-s
—
—
—
348
490
9,312

DMS
Viscosity at 100 rad/s (190° C.)
Pa-s
—
—
—
279
302
1,903

DMS
RR (V0.1/V100)

—
—
—
1.25
1.63
4.89

DMS
Tan Delta at 0.1 rad/s (190° C.)

—
—
—
331
52.9
10.1

DMS
Tan Delta at 100 rad/s (190° C.)

—
—
—
3.13
2.65
0.934

DSC
Tm
° C.
−6.3
17
10.1
62.1
58.4
53.3

DSC
Tc
° C.
−27.8
-0.1
-7
48.6
64.4
58.9

DSC
Heat of Fusion
J/g
30.9
51.9
39.6
70.8
69.6
60.2

DSC
Wt % Crystallinity
%
10.6
17.8
13.6
24.3
23.8
20.6

TABLE E2

Method
Property
Units
Inv. TP5
Inv. TP6
Inv. TP7
Inv. TP8
Inv. TP9
Inv. TP10

Conv. GPC
Mn
g/mol
32,443
19,168
6,904
38,313
32,968
33,937

Conv. GPC
Mw
g/mol
79,907
49,328
15,631
99,196
82,260
78,203

Conv. GPC
Mz
g/mol
164,709
113,520
33,550
325,630
175,471
153,716

Conv. GPC
Mw/Mn

2.46
2.57
2.26
2.59
2.50
2.30

DMS
Viscosity at 0.1 rad/s (190° C.)
Pa-s
1476
—
—
—
1735
—

DMS
Viscosity at 100 rad/s (190° C.)
Pa-s
703
—
—
—
784
—

DMS
RR (V0.1/V100)

2.1
—
—
—
2.21
—

DMS
Tan Delta at 0.1 rad/s (190° C.)

54.3
—
—
—
42.8
—

DMS
Tan Delta at 100 rad/s (190° C.)

1.66
—
—
—
1.61
—

DSC
Tm
° C.
50
56.5
51.8
114.5
54.6
55.5

DSC
Tc
° C.
54.2
67.3
34.9
103.7
58.7
54.1

DSC
Heat of Fusion
J/g
55.2
69.3
55.7
130.4
58.6
59.1

DSC
Wt % Crystallinity
%
18.9
23.7
19.1
44.7
20.1
20.2

As seen in the above tables, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses confirm the synthesis of new telechelic polyolefins TP1 to TP10 via the inventive process of the present disclosure. Specifically, as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses confirm formation of new telechelic polyolefins for TP1 to TP10, where such polyolefins have unsaturations at both ends. Specifically, such polyolefins have A¹groups (vinyls, vinylenes, vinylidenes) on one end with A²groups having hindered double bonds (cyclohexenes or trisubstituted alkenes) on the other end. In contrast, comparative polymers A and B, which were not prepared according to the inventive process of the present disclosure, are polymers with low unsaturation as seen via ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses.

In Inv. TP5, the hindered double bond of the A2 group is a trisubstituted unsaturation, resulting in a high number of trisubstituted unsaturations/1000000C as reported in the above tables. The number of trisubstituted unsaturations in TP5 is higher than for Comparative B that was produced with the same catalyst under similar reactor conditions, but with hydrogen to control molecular weight. A small number of trisubstituted unsaturations can be formed via beta-hydride elimination and subsequent rearrangement of the unsaturation in an ethylene/alpha-olefin. The number of trisubstituted unsaturations formed by this thermal termination mechanism is dependent on the catalyst and process conditions used. A small number of trisubstituted unsaturations from this thermal termination mechanism is present in all of the comparative and inventive examples, but at a lower level than the vinyls and vinylidenes, with the exception of TP5 where the majority of the trisubstituted unsaturations are from the A2 group.

As described above, the novel telechelic polyolefins of the present disclosure contain unsaturations at the termini of the chains rather than randomly distributed along the polymer backbone. Such telechelic polyolefins may be suitable for curable formulations and may improve crosslinking. By controlling the location of the unsaturations to the polymer chain ends, a more controlled network structure is formed (uniform Mw between crosslinks) and more efficient use is made of the unsaturations on the polymer chain. This should provide better thermal and UV aging stability as less unsaturations are needed to form a cross-linked network with good mechanical properties for a given molecular weight. A low viscosity of a low Mw telechelic polyolefin of the present disclosure would provide excellent processability and flow prior to crosslinking, unlike high Mw EPDM.

In addition, the telechelic polyolefins of the present disclosure are produced in a low cost solution polymerization from ethylene and alpha-olefins that is unique from telechelic polyolefins that have been produced in the literature via much more expensive and complicated synthetic routes. Further, the telechelic polyolefins also enable the opportunity for controlled chain extension to a higher molecular weight thermoplastic unlike random copolymers with unsaturations. Because the unsaturations are located at the chain ends, the telechelic polyolefins can be chain extended to form a high molecular weight thermoplastic resin. Suitable crosslinking and chain extension chemistry includes, but is not limited to peroxide, thiolene, sulfur cure, phenolic cure, etc.

