Bridged metallocene catalysts

Abstract

A solid, particulate catalyst comprising: (i) a complex of formula (I) wherein M is zirconium or hafnium; each X is a sigma ligand; L is a divalent bridge selected from —RC—, —R'C—CR′—, —R′Si—, —R′Si—SiR′—, —R′Ge—, wherein each R′ is independently a hydrogen atom, C1-C20-hydrocarbyl, tri(C1-C20-alkyl)silyl, C6-C20-aryl, C7-C20-arylalkyl or C7-C20-alkylaryl; each Ris a C4-C20 hydrocarbyl radical branched at the β-atom to the cyclopentadienyl ring, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms belonging to groups 14-16, or is a C3-C20 hydrocarbyl radical branched at the β-atom to the cyclopentadienyl ring where the β-atom is an Si-atom; each Ris a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical optionally containing one or more heteroatoms belonging to groups 14-16; each Ris a hydrogen atom or a C-hydrocarbyl radical; each W is a 5 or 6 membered aryl or heteroaryl ring wherein each atom of said ring is optionally substituted with at least one Rgroup; each Ris the same or different and is a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical optionally containing one or more heteroatoms belonging to groups 14-16; and optionally two adjacent Rgroups taken together can form a further mono or multicyclic ring condensed to W optionally substituted by one or two groups R; and each Ris a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical; and (ii) a cocatalyst, preferably comprising an organometallic compound of a Group 13 metal.