CATALYST SYSTEM FO MULTI-BLOCK COPOLYMER FORMATION f ield

|0001j Embodiments relate to olefin polymerization catalysts, their manufacture, and tiie production of po!yoJefins using specific catalyst compositions, including the use of chain shuttling agents in the olefin polymerization process.

Introducti q

00 2 j The properties and applications of polyolefms depend to varyin degrees upon the specific features of the catalysts used in their preparation. Specific catalyst compositions, activation conditions, sterie and electronic features, and the like all can factor into the characteristics of the resulting polymer product. Indeed, a multitude of polymer features, such as co-monomer incorporation, molecular weight, polydispersity, long-chain branching, and the related physical properties (e.g., density, modulus, melt properties, tensile features, and optical properties), can all be affected by catalyst design.

[0003| In recent years, the use o well-defined molecular procatalysts generally has allowed enhanced control over polymer properties, including branching

architecture, stereochemistry, and block copolymer construction. This latter aspect of polymer design, in which both "hard" (semicrystalline or high glass transition

temperature) blocks and "soft" (low crystailinity or amorphous with low glass transition temperature) blocks are assembled in a polymer chain, has been especially challenging. Advances in block copolymer formation have been seen with the use of chain-shuttling agents (CSA.s), which can exchange a growing polymer chain between different catalytic sites, such that portions of a single polymer molecule are synthesized by at least two different catalysts. In this manner, block copolymers can be prepared from a common monomer environment by using a mixture of catalysts of different select. vities, such as different stereoselectivities or monomer selectivities. Under the right conditions, efficient chain shuttling can produce a multi-block copolymer that features a random distribution of hard and soft blocks of random length.

{0004] Even with, the ad ent of CSA. and dual catal st conminaiions in multi-block copolymer preparation processes, further improvements to said processes can be made. For example, novel catalysts that enable a wider range of processing conditions would be valuable for commercial production.

Summary

|0005| hi certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a composition comprising an admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization procatalyst comprises a metal- ligarsd complex of Formula (1 :

(I), wherein;

each Zl independently is (€ ^* ~C^)hydtocarbon, (Cr-C^hetercihydrocarboo, Si(R ^Ci k Ge(R ¾ P(R ^cr ) ₂₎ N(R ^cr ) ₂₎ OR. , SR ^C{ , CN, CF ₃ , ^ct S(0)-, R S(0) ₂ - _t (^ ^ι )Κ -, R ^Ci C(0)( R ^ei OCfO)~ , R ^:i C(C ⁾ } (R)- , (R ^C! )2,NC(0)- , halogen atom, or hydrogen atom;

each R independently is (C-~Cio)hydrocarbyl or (Cj -Cs )heterohydrocarbyl; each M ^A independently is a metal of an one of Groups 3 to 6 or Groups 7 to 9 of a Periodic Table of the Elements, the metal being in a formal oxidation state of +2,

no is an integer of I or 2;

each Q - independently is hydrogen, (Cj -C^hydrocarbyl, or

(C J -C4 )heterohydrocarbyl; each ofQ ² , Q ³ , nd Q ⁴ independently is hydrogen, (C j -C40)hydr c rbyl, (C J -C o)hydroca b lO-, (C _j -C4Q)hydrocarbylS-, (C _j -C^ _Q jhydrocarbyiSiO)-, ((C _| -C40)hy raca b l)- P-, or (C I -C4Q)heterohydrocarbyi; each P independently is (C _j -€ )11 ydrocarbyi or (C j - ^Jheterohydroc-arbyl; wherein and Q^, and Q ³ . and Q^, and and optionally are taken together to form a (Cj -C4 )hydrocarbylene or (C j -C40)heterohydrocarbylene, or any three or four of to Q~ optionally are taken together to f rm a respective trivalent or tetravalent analog of (Cj-C4Q)hydrocarbylene or

(C _| -C4 _Q )heterohydrocarbylent and the remainder of to Q ⁵ ₅ are as defined above;

each of the hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarby!, Si(R ⁱ ) , Ge(R ¹ )s, P(R }2, N(R ^CV }2 _? OR ^c \ S ^C1 , R ^a S(0)-, R ^C3 S(0) ₂ - ₅ (l¾ ^Ci )2C-N- _! R ^Ci C(0)0- _s R OC(OK R ^C5 €(0)N(R)- _t (R ^Ci )2NC{O)~, hydrocarbyl ene, and heterohydrocarbyleiie groups independently is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R ^s substituents; and each R ^¾ independently is a halogen atom, polyfhioro substitution, perfluoro substitution, unsubstituted

R?Si-, R:,Ge-, RO-, RS-, RS(0)-, RS(0) ₂ -, R ₃ P-, RsN-, R ₃ C-N-, NC-, RC(0)CK

ROC(O)- , RC(0)N(R)- , or RsNCCO)- , or two of the R ^s are taken together to form an unsubstituted (Ci~Cis)alkyiene, wherein each R independently is an unsubstituted

optionally, R ³ or R ^s may ^' have an additional interaction with M .

|0GO6] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a composition for use in the polymerization of at least one additio polymerizable monomer to form, a multi-block (segmented) copolymer, said copolymer containing therein two or more blocks or segments differing in one or more chemical or physical properties, the composition comprising an admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent. wherein the second olefin polymerization proeatalyst comprises a metal- ligand complex of Formula (1).

(0007} In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a composition for use in the polymerization of ethylene and at least one copolymerizable comonomer other than ethylene to form a multi-block (segmented) copolymer, said copolymer containing therein two or more blocks or segments differing in one or more chemical or physical properties, the composition comprising an admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A.) a first olefin polymerization proeatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization proeatalyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization proeatalyst comprises a metal- ligand complex of Formula (I).

|0008| In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an olefin

polymerization catalyst system comprising;

(A) a first olefin polymerization proeatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization proeatalyst, and

(C) chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization proeatalyst comprises a metal - ligand complex of Formula (1).

(0009} In further embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a .multi-block (segmented) copolymer, said process comprising contacting one or more addition poiymerizabie monomers under addition poiymerizabie

conditions with a. composition comprising an admixture or reaction product resulting from, combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization proeatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization proeatalyst, and

(C) a. chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization proeatalyst comprises a metai- iigand complex of Formula (1).

(0010} in further embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a multi-block (segmented) copolymer comprising ethylene and at least one copolymer! zable comonomer other than ethylene, said process comprising contacting ethylene and one or more addition poiymerizabie monomers other than ethylene under addition polyraerizahle conditions with a composition comprising an admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization, procatalyst comprises a metal- ligand complex of Formula (1).

100111 in further embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a multi-block (segmented) copolymer, said process comprising contacting one or more addition polymerizable monomers under addition poSymerizable conditions with an olefin polymerization catalyst system comprising:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization procatalyst comprises a metal- ligand complex of Formula (I).

[0012J in further embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a multi-block (segmented) copolymer comprising ethylene and at least one copolymerizahle comonomer other than ethylene, said process comprisin contacting ethylene and one or more additio polynierizahle monomers other than ethylene under addition polymertzable conditions with an olefin polymerization catalyst system comprising;

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst, and

(C) chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization procatalyst comprises a raeiai- Hgand complex of Formula (I).