Curable Compositions for Crosslinked Foams

The following non-limiting examples demonstrate the inventive curable compositions for crosslinked foams of the present disclosure, where the inventive curable compositions include the inventive polyolefins TP9, TP10, and MP4.

The following materials were also used in the following examples:

ENGAGE™ 8100: an ethylene/1-octene copolymer having a density of 0.870 g/cm³(ASTM D792) and a melt index of 1.0 g/10 min (ASTM D1238, 190° C./2.16 kg) available from The Dow Chemical Company.

ENGAGE™ 8200: an ethylene/1-octene copolymer having a density of 0.870 g/cm³(ASTM D792) and a melt index of 5.0 g/10 min (ASTM D1238, 190° C./2.16 kg) available from The Dow Chemical Company.

INFUSE™ 9100: an olefin block copolymer having a density of 0.877 g/cm³(ASTM D792) and a melt index of 1.0 g/10 min (ASTM D1238, 190° C./2.16 kg) available from The Dow Chemical Company.

Perkadox® 14 SFL: α,α′-Bis(tert-butylperoxy) diisopropylbenzene (BIPB) with active peroxide content around 99 wt % available from HM Royal.

AC9000: Azodicabonamide type blowing agent from Kumyang

TiO₂: Ti-Pure® R-103 from Chemours

Zinc Oxide and Zinc Stearate.

Compound Preparation

Polymer pellets were added to the 350 ml Brabender mixer. Then, ZnO, ZnSt and TiO₂were added after the polymer had melted (around 5 minutes). The blowing agent and peroxide were added last after the fillers were uniformly dispersed and mixed for another 3 to 5 minutes for a total mix time of 15 minutes. The batch temperature was checked by using an immersion thermo probe detector right after the compounds were discharged. The compounds' actual temperature is generally 10 to 15° C. higher than the displayed temperature on the equipment. Hence, during the compounding process, it is better to control the displayed equipment temperature lower to ensure the compound temperature does not exceed the curing agent and blowing agent decomposition temperature. The batch is then quickly transferred to a two-roll mill that is heated to 90-105° C. as passed through the roll mill three to four times, folding mill sheet over on itself between each pass, to obtain a roll milled blanket.

Bun Foam Preparation

Roll milled blankets were cut into squares and placed inside a pre-heated bun foam mold. The surface of the chase was sprayed with mold releasing agent to avoid sticking of the foam to the chase during de-molding. Two compression molding processes were involved: preheating first to eliminate air pockets inside the sample and between the stacked layers prior to curing, and then curing/foaming. The preheating was conducted for 8 minutes at 110° C. (for polymers with melting temperatures below 100° C., such as ENGAGE™ 8100 or ENGAGE™ 8200) or 120° C. (for polymers with melting temperatures above 100° C., such as INFUSE™ 9100) and pressed at 10 tons for 4 minutes to form a solid mass in the mold before foaming. The preheated mass was transferred to the foaming press and held for 8 minutes at 100 kg/cm²and 180° C. Once the pressure was released, the bun foam was removed quickly from the tray and placed in a vent hood on several non-stick sheets and the top side length is measured as soon as possible. The foam surfaces were insulated from the bench top using cardboard boxes. Insulating the surfaces of the newly made bun foam prevented uneven cooling on the top and bottom surface. The foams cooled in the hood for 40 minutes then were transferred to a storage container and allowed to cool for 24 hours. The length was then measured again and the foam expansion ratio can be calculated (length of the cool foam/length of the mold).

Foam Cutting and Slicing

The foam slabs were first cut into 6″×6″ plaques using a vertical band saw. Hardness and Rebound of the foam plaques (with skin) were measured. Thin slices (thickness around 3 mm) including the skin layers and foam layers were then cut from the plaques by using a lab scale horizontal band saw. The slices would be further used to measure the tensile and tear properties.

Performance and Properties

Tables X-Z shown below report the curing levels of the exemplary curable compositions and the mechanical properties of the resulting crosslinked foams. IE-1 to IE-14 are inventive curable compositions and crosslinked foams according to the present disclosure. CE-1 and CE-2 are comparative examples that represent the state of the art with respect to curable compositions and crosslinked foams.

