Equistar Chemicals, LP

Gregory G Hlatky

Shaotian Wang

Sandor M Nagy

Jonathan L Schuchardt

Craig C Meverden

Mark P Mack

Barbara M Tsuie

Clifford C Lee

Bradley P Etherton

Mark K Reinking

Wallace W Yau

Douglas D Klendworth

Jean A Merrick-Mack

Sebastian Joseph

James H Meas

Kenneth J Klug

Resin blends useful for pipe and blow-molded articles are disclosed. The blends comprise a low-molecular-weight, high-density polyethylene and a high-molecular-weight, low-density ethylene copolymer. The high-molecular-weight component is made with a bridged indenoindolyl Group 4 metal complex having open architecture. Blends of the invention uniquely have high molecular weight (M&#x3e;200,000) and low levels of long-chain branching. A quick, convenient approach for estimating levels of long-chain branching in polyethylenes from gel permeation chromatography and dynamic oscillatory rheometry ('viscosity enhancement factor') is disclosed.

Polyolefin resin blends for crack-resistant pipe

A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The ethylene is polymerized with a catalyst system which comprises an activator and an indeno[2,1-b]indolyl Group 4-6 transition metal complex having open architecture. The process gives polyethylene having a broad molecular weight distribution for improved processability.

Ethylene polymerization process

A process for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The process uses a hydrosilane in a polymerization catalyzed by an open architecture, bridged indenoindolyl organometallic complex and an activator. Polyolefins from the process have increased molecular weight.

Hydrosilane additives for increased polyolefin molecular weight

A catalyst system useful for polymerizing olefins is disclosed. The catalyst system comprises an activator and a bimetallic complex that incorporates two Group 3 to 10 transition metal atoms, which may be the same or different, and a neutral or anionic indigoid ligand. By proper selection of the indigoid skeleton and by modifying its substituents and transition metal centers, polyolefin makers can fine-tune the bimetallic complexes to control activity, enhance comonomer incorporation, and optimize polymer properties.

Bimetallic olefin polymerization catalysts containing indigoid ligands

A process for making ethylene copolymers is disclosed. Ethylene copolymerizes with an &#x3b1;-olefin in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator and a silica-supported, bridged indenoindolyl metal complex having 'open architecture.' The supported complex incorporates comonomers with exceptional efficiency, and the process gives ethylene copolymers having high molecular weights (Mw&#x3e;100K) and very low densities (&#x3c;0.910 g/cm). Open architecture catalysts that include bridging through the indolyl nitrogen of the indenoindolyl framework are also described. Additionally, supported and unsupported indeno[1,2-b]indolyl catalysts provide exceptional activities in the preparation of elastomeric polypropylene and ethylene copolymers.

Catalysts for making polyolefins

A process for polymerizing ethylene is disclosed. The process uses a catalyst system which has a supported open architecture indenoindolyl complex. We surprisingly found that modifying the open architecture complex to incorporate a C -C hydrocarbyl amido group enables the production of polyethylene having good flow while maintaining high catalyst activity.

Process for making polyethylene

A process for polymerizing propylene is disclosed. The propylene is polymerized with a catalyst system which comprises an activator and a &lsqb;1,2-b&rsqb;indenoindolyl Group 4-6 transition metal complex having open architecture. The process has high catalyst activity and gives high molecular weight elastomeric polypropylene.

Propylene polymerization process

Single-site catalysts useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The catalysts incorporate a Group 3 to 10 transition, lanthanide, or actinide metal and an anionic thiopyran dioxide ligand. Because a wide variety of thiopyran dioxides are easy to prepare from commercially available starting materials, the invention enables the preparation of a new family of single-site catalysts.

Single-site catalysts based on anionic thiopyran dioxide ligands

A process for making ethylene copolymers is disclosed. Ethylene copolymerizes with an &agr;-olefin in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an activator and a silica-supported, bridged indenoindolyl metal complex having &ldquo;open architecture.&rdquo; The supported complex incorporates comonomers with exceptional efficiency, and the process gives ethylene copolymers having high molecular weights (Mw>100K) and very low densities (<0.910 g/cm ). Open architecture catalysts that include bridging through the indolyl nitrogen of the indenoindolyl framework are also described.

Process for making low-density polyolefins

Single-site catalysts useful for polymerizing olefins are disclosed. The organometallic catalysts incorporate a Group 3 to 10 transition, lanthanide or actinide metal and a caged diimide ligand. The diimide ligands are made by a tandem Diels-Alder and photochemical &lsqb;2&plus;2&rsqb; cycloaddition sequence to give a multicyclic dione, followed by condensation with a primary amine. Because a wide variety of caged diimide ligands are easy to prepare from commercially available dienes and dienophiles, the invention enables the preparation of a new family of single-site catalysts. Based on their unique structure and geometry, the catalysts offer polyolefin producers new ways to improve activity, control comonomer incorporation, or regulate polyolefin tacticity.

Single-site catalysts based on caged diimide ligands

Base-free carbazolides are prepared rapidly and in high yield and purity by reaction of a carbazole reactant with alkyl lithium in the presence of a dibasic ligand to form an intermediate complex, followed by reacting the intermediate complex with alkali metal alkoxide.

Process for the preparation of base-free carbazolide anions

The present invention provides an olefin polymerization procatalyst that includes at least one multidentate ligand. The pro-catalyst includes a Group 3 to 10 transition or lanthanide meta and one or more anionic or neutral ligands in an amount that satisfies the valency of the metal such that the pro-catalyst has a net zero charge. The present invention also discloses a method for making the pro-catalyst.

Tris(pyrazoyl) based anions

Neutral, multidentate azacyclic ligands and Group 3-10 transition metal complexes that contain them are disclosed. The ligands have the general formula: R &mdash;A&mdash;(L) where R is hydrogen or hydrocarbyl, A is silicon, tin, germanium, or lead, each L is a pyrazolyl, triazolyl, or tetraazolyl group, a&equals;0 to 2, b&equals;2 to 4, and a&plus;b&equals;4. When used with common activators, the transition metal complexes provide excellent single-site catalysts for olefin polymerization.

Transition metal complexes containing neutral, multidentate azacyclic ligands

A process for making a supported, single-site catalyst is disclosed. The transition metal of the catalyst is tethered through a bridged, bidentate ligand that is covalently bound to the support. The catalyst is prepared in a two-step process that involves preparation of a supported ligand from an amine-functionalized support, followed by reaction of the supported ligand with a transition metal compound to give the &ldquo;tethered&rdquo;catalyst. An olefin polymerization process that uses the supported catalyst is also disclosed.

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Morrow, OH, United States of America

Gregory G Hlatky