[1)013| In certain embodiments, the foregoing processes take the form of continuous solution processes for forming block copolymers, such as multi-block copolymers (preferably linear multi -block copolymers of two or more monomers, especially ethylene and a olefin or cycloolefin, and most especially ethylene and Cs-ao a- oleflii), using multiple catalysis that are incapable of intercom version. That is, the catalysts are chemically distinct. Under continuous solution polymerization conditions, the process is ideally suited for polymerization of mixtures of monomers at high monomer conversions. Under these polymerization conditions, shuttling from the chain shuttling agent to the catalyst becomes advantaged compared to chain growth, and multi-block copolymers, especially linear multi-block copolymers according to the present disclosure, are formed in high efficiency.

{00141 . another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a segmented copolymer (multi-block copolymer), especially a copolymer comprising ethylene in polymerized form, said copolymer containing therein two or more

(preferably three or more) segments differing in comonome content or density o other chemical or physical properties. The copolymer preferably possesses a molecular weight distribution, Mw Mn, of equal to or less than 10.0 (e.g., equal to or less than 9.0, equal to or less than 8.0, equal to or less than 7.0, equal to or less than 6.0, equal to or less than 5.0, equal to or less than 4.0, equal to or less than 3.0, equal to or less than 2.8, etc.). Most preferably, the polymers of the present disclosure are ethylene multi-block copolymers.

[0015] in yet another embodiment of the present disclosu re, there are provided functionalized derivatives of the foregoing segmented or multi-block copolymers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

100 6{ FIG. ί exemplifies the chain shuttling process that occurs in the

polymerization processes of the present disclosure.

[00.17] FIGS. 2 and 3 provide GPC traces for certain examples of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Definitions

{OQ ^' lSj AH references to the Periodic Table of the Elements refer to the Periodic

Table of the Elements published and copyrighted, by C C 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 and all test methods are current as of the .filing date of this disclosure. For purposes of United States patent practice, the contents of any referenced patent, patent application or publication are incorporated by reference in their entirety (or its equivalent U.S. version is so incorporated by reference in its entirety), especiall with respect to the disclosure of synthetic techniques, product and processing designs, polymers, catalysts, definitions (to the extent not inconsistent with any definitions specifically provided in this disclosure), and general knowledge in the art.

[9019} Number ranges in this disclosure and as they relate to the compositions disclosed herein are approximate, and thus may include values outside of the range unless otherwise indicated. Number ranges include all values from and including the lower and the upper values and include fractional numbers or decimals.

[9029} The terms "'chain shuttling agent" and "chain transfer agent" refer to those known to one of ordinary skill in the art . Specifically, the term "shuttling agent" OF "chain shuttling agent" refers to a compound or mixture of compounds that is capable of causing polymery! transfer between various active catalyst sites under conditions of polymerization. That is. transfer of a polymer fragment occurs both to and from an active catalyst site in a facile and reversible manner. In contrast to a shuttling agent or chain shuttling agent, an agent that acts merely as a "chain transfer agent/" such as some main-group alky! compounds, may exchange, for example, an alks i group on the chain transfer agent with the growing polymer chain on the catalyst, which generally results in termination of the polymer chain growth. n this event, the main-group center may act as a repository for a dead polymer chain, rather than engaging in reversible transfer with a catalyst site in the manner in which a chain shuttling agent does.

Desirably; the intermediate formed between the chain shuttling agent and the polymery! chain is not sufficiently stable relative to exchange between this intermediate and any other growing polvmeryl chain, such that chain termination is relatively rare.

[902! I The term "procatalyst" or "catalyst precursor" used herein refers to a transition metal species thai, once combined with an activator co-catalyst, is capable of polymerization of unsaturated monomers. For example, Cp2Zr(CHs)2 is a catalyst precursor, which, when combined with an activating cocaialyst, becomes the active catalyst species paZrCCHa) ^'* " which is capable of polymerization of unsaturated monomers. For the sake of simplicity, the terms "ptocatalysts," 'transition metal catalysts," "transition metal catalyst precursors," "catalysts," "catalyst precursors," "polymerization catalysis or catalyst precursors," "metal complexes," "complexes," "metal-iigand compiexes" and like teons are meant to be interchangeable in the present disclosure. Catalysis or procatalysts include those known in the art and those disclosed in WO 2005/090426, WO 2005/090427, WO 2007/035485, WO 2009/012215, WO 2014/105411 , U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2006/0199930, 2007/0167578,

2008/0311812, and U.S. Patent Nos. 7,355,089 B2, 8,058,373 B2, and 8,785,554 B2, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

jj0022j "Co-catalyst" or "activator" refer to those known in the art, e.g., those disclosed in WO 2005/090427 and. U.S. Patent No. 8,501,885 B2, that can activate a procatalyst by combining with or contacting the procatalyst to form m active catalyst composition.

0023] The terms "addition polymerizable conditions," "polymerization

conditions," and like terras refer to conditions known to one of ordinary skill in the art for polymerization of unsaturated monomers,

j0O24| "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, usually employed to refer to polymers prepared from only one type of monomer, and the term interpoiymer as defined below. It also embraces all forms of intetpo!yroers, e.g., random, block, homogeneous, heterogeneous, etc. "Interpolymer" and "copolymer" refer to a polymer prepared by the polymerization of at least two different types of monomers. These generic terms include both classical copolymers, i.e., polymers prepared from two different types of monomers, and polymers prepared from more than two different types of monomers, e.g., terpolyraers, tetrapolyraers, etc. The ierm "polyethylene" includes homopoiymers of ethylene and copolymers of ethylene and one or more C3-8 a-olefins in which ethylene comprises at least 50 mole percent. The ierm "crystalline," if employed, refers to a polyme that possesses a first order transition or crystalline melting point (Tm) as determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) or equivalent technique. The term may be used interchangeably with the term "semicrystalline". The term "amorphous" refers to a polymer lacking crystalline melting point as determined by differential scanning calorinietry (DSC) or equivalent technique.

f 0025f The terms "olefin block copolymer (OBC)," "block copolymer," "multi- block copolymer, " and "segmented copolymer" refer to a polymer comprising (wo or more chemically distinct regions or segments (referred to as "blocks") preferably joined in a. linear manner, that is, a polymer comprising chemically differentiated units which are joined (eova!ently bonded) end-to-end with respect to polymerized functionality, rather than in pendent or grafted fashion. The blocks may differ in the amount or type of comonomer incorporated therein, the density, the amount of crystall.in.ity, the type of crystallinity (e.g., polyethylene versus polypropylene), the crystallite size attributable to a polymer of such composition, the type or degree oftacticity (isotaclic or

syndiotactic), regio- regularit or regio-irregularity, the amount of branching, including long chain branching or hyper-branchmg, the homogeneity, and/or any other chemical or physical property. For example, the olefin block copolymer may contain "hard biocks" (semicrysialiine or high glass transition temperature) having lower comonomer content and "soft blocks" (low crystallinity or amorphous with low glass transition temperature) having higher comonomer content. Compared to block copolymers of th prior art, including copolymers produced by sequential monomer addition, flirxional catalysts , or anionic polymerization techniques, the block copolymers of the present disclosure are characterized by unique distributions of polymer polydispersiiy (PDl or Mw/Mn), block length distribution, and/or block number distribution, due, in a preferred embodiment, to the effect of the shuttling agent(s) in combination with catalysts. More specifically, when produced in a continuous process, the block copolymers desirably possess PDI from 1 ,0 to 10.0 (e.g., from 1.0 to 9.0, from 1.0 t 8.0, from. 1 .0 to 7.0, from i .0 to 6.0, from 1.0 to 5.0, from 1..0 to 4.0, from 1.0 to 3.5, from 1.0 to 3.0, from 1.7 to 2.9, from 1.8 to 2.5, from 1.8 to 2.2, and or from 1.8 to 2.1 ). When produced in. a batch or semi-batch process, the block polymers desirably possess PDl from 1.0 to 10.0 (e.g., from 1.0 to 9.0, from 1.0 to 8.0, from 1.0 to 7.0, from 1.0 to 6.0, from 1 ,0 to 5.0, .from 1.0 to 4.0, from 1.0 to 3.5, from 1.0 to 3.0, from 1.7 to 2.9, from 1.8 to 2.5, from 1.8 to 2.2, and/or from 1.8 to 2.1).

{00261 The term "ethylene multi-block copolymer" means a multi-block copolymer comprising ethylene and one or more copoiymerizabie coraonomers, wherera ethylene comprises a plurality of the polymerized monomer units of at least one block or segment in the polymer, preferably at least 90 mole percent, more preferably at least 95 mole percent, and most preferably at least 98 mole percent of said block. Based on total polymer weight, the ethylene multi-block copolymers of the present disclosure preferably have aa ethylene content from 25 to 97 weight percent, more preferably from 40 to 96 weight percent, even more preferably from 55 to 95 percent weight, and most preferably from 65 to 85 weight percent.

0027} Because the respective distinguishable segments or blocks formed from two of more monomers are joined into single polymer chains, the polymer cannot be completely fractionated using standard selective extraction techniques. For example, polymers containing regions that are relatively crystalline (high density segments) and regions that are relatively amorphous (lower density segments) cannot be selectively extracted or fractionated using differing solvents. In a preferred embodiment, the quantity of extractable polymer using either a dialkyl ether- or an alkane- solvent is less than 10 percent, preferably less than 7 percent, more preferably less than 5 percent and most preferably less than 2 percent of the total polymer weight.

{0028} In addition, the multi-block copolymers of the present disclosure desirably possess a PDI fitting a Sehulz-Flory distribution rather than, a Poisson distribution. The use of the present polymerization process results in a product ha ving both a

polydisperse block distribution as well as a po!ydisperse distribution of block sizes. This results in the formation of polymer products having improved and distinguishable physical properties. The theoretical benefits of a polydisperse block distribution hav been previously modeled and discussed in Potemkin, Physical lie view E (1998) 57(6), pp. 6902-6912, and Dobrynin, J, ( ^" hem. Phvs. (1 97) 107(21), pp. 9234-9238.

[0029} In a further embodiment, the polymers of the present disclosure, especially those made in a continuous, solution polymerization reactor, possess a most probable distribution of block lengths. Exemplary copolymers according to the present disc l osure are mn hi -b lock copolymers containing 4 or more bloc ks or segments including terminal blocks.

{0030} The following mathematical treatment of the resulting polymers is based on theoretically derived parameters that are believed to apply to the presently disclosed polymers and demonstrate that, especially in a steady-state, continuous, well-mixed reactor, the block lengths of the resulting polymer prepared using 2 or more catalysis will each conform to a most probable distribution, derived to the following mariner, wherein p; is the probability of propagation with respeci to block sequences from catalyst i. The theoretical treatment is based on standard assinnptioos and methods known in the art and used in predicting the effects of polymerization kinetics on molecular architecture, including the use of mass action reaction rate expressions that are not affected by chain or block lengths. Such methods have been previously disclosed in W. H. Ray, J. Macroniol. Set., Rev. Macromol. Chcrn., C8, 1 (1 72) and A. E. Hamielec and J. F. MacGregor, "Polymer Reaction Engineering", . . Reichert and W. Geisler, Eels,, Hanser, Munich, 1 83. hi addition, it is assumed that adjacen sequeiices formed by the same catalyst fonn a single block. For catalyst i, the fraction of seqisences of length n is given by Xijtfj, where n is an integer from 1 to infinity representing the number of monomer units in the block.

X-ίη] ~ ( i-pj) | ^{v¾ i} most probable distribution of block lengths

Nj - ~r i -~p~ number average block length

;

{0031 j Each catalyst has a probability of propagation (ps) and forms a polymer segment having a unique average biock length and distribution, in a most preferred embodiment, the probability of propagation is defined as:

p _i ^. . ^. . ^. . - _{Rm ÷ R} ^ ^l _i] + _m &r ea _C h _C atalyst i - {L2...} , where,

Rp[i] ^:::: Rate of monomer consumption by catalyst i, (moles/L),

Rt[i] - Total rate of chain transfer and termination for catalyst i, (moles/L), Rs[i] ^:::: Rate of chain shuttling with dormant polymer to other catalysts, (moles/L), and

[Ci] ^::: Concentratio of catalyst i (moles/L),

{9032! Dormant polymer chains refers to polymer chains that are attached to a CSA. The overall monomer consumption or polymer propagation rate, Rp[i], is defined using a apparent rate constant, !<¾ , multiplied by a total monomer

concentration, MJ, as follows:

Rp i] = 0 kpi SMj[Qj. (Θ033| The total chain transfer rate is given below including valises for chain transfer to hydrogen ( Jh), beta hydride elimination, and chain transfer to chain shutti tog agent (CSA). The reactor residence time is given by Θ and each subscripted k value is a rate constant.

Rt[i] - 0 kB2«[H ₂ ](G] + e kfKtG] + Θ k CSAiiG]

0034 For a dual catalyst system, the rate of chain shuttling of polymer between catalysts 1 and 2 is given as follows:

Rs[l] - sf2J - Θ k CSA] Θ lCx] [CI].

|¾035] If more than 2 catalysts are employed, then added terms and complexity m the theoretical relation for Rs[i] result, but the ultimate conclusion that the resulting block length distributions are most probable is unaffected.

j§036| As used herein with respect to a chemical compound, unless specifically indicated otherwise, the singular includes all isomeric forms and vice versa (for example, "hexane," includes all isomers of hexane mdividualiy or collectively). The terms "compound" and "complex" are used interchangeably herein to refer to organic-, inorganic- and organomeial compounds. The term "atom" refers to the smallest constituent of an element regardless of ionic state, that is, whether or not the same bears a charge or partial charge or is bonded to another atom. The term "heteroatom" refers to an atom other than carbon or hydrogen. Preferred heteroatoms include; F, CI, Br, , O, P, B, S, Si, Sb, Al, Sn, As, Se and Ge.

| O37| The term "hydrocarbyl" refers to univalent substituents containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms, including branched or anbranched, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic, polycyclic or noncyclic species. Examples include a!kyK cycloaSky!-. alkenyl-, alkadienyl-, cycloalkenyl-, cycloatkadienyK aryl-, and alkyny!- groups. "Substituted hydrocarbyl" refers to a hydrocarbyl group that is substituted with one or more onhydrocarbyl substituent groups. The terms "heteroatom containing hydrocarbyl" or "heterohydrocarbyS" refer to univalent groups in which at least one atom other than hydrogen or carbo is present along with one or more carbon atom and one or more hydrogen atoms. The term "heterocarbyi" refers to groups containing on or more carbon atoms and one or more heteroatoms and no hydrogen atoms. The bond between the carbon atom and any heteroatom, as well as the bonds between any two heteroatoms, may be a single or multiple covalent bond or a coordinating or other donative bond. Thus, an alkyl group substituted with a heterocyc!oalky aryl- substituted heterocycloalkyl.-, heteroary alkyl- substituted heteroaryi-, alkoxy-, aryloxy-, dihydrocarbylboryi-, dihydrocarbylphosphino-, diliydrocarbyianritio-, trihydrocarby!siiyK hydrocarbyithio-, or hydrocarbylseleno- group is within the scope of the term heteroa!kyl. Examples of suitable lieteroalkyi groups include cyanomethyl-, benzoylroethyl-, (2- pyridyl)methy!-, arid trirTuoroniethyi- groups.

[9038| As used herein, the term "aromatic" refers to a polyatomic., cyclic, conjugated ring system containing (4δ 2) π-eiectrous. wherein δ is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The term "fused" as used herein with respect to a ring system containing two or more polyatomic, eye lie rings means that with respect to at least two rings thereof, at least one pair of adjacent atoms is included in both rings. The term "aryl" refers to a monovalent aromatic substituent which may be a single aromatic ring or multiple aromatic rings which are fused together, linked covaiently, or linked to a common group such as a methylene or ethy lene moiety. Examples of aromatic ring{s) include phenyl naphthyl, anthracenyi, and hiphenyl, among others.

[0039 J "Substituted ary * refers to an aryl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms bound to any carbon is replaced by one or more functional groups such as alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloaJky!, substituted cycioalkyi, heterocycloalkyl, substituted heterocycloalkyl, halogen, alkylhalos (e.g., CFs), hydroxy, amino, phosphide, alkoxy, amino, thio, nitro, and both saturated and unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbons which are fused to the aromatic ringfs}, linked covaiently or linked to a common group such as a methylene or ethylene moiety. The common linking group may also be a carboiiyl as in benzophenone or oxygen as in diphenylether or nitrogen in diphenylanxine.

[0040} For copolymers produced by a given catalyst, the relative amounts of comonomer and monomer in the copolymer and hence the copolymer composition is determined by relative rates of reaction of comonomer and monomer. Mathematically the molar ratio of comonomer to monomer is given by (0041 J Here R _P 2 and A are the rates of polymerization of comonomer and monomer respectively and Fz and Fi are the mole fractions of each m the copolymer. Because Fz + F - 1 we can rearrange this equation to

{0042) The individual rates of polymerization of comonomer and monomer are typically complex functions of temperature, catalyst, and monomer/comonomer concentrations. I the limit as comononier concentration in the reaciion media drops to zero, Rp? drops to zero, F? becomes zero nd the polymer consists of pore monomer. In the limiting case of no monomer in the reactor, R _P j becomes zero and Fzis one

(provided the comonomer can polymerize alone).

[ 043J For most homogeneous catalysts, the ratio of comonomer to monomer in the reactor largely determines polymer composition as determined according to either the Terminal Copolymerization Model or the Penultimate Copolvinerizaiion Model.

{0044) Fo random copolymers in which the identity of the last monomer inserted dictates the rate at which subsequent monomers insert, the terminal copoiyraerizatioR m del is employed. In this model, insertion reactions of the type

{0045} Where C ^* represents the catalyst. Mi represents monomer , and is the rate constant havin the rate equation

{0046} The comonomer mole fraction (t-2) in the reaction media is defined by the equation:

{0O47| A simplified equation for comonomer composition can be derived as disclosed i George Odian, Principles of Polymerization, Second Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 1 70, as follows: j§048| From this equation, the mole fraction of comonomer in the polymer is solely dependent on the mole fraction of comonomer in the reaction media and two temperattrre dependent reactivity ratios defined in terms of the insertion rate constants as: sx; -~ f ass I ,

* *' ^; - · ^* j0049| Alternatively, in the penultimate copoi merization model, the identities of the last two monomers inserted in the growing polymer chain dictate the rate of subsequent monomer insertion. The olymerization reactions are of the form

[0050 and the individual rate equations are:

[00511 The comonomer content can be calculated (again as disclosed in George Odian, Su ra.) as:

|0052| where .·¥ is defined as:

|O053f and the reactivity ratios are defined as:

|0054j For this model as well the polymer composition is a function only of temperature dependent reactivity ratios and comonomer mole fraction in the reactor.

The same is also true when reverse comonomer or monomer insertion may occur or in the case of the inierpolymerization of more than two monomers.

|0O55| Reactivity ratio for use in the foregoing modeis may be predicted using well known theoretical techniques or empirically derived from actual polymerization data. Suitable theoretical techniques are disclosed, for example, in B. G. Kyle,

Chemical ami Process Thermodynamics, Third Addition, Prentice-Hall, 1 99 and in Rediich-Kwong-Soave (RKS) Equation of State, Chemical Engineering Science, 1 72, pp. 1 197-1203, Commercially available software programs may be used to assist in deriving reactivity ratios from experimentally derived data. One example of such software is Aspen Plus from Aspen Technology; Inc., Ten Canal Park, Cambridge, MA 021 1-2201 USA.

j 056| Based on the foregoing theoretical considerations, the present disclosure may alternatively be related to a composition or catalyst system for use in the

polymerization of two or more addition polymerizable monomers, especially ethylene and at least one copolymeri able comonomer, to form a high molecular weight, segmented copolymer (multi-block, copolymer), said copolymer containing therein two or more (preferably three or more) segments or blocks differing in one or more chemical or physical properties as further disclosed herein, the catalyst system or composition comprising the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent;

wherein the: r i of the first olefin polymerization procatalyst ( u), and

n of the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (ΓΓΒ),

are selected such that the ratio of the reactivity ratios (DA tm) under the polymerization conditions is 0.5 or less (e.g., 0.25 or less, 0.125 or less, 0.08 or less,

0.04 or less).

0057 Additionally, there is now provided a process, preferably a solution process (and most preferably a continuous solution process), for use in the polymerization of two or more addition poiymerizable monomers (especially ethylene and at least one copolymerizable comonomer) to form a high molecular weight, segmented copolymer (multi-block copolymer), said copolymer containing therein tw or more (preferably three or more) segments or blocks differing in one or more chemical or physical properties as further disclosed herein, the process comprising the steps of combining two or more addition poiymerizable monomers (especially ethylene and at least one copolymerizable comonomer) under polymerization conditions with the catalyst system or composition comprising the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining;

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent; and

wherein the:

T\ of the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (HA), and

n of the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (tm),

are selected such that the ratio of the reactivity ratios (n ,.\ / tm) under the polymerization conditions is 0.5 or less (e.g., 0.25 or less, 0.125 or less, 0.08 or less,

0.04 or less).

{OQSSJ Further, there is now provided a composition, or catalyst system for use in the polymerization of two or more addition poiymerizable monomers (referred to as monomer and coraonomer(s) respectively), especially ethylene and at least one copolymerizable comonomer, to form a high molecular weight, segmented copolymer (multi-block copolymer), said copolymer containing therein two or more (preferably three or more) segments or blocks differing in one or more chemical or physical

ί / properties as further disclosed herein, the catalyst system or composition comprising the admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by the first olefin polymerizatio procatalyst (A) under equivalent polymerization conditions, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent; wherein:

the comonomer content in mole percent of the copolymer resulting from the fu st olefin polymerization procatalyst (Fi), and

the comonomer content in mole percent of the copolymer resulting from the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (F2),

are selected such that the ratio (Fi / F2) under the polymerization conditions is 2 or more (e.g., 4 or more, 10 or more, 15 or more, and 20 or more).

|0059| Additionally, there is now provided a process, preferably a solution process (more preferably a continuous solution process), for use in the polymerization of two or more addition polynierizable monomers (referred to as monomer and comonomeri s) respectively), especially ethylene and at least one copoiymenzabie comonomer, to form a high molecular weight, segmented copolymer (multi-block copolymer), said copolymer containing therein two or more (preferably three or more) segments or blocks differing in one or more chemical or physical properties as further disclosed herein, the process comprising the steps of combining under polymerization conditions:

(A.) a first, olefin polymerization procatalyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst capable of preparing polymers differing in chemical or physical properties from the polymer prepared by the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A) under equivalent pol merization conditions, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent; wherein:

the comonomer content in mole percent of the copolymer resulting from the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (Fi), and

the comonomer content in mole percent of the copolymer resulting from the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (F2),

ar selected such that the ratio (Fi / F2) under the polymerization conditions is 2 or more (e.g., 4 or more, 10 or more, 15 or more, and 20 or more, and recovering the polymer product. Monomers

|0Q6OJ Suiia k monomers for use in preparing the olefin block copolymers or multi-block copolymers of the present disclosure include ethylene and one or more addition polyraerizable monomers (i.e., coraonomers) other than ethylene. Examples of suitable coinonomers include straight-chain or branched a-oiefins of 3 to 30, preferably 3 to 20, carbon atoms, such as propylene, l-butene, 1-petrtene, 3 -methyl- 1-butene, i - hexene, 4-methyl-l- pentene, 3 -methyl- l-pentene, 1-octene, 1-decene, l -dodecene, 1 - tetradecene, 1-hexadecene, I - octadecene and 1 -eicosene; cyc!oo!efms of 3 to 30, preferably 3 to 20 carbon atoms, such as cyc!openfcene, cycloheptene, norbornene, 5- methyi-2-norboraene, tetracyclododecene, and 2 -methyl- 1 ,4,5, 8-diniethano- l^S^^ajS Sa- ctah dr ap ihale e; di- and poly-olefins, such as butadiene, isoprene, 4-rnethyl- L3~pentadiene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,4-pentadiene, 1 ,5-hexadiene, 1 ,4- hexadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 1,3-octadiene, 1 ,4-octadiene, 1 ,5-octadiene, 1 ,6-octadiene, L7~oeiadiene, ethylidene norbornene, vinyl norbornene, dicyclopentadiene, 7-methyl- 1 ,6-octadiene, 4-ethy!idene-8-raethyi- 1 ,7-nonadiene, and 5,9-dimethyl,4,8-decai:riene; aromatic vinyl compounds such as mono or poly alkylstyren.es (including styrene, o~ methylstyrene, ni-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, o,p- dimethy!styrene. o-ethylstyrene, m~ethylstyrene and p-ethylstyrene), and functional, group- containing derivatives, such as methoxystyrene, ethoxystyrene, viny!benzoie acid, meth l vinylhenzoate, viiiylbenzy! acetate, hydroxystyrene, o-chlorostyrene, p-cliiorostyrene, divinylbenzene, 3-phenylpropene, 4-phenyipropene, a-mefliyi styrene, vinyich!oride, 1 ,2- diflnoroethylene, 1 ,2-dich!oroethy!ene, tetratluoroethylene, and 3,3,3-trifluoro-l- propene.

Chain Shuttling Agents (CSA

[0061 J The term "shuttling agent" refers to a compound or mixture of compounds employed in the composition catalyst system process of the present disclosure that is capable of causing polymery! exchange betwee at least two active catalyst sites of the catalysts included in the composition/catalyst system/process under the conditions of the polymerization. That is, transfer of a polymer fragment occurs both to and from one or more of the active catalyst sites. In contrast to a shuttling agent, a "chain transfer agent" causes termination of polymer chain growth and amounts to a one-time transfer of growing polymer from the catalyst to the transfer agent. Preferably, the shuttling agent ha an activity ratio A-B/RB-A of from 0.01 and 100, more preferably from 0.1 to 10, most preferably from 0.5 to 2,0, and most highly preferably from 0.8 to 1.2, wherein RA-B is the rate of polymery! transfer from catalyst: A active site to catalyst B active site via the shuttling agent, and RH-A is the rate of reverse polymery! transfer, i.e.. the rate of exchange starting from the catalyst B active site to catalyst A active site via the shuttling agent. Desirably, the intermediate formed between the shuttling agent and the polymery! chain is sufficiently stable such that chain termination is relatively rare. Desirably, less than 90 percent, preferably less than 75 percent, more preferably less than 50 percent and most desirably less than 10 percent of shutUe-polymeryl products are terminated prior to attaining 3 distinguishable polymer segments or blocks, ideally, the rate of chain shuttling (defined by the time required to transfer a polymer chain from a catalyst site to the chain shuttling agen and then back to a catalyst site) is similar to or faster than the rate of polymer termination, e ven up to 1 or even 1 0 times faster than the rate of polymer termination. This permits polymer block formation on the same time scale as polymer propagation.

[0062J Suitable chain shuttling agents for use herein include Group 1 , 2, 12 or 13 metal compounds or complexes co taining at least, one Ct-20 hydrocarbyl group, preferably hydrocarbyl substituted magnesium, aluminum, gallium or zinc compounds containing from 1 to 12 carbons in each hydrocarbyl group, and reaction products thereof with a proto source. Preferred hydrocarbyl groups are alkyl groups, preferably linear or branched, C2-8 alky! groups. Most preferred shuttling agents for use in the present invention are tiialkyl aluminum and dia!ky! zinc compounds, especially triethy! aluminum, tri(i-propyl) aluminum, tri(n-hexyl)ahi inum, tri(n~octyl)alummum, triethylgallium, or diethyl inc. Additional suitable shuttling agents include the reaction product or mixture formed by combining the foregoing organometa! compounds, preferably a tri(Ci-s) alkyl aluminum or di(Cf~s) alkyl zinc compound, especially triethylaluminum, tri{ i-propy! ) aluminum, tri(i-hutyi)aiuminum, tri(n-!iexyl)alnminum, tri(ii-octyl)alnmiinrai, or diethylzme, with less than a

stoichiometric quantity (relative to the number of hydrocarbyl groups) of a secondary amine or a hydroxy! compound, especially ^' bis(trimethylsilyi)aminc _f t~ butyl(dimethyl)siloxane, 2- hydrox methylpyridine, di(n-pentyl)amine, 2,6-di(t~ butyl)phenoi, ethyl(l-«aphthyl)arake, bis(2 3 _} 6,7-dibenzo-i-azaeyciolieptaneamine), or 2,6-diphe.nylphe.nol. Sufficient amine or hydroxy! reagent is used such that one hydrocarby! group remains per metai atom. The primary reaction products of the foregoing combinations roost, useful in the present disclosure as shuttling agents are n~ octylaluminum di(bis(irimethylsilyl)amide), i-propylaluminum his(dimetbyl(t- butyl)siloxide), and n-octylaluminum di(pyridinyl-2-methoxide). i-butylaluminum bis(dimethy!(t butyl)silox.ane), i-butylaiuminum bis(di(tiimethyls.ilyl)am.ide), n- octySaluminiim di(pyridrae~2-meihoxideX i>butylalumin«in bis(di(n«pentyl)amide), - octylal uminum bis(2,6~di~t- butylphenoxide), n-octylaluminuni di(ethyi(l~

naphthy!)amide), ethy!alumimim bis(t- butyldimethylsiloxide), ethyialuminiim

di(bis(trimethylsilyl)amide), ethylalominum bis(2„3,6,7- clibenzo-1 - azacyc!oheptan eamide) , n-octy i aluminum bisf 2 ,3 ,6,7-di benzo-i - azacycloheptaneamide), n-octylaUuni im bis(dimethy!(t-b«tyI)siIoxide, ethylzmc (2,6- diphenylphenoxide), and ethylzinc (t- butoxide).

j§063| in further embodiments of the present disclosure, suitable chain shuttling agents include metal a!ky!s containing a divalent metal (e.g., Zn), trivaient metal (e.g., AY), or a mixture of divalent metal and irivalent metal In certain embodiments, the chain shuttling agent is a divalent metal alkyl, such as dialkylzinc. In certain embodiments, the chain shuttling agent is a trivaient metal alkyl, such as

trialkylalummura. In certain embodiments, the organometaHic compound is a mixture of divalent metal alkyl (e.g., dialkylzmc) and trivaleni metal alkyl (e.g.,

trialkylaluminum). In certain embodiments, the chain shuttling agent is a mixture of trivaient metal and divalent metal at a trivaient clivalent metai ratio from 99: 1 to 1 :99 (e.g., from 95:5 to 50:50, from 90; 10 to 80:20, from 90: 10 to 70:30, etc.). In certain embodiments, the chain shuttling agent is a metal alky! containing a mixture of

aluminum and zinc metals at an alurainum zinc ratio f om 99: 1 to 1 :99 (e.g., from 95:5 to 50:50, from 90: 10 to 80:20, from 90:10 to 70:30, etc.).

(0064} It will be appreciated by the skilled artisan that a suitable shuttling agent for one catalyst, or catalyst combination may not necessarily be as good or even satisfactory for use with, a different catalyst or catalyst combination. Some potential shuttling agents may adversely affect the performance of one or more cataiysts and may be undesirable for use for that reason as well Accordingly, the activity of the chain shuttling agent desirably is balanced with the catalytic acti ty of the catalysts to achieve the desired polymer properties, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, best results may be obtained by use of shuttling agen ts having a chain shuttling acti vity (as measured by a rate of chain transfer) that is less than the maximum possible rate.

[9065! Generally however, preferred shuttling agents possess the highest rates of polymer transfer as well as the highest transfer efficiencies (reduced incidences of chain termination). Such shuttling agents may be used in reduced concentrations and still achieve the desired degree of shuttling, in addition, such shuttling agents result in production of the shortest possible polymer block lengths. Highly desirably, chain shuttling agents with a single exchange site are employed due to the fact that the effective molecular weight of the polymer in the reactor is lowered, thereby reducing viscosity of the reaction mixture and consequently reducing operating costs.

First Olefin Polymerization Procataiyst (A)

[9066| Suitable procatalysts that would fall within the scope of the first olefin polymerization procataiyst (A) of the present disclosure include the

catalysts/complexes discussed below that are adapted for preparing polymers of the desired composition or type and capable of reversible chain transfer with a chain shuttling agent. As noted above, the terms "procatalysts," "cataiysts," "metal complexes " and "complexes" used herein, are to be interchangeable. In certain embodiments, the first olefin polymerization procataiyst (A) is the soft block/segment catalyst (i.e., high comonomer incorporator) of the olefin block copolymers of the present disclosure,

(0067J Both heterogeneous and homogeneous cataiysts 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 cataiysts comprising a relatively pure organometallic compound or metal complex, especially compounds or complexes based on metals selected from Groups 3- 15 or the Lanthanide series of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

( 0068 J Metal complexes for use herei n 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-tnetaliocene, constrained geometry, and polyvalent pyridyiamine, or other polyclielating base complexes. The complexes are generically depicted by the formula: Μ¾Χ. Ζ _¾ or a dimer thereo wherein

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

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 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 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 cova!ently 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 -electrons to M, whereupon M is in the +2 formal oxidation state;

Z independently at each occurrence is a neutral., Lewis base donor ligand of up to 50 non- hydroge 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,

0069} Suitable metal complexes include those containing from 1 to 3 it-bonded anionic or neutral ligand groups, which may be cyclic or non-cyclic delocalized π- bonded anionic iigand groups. Exemplary of such it-bonded groups are conjugated or nonconjugated, cyclic or non-cyclic diene and dieuyt groups, ally! groups,

boratabenzene groitps, phosphole, and areiie groups. By the term "π-bonded" is meant that the Iigand group is bonded to die transition metal by a sharing of electrons from a partially delocali ed it-bond.

|0070| Each atom in the delocalized π-bonded group may independently be substituted with a radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydrocarbyi, halohydrocarby!, hydrocarbyi -substituted heteroatoras wherein the heieroatom is selected from Group 14-1 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and such hydrocarbyi- substituted heteroatom radicals further substituted with a Group 1.5 or 16 hetero atom containing moiety. In addition two or more such radicals may together form a fused ring system, including parti lly or fully hydrogenated fused ring systems, or they may form a metallocycle with the metal. Included within the term "hydrocarbyi" are C3 0 straight, branched and cyclic alky! radicals, Cc-ao aromatic radicals, C7.20 alkyl-substituted aromatic radicals, and€7-20 axyl-substituted alkyl radicals. Suitable hydrocarbyl-subsrituted heteroatom radicals include mono-, di- and tri -substituted radicals of boron, silicon, germanium, nitrogen, phosphorus or oxygen wherein each of the hydrocarbyi groups contains from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Examples include N,N-dimethylamino, pyrrolidinyl, ttimeihylsilyl, trietiiylsilyl, t~

biuySdimethylsilyL, ethyidi(t-butyl)silyl _} tiiphenylgerniyl, and triniethylgermyl groups. Examples of Group 15 or 16 hetero atom containing moieties include amino, phosphino, alkoxy, or alkyithio moieties or divalent derivatives thereof, for example, amide, phosphide, alkyleneoxy or alkyleneihio groups bonded to the transition metal or Lantiianide metal _. , and bonded to the hydrocarbyi group, it-bonded group, or hydrocarbyi- substituted heteroatom.

[007! J Examples of suitable anionic, delocalized π-honded. groups include cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, fiuorenyl, tetrahydroindenyl, tetrahydroiluorenyi, octahydrofiuoreoyL pentadienyi, cyclohexadienyl, dihydroanthracenyl,

hexahydroanthracenyl, decahydroanthracenyl groups, phosphole, and boratahertzyl groups, as well as inertly substituted derivatives thereof, especially Ci-w hydrocarbyi- substituted or tris(Ci-u> hydrocarbyj)silyl- substituted derivatives thereof. Preferred anionic delocalized π -bonded groups are cyclopentadienyl, pentamethyicyclopentadienyl, tetramethylcyclopentadienyl,

tetrameihyisil.y!cyclope»iadienyl _s indenyl, 2,3-dimethylmdettyl, fluorenyl, 2- methylindenyl, 2-meth l-4-phe.nyl indenyl, tetrahydrofluorenyl, octabydrotluorenyL 1 - daeenyl, 3~pyrroi.idmomden~S~yS, 3,4~(cycl.opeMa( )plTeiiaothre«-I-yL and

tetrahydmindeny!.

f0O72| The boratabenzeoyl ligands are anionic ligands which are boron containing analogues to benzene. They are previously known in the art having been described by G. Herberick et al., in Orgaoometallics. 14,1, 471 -480 (1995). Preferred

boratabenzenyl to the formula:

wherein R ^s is an inert substituent, preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyi, sibyl, halo or gemiyl, said R having up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, and optionally two adjacent R ^! groups may be joined together, in complexes involving divalent derivatives of such deiocaSized -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.

10073 ( Phospholes are anionic ligands that are phosphorus containing analogues to a cyelopenia ienyl group. They are previously known in the art having been described by WO 98/50392, and elsewhere. Preferred phosphole ligands correspond to the formula:

wherein R ¹ is as previously defined.

Suitable transition metal complexes for use herein correspond to the formula: M k xZz, or a diroer thereof, wherein:

M is a Group 4 metal; K is a group containing deiocalized jr-eiectrons through which K is bound to M, said 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 metal!ocycle, 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 Hgand of up to 50 iion- 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 I to 4; z is a number from 0 to 3; and the stun, k-i-x, is equal to the formal oxidation state of M

[0074J Suitable complexes include those containing either one or two 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)e wherein E is silicon, germanium, tin, or carbon, R ' independently at each occurrence is hydrogen or a group selected from silyl, hydrocarbyl, hydrocaroyloxy and combinations thereof, said R ^' having up to 30 carbon or silicon atoms, and e is I to 8. Illustratively, ' Independently at each occurrence is methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl, tert- butyt phenyl, metho y, ethoxy or phenoxy.

|0075| Examples of the complexes containing two K groups are compounds corresponding to the formula;

wherein; M is titanium, zirconium or hafnium, preferably zirconium or hafnium., in the ^• t-2 or -t-4 formal oxidation state; E at each occurrence independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, cyano, halo and

combinations thereof, said R ³ having up to 20 non~ hydrogen atoms, or adjacent R* groups together form a divalent derivative (that is, a hydroearbadiyl, siladiyl or gerraadiyl 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 dtene having from 4 to 30 non-hydrogen atoms bound by means of delocaltzed «-electrons to M, whereupon M is in the -2 formal oxidation state, and

R\ E and e are as previously defined.

{ ^" 0076} Exemplary bridged Hgands containing two it-bonded groups are;

dimethy!bis(cyciopentadieny!)silane ₅ dimethylbisCtetrameihylcyciopentadienyiisiiane, dimethyibis(2-etiiylcyc!openiadien-l-yl)si!ane, dimethyibis(2-t-butylcyciopentadien-I- yl)stlane, 2 ₅ 2-bis(tetraraeihyIcyclopentadienyl)piOpane, dimethylbis(inden~l-yl)silane, dimethylbis(tetrahydroinden- 1 -yl)silane, dimethyibis(fluoren- 1 -yi)silane,

dimemylbis(tetrahydrofluoi'en-l~yl)silane _s diineihylbts(2-nTeihyl~4~phetiy!inden~l-y!)- siiarre, dimethyibis(2-methylmden- 1 ~yl)silane, dimethyI(cyclopentadienyl)(ilxjoren- 1 - yl)si!ane, dime∞yl(cyclorjentadienylXoctaliydrofluoren~l-yl)silane,

dtmethy!(cycloperitadteny1)(tetrahydrof[Boren-l-yl)silane , (3 , I , 2, 2-tetramethy)-i, 2- bis(cyclopentadienyl)disi lane, ( 1 , 2-bis(cyclopentadienyl)ethane, and

dimethyi{cyclope.ntadienyi)-i-(fluoren-1 -yl)metIiafte.

[0077} Suitable X" groups are selected from hydride, h drocarb l, silyl, germyl, halohydroearhyl, halosiiyl, silyihydrocarbyl and aminohydrocarbyl groups, or two X" groups together form a divalent, derivative of a conjugated dtene or else together they form a neutral, π-bonded, conjugated diene. Exemplary X" groups are C.l-20

hydrocarbyl groups.

{0078} Examples of metal complexes of the foregoing formula suitable for use in the present disclosure include:

bis(cy lopentadienyl)zirconiumdimethy1,

b is(c ycl opentadi en yl)z ircom ura dibenzy i , bis(cyciopentadieijyi)zirconium methyl benzyl

bis(c clopeo{:ad!en i)z.irconiiioi methyl phenyl,

bis(cyclopentadienyi)z.irconiuxndiphenyi,

bis(cycIopentadienyl)titanium-a yl ₅

bis(cyclopeniad½»y!)zirconiuniniethyiniethoxide,

bis{cycJopentadieny!)zircomiKmnethylchioride,

b!s(petttaiBethylcyclopentadienyl)zirconmmdii«ethyi _>

bisCpentamethylcyclopentadienylHitaniumdiinethyl,

bis(Hideiiyl)zi.rconiumdimethyl _>

indenyiflirorenylzifcoiiiiimdimethyi.

bi s(i .iideny !)zircoji i ummethy l(2-(dime ^' thyiam.ino)beiizyl) _J

Ws(indOTyi)zifconiammethyltrimethy1silyl,

bis(tetrahydromdenyi)zirconiummt^y!trimethylsilyi,

bisCpentamethylcyclopeatadieny zirconiumiBethylbeiizyl,

bisCpentaraethylcycIopeniadieny^zirconmmdibenzyi,,

bis(pentaniefhylcyclopentadienyl)ziicom«mmethylchlonde, bis(raethyletiiylcycJopentadienyl)zijrconi«radimetliyl,

bisCbutylcycIopemadieny^zirconiumdibenzyl,

bis(t-butylcyclopeniadjenyl)zirconiumdimeihyl,

bisCethyiteti-araethylcyclopentadieny zirconiumdimethyl,

bis(raethylpropyicyclopentadienyl)zircomiiradibenzy1,

bis(trimethylsilykyclopefttadienyl)zircoo

dimethylsilylbisCcyclopentadieny^zircOniumdichloride,

diraethyl.silylbis(cyclop^ntadienyl)ziiOomumdim.eChyl _>

diraethylsilyibi tetrametibyicyclopentadienyl)fitamum (01) allyl dimet:hy siiyibis(^

dimethylsilylbisfn-biitylcycfo^

(dimethylsilylbis(tetramethylcyclopentadieijyl)titamum(HI) 2-

(dimethyiammo)benzyl,

(dimeAyisilyIbis(n-butylcyclopentad.ienyI)titatii«m(IH) 2-

{dtmetliy1amino)be«zyl, dimetbylsilylbis(indenyl)zirconiumdichloride, dimetiiylsilylbisfindenyl)¾irconiimidimethyL

diraethyl.silylbis(2-methylindenyJ)?ircaniiimdimeihyl,

diraethylsilylb^2-methyi-4-phenylmdeny!)zirconiumdiraeti3yi,

dimethyisiiylbis(2-methylindenyi)x.ircotti m- 1 ,4-diphenyi- .1 ,3-butadiene, dimetbylsilyibis(2-methyl^phenylmdenyl)2ircojftiutti (ΪΪ) 1 ,4~diphenyl~ 1 ,3 ~ butadiene,

dimethylsilyibis(4,5,6,7 etrah^

dtmethylsilylbis(tetrahydromden> )zirconium(II) 1 ,4-diphenyl-i ,3-butadiene, dimetbyisiiylbis(ietran½thyicyck petvtadieftyl)ziK;omum dimethyl,

din etliylsilylbis(f1uoreny!}zirconiiffi dimethyl ₅

diraethylsilylbisCtetrahydrofluoreny ziTComum fois( trinsetliy I sil yi },

ethyIenebis(indbiiyi)zirconiun 1ichloride ₅

t'thylenebis(indenyi}2irconiumdimethyl,

ethy!enebis(4 _> 5,6J-tetrahydroindenyl)zirconiumdichloride,

ethylenebis{4,5 ,6 ,7-tetrahydroindeiiy!)zirconiumdimethyl,

(isopropylidene)(cyclopentadienyi)ifl and dimethyisiiyl(teframetbyicyclopentedieny{)(flxjorenyI)zircor uum dimethyl

[0079 ^' j A further class of metal complexes utilized in the present disclosure corresponds to the preceding formula: or a dimer thereof, wherein M, K, X, x a»d z are as previously defined, and Z is a subsiituent of up to 50 non-hydrogen atoms that together with forms a roeta!locy e with M,

[00801 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 1.4 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 covaieatiy bonded to M.

[00811 More specifically this class of Group 4 metal complexes used according to the present invention includes "constrained geometry catalysis" corresponding to the formula:

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

] is a deloealized, -honde ligand group optionally substituted with from I to 5 R ² grou s,

R ² at each occurrence independently is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl. silyl, getrayl, cyano, halo and combinations thereof, said R ² having up to 20 non~ hydrogen atoms, or adjacent R ^z groups together form a divalent derivative (that, is, a hydrocarbadiyl, si!adtyl or gerraadtyl group) thereby forming a fused ring system,

each X is a halo, hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, hydroearbyloxy 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 I or 2;

Y is -0-, -S-, -NR\ -PR ¹ -;

and X' is SIRS, CR'¾ SiR'sSiRS, CR' ₂ €R\ CR'-CR', CRSSiKN, or GeR's, wherein

R' independently at each occurrence is hydrogen or a group selected from silyl, hydrocarbyl, hydroearbyloxy and combinations thereof, said R' having up to 30 carbon or silicon atoms,

(0082) Specific examples of the foregoing constrained geometry metal, complexes include compounds corresponding to the formula;

wherein,

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

R ⁴ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, Ar, or a group other than selected from hydrocarbyl, irihydrocarbyisiiyi, trihydroearhylgermyt halide, hydroearbyloxy, trihydrocarbyJsilox y, bi s(trih ydrocarb I si 1 yl)ammo,

di(hydrocarbyl)amino, hydrocarbadiyiamino, hydrocarbylimmo, di(hydrocarbyi)phosphino, hydrocarbadiylpfaosphino, hydroearbyisuifido, halo- substituted hydrocarbyi, bydrocarbyloxy- substttuied hydrocarbyi, trihydrocarbylsilyi- substituted hydrocarbyi, trihydrocarbylsiloxy- substituted hydrocarbyi,

bis(irihydrocati)ylsilyl.)amino- substituted hydrocarbvL di(hydrocarhyl)amino- substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyleneammo- substituted hydrocarbyi,

di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino- substituted hydrocarbyi, hydrocarbylenephosphino- substituted hydrocarbyi, or hydrocarbyi sulfide- substituted hydrocarbyi.. said R group having up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen atoms, and optionally two adjacent R ⁴ groups may be joined together forming a polycystic fused ring group;

M is titanium;

X' is SiR¾, CR , SiR ⁶ ₂ SiR¾, CR¾CR ⁶ ₂ , CR*=CR* CR* ₂ SiR ⁶ ₂ , BR ⁶ , R U or GeR ;

Y is _Q_ _? -$-, -NR ⁵ -, -PR ⁵ -; -NR ⁵ 2, or -PR ⁵ ₂ ;

R\ independently at each occurrence is hydrocarbyi, trihydrocarbylsilvi, or trihydrocarbyisi!ylhydrocarbyi, said R ⁵ having up to 20 atoms other than hydrogen, and optionally two groups or IV together with Y or Z form a ring system;

R independently at each occurrence, is hydrogen, or a member selected from hydrocarbyi, hydrocarbyi oxy, silyi, halogenated aikyi, halogenated aryl, -NR.^, and combinations thereof, said R ^<: ' having up to 20 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally, two R. ⁶ groups or R ^b together with Z forms a ring system;

Z is a neutral diene or a monodentate or po!ydentate Lewis base optionally bonded to ⁵ , R ⁶ , or X;

X Is hydrogen, a monovalent anionic !igaod 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.

[0083} Sui table examples of the foregoing metal complexes are substituted at both the 3- and 4- positions of a cyclopentadienyl or indenyl group with an Ar group.

Examples of the foregoing metal complexes include:

(3 -phenyl cyclopen tadien - 1 -yl)dimethyl(t-bur amido)s ilaneti tanium dichloride ,

(3-phenylcyelopentadien-1-yl)dim^ dimethyl, (3-phenylcyclopentadie¾-l-yi)dimet yi(i-bi« (II) 1,3* dipbeoyl-1,3- butadiene;

(3 -(pyrrol - 1 -yljcyclopeniadien- 1 -y!)dimethyl(t-butyIamido)silanetitamum dichloride,

{ 3-(pyrro!~l -yl)cyclopentadien- 1 -yi)diraethyl(t-biityiamido)siianetitaniiim dimethyl,

(3 -(pyrrol- 1 -yljcyc!opentadien- 1 -> ) ^' )diraethyl(t-biitylamido)$ilanetitanium (II) I .4- diphenyl-1 ,3-butadiene;

( -( 1 -methy lpyrrol-3-yi)cyc Jopentadien- 1 -yi)d»netbyl(tv

butyiaraido)si1anetitanium dichloride,

(3-(l-methylpyi ol-3-yr)cyclope»iadien-l-yl)diniethyi(t- buty!amido)siianetitamura dimethyl,

(3-( 1 -methy1pyrrol-3-yi)cyclopentadien- 1 -yl)dimeihy.l(i- butylamido)si1anetitamum (11) I ,4- diphenyl-ljS-butadiene;

(3,4-dipheuyIcyciopentadien- ί -yl)di.methyi(i-biiiylaiii.ido)si1anetitanium dichloride,

(3,4-diphenylcyclopentadien-1 -yl)dinietliyl(t-butyiamido)siIao titaniam dimethyl,

(3,4-diphenyIcyclopentadien- 1 -yl)dimethyI(t¾itylamido)silanetiianixjm (H) 1.3- pentadiene;

(3-(3-NV -dhTietiiyiaiiiifio)piTeo> )cyc!open^

biriy!anudo)sila«ettfa u dichloride,

(3-(3«N.N-dimethyiamim^

butyiamido)sil.anetitamum dimethyl,

(3~(3-N, ~dimethyiattMK>)ph^^

buty1a ido)silanetita ura (II) i ,4-diphenyi- 1 ,3-butadiene;