TABLE X

Example
CE-1
CE-2
IE-1
IE-2
IE-3
IE-4
IE-5

TP9 PHR

100
80
50
20

MP4 PHR

20
50
80
100

ENGAGE ™ 8200 PHR
100

ENGAGE ™ 8100 PHR

100

Perkadox14 SFL PHR
0.7
0.5
0.285
0.288
0.292
0.297
0.3

AC9000 PHR
2.3
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5

ZnO PHR
0.23
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

ZnSt PHR
0.23
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

TiO2 PHR
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

Properties

MH-ML, dN.m
2.23
2.66
3.33
3.38
3.41
3.34
2.91

Viscosity @ 100 rad/s, Pa-s
1697
3013
1828
1823
1768
1701
1665

Expansion Ratio
152%
154%
153%
148%
151%
151%
154%

Asker C
41
41
42
46
44
45
43

Rebound, %
70
74
72
70
72
72
70

Avg-Strain at Break, %
237
259
284
294
263
264
318

Avg-Stress at Break, MPa
1.3
1.6
1.9
2.1
1.8
1.9
1.9

Type C Tear, N/mm
7.7
8.2
8.9
10.4
9.2
9.1
10.6

Split tear, N/mm
2.1
2.5
3.1
3.1
3.1
2.8
3.1

TABLE Y

Example
CE-1
CE-2
IE-6
IE-7
IE-8
IE-9
IE-10

TP10 PHR

100
20
40
60
80

ENGAGE ™ 8200 PHR
100

ENGAGE ™ 8100 PHR

100

80
60
40
20

Perkadox14 SFL PHR
0.7
0.5
0.285
0.457
0.414
0.371
0.328

AC9000 PHR
2.3
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5

ZnO PHR
0.23
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

ZnSt PHR
0.23
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

TiO2 PHR
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

Properties

MH-ML, dN.m
2.23
2.66
3.34
3.37
3.89
4.19
4.04

Viscosity @ 100 rad/s, Pa-s
1697
3013
1856
2886
2612
2311
2097

Expansion Ratio
152%
154%
160%
143%
137%
138%
138%

Asker C
41
41
37
50
56
55
54

Rebound, %
70
74
70
70
70
70
69

Avg-Strain at Break, %
237
259
371
239
229
246
236

Avg-Stress at Break, MPa
1.3
1.6
2.0
1.7
1.7
1.9
2.0

Type C Tear, N/mm
7.7
8.2
10.5
9.5
11.6
11.6
11.8

Split tear, N/mm
2.1
2.5
2.9
2.6
2.6
2.6
2.7

TABLE Z

Example
CE-2
CE-3
IE-11
IE-12
IE-13
IE-14

TP10 PHR

20
40
60
80

ENGAGE ™ 8100 PHR
100

INFUSE 9100 PHR

100
80
60
40
20

Perkadox14 SFL PHR
0.5
0.55
0.497
0.444
0.391
0.338

AC9000 PHR
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5

ZnO PHR
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

ZnSt PHR
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25

TiO2 PHR
2
2
2
2
2
2

MH-ML, dN.m
2.66
2.64
3.35
3.99
3.87
3.90

Viscosity @ 100 rad/s, Pa-s
3013
3069
2755
2542
2334
2115

Expansion Ratio
154%
152%
143%
136%
143%
142%

Asker C
41
51
58
61
54
54

Rebound, %
74
66
66
65
66
65

Avg-Strain at Break, %
259
245
278
236
234
251

Avg-Stress at Break, MPa
1.6
1.7
2.0
1.9
1.9
1.9

Type C Tear, N/mm
8.2
10.5
12.7
13.8
11.5
11.2

Split tear, N/mm
2.5
2.8
3.4
3.4
3.0
2.9

As seen in Tables X-Z, the inventive curable compositions comprising the telechelic polyolefin and/or the unsaturated polyolefin of the present disclosure surprisingly and unexpectedly demonstrate improved curing levels even with less crosslinking agent compared to the comparative examples representing the state of the art. Inventive curable compositions comprising the telechelic polyolefin and/or the unsaturated polyolefin of the present disclosure can have improved curing levels even with less crosslinking agent compared to comparative examples comprising polyolefins of lower melt index (higher molecular weight) with low or no unsaturations, which is surprising because polymers with lower viscosity/lower molecular weight generally require a higher level of crosslinking agent to achieve the same level of cure (as measured by MH-ML). Beyond this, crosslinked foams prepared from the inventive curable compositions surprisingly demonstrate improved or similar mechanical performance at the same expansion ratio range compared to the comparative examples representing the state of the art. Inventive examples IE-1 to IE-5 use less crosslinking agent than comparative examples CE-1 and CE-2 to achieve a higher level of cure as measured by MH-ML, similar expansion ratio and rebound, low viscosity, higher tensile strain and stress at break, and higher Type C and split tear strength. Similarly, inventive examples IE-6 to IE-14 demonstrate that a higher degree of cure as measured by MH-ML can be achieved with lower levels of crosslinking agent in curable compositions comprising different amounts of the inventive telechelic polyolefins of the present disclosure, while achieving similar rebound and higher tensile and tear strength. The benefits of lower crosslinking agent and improved mechanical properties are obtained when blending the inventive telechelic polyolefins with ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers (such as ENGAGE™ 8100) or olefin block copolymers (such as INFUSE™ 9100). Accordingly, it is clear from these unexpected results that inventive curable compositions of the present disclosure address the need for high curing levels at reduced levels of crosslinking agent, which leads to reduced volatile byproducts and lower odor in footwear foam product, while also providing the advantages of polyolefins in mechanical performance.

Number	Date	Country
62786084	Dec 2018	US
62786100	Dec 2018	US
62786119	Dec 2018	US
62786110	Dec 2018	US

CURABLE COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING UNSATURATED POLYOLEFINS

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Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

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Provisional Applications (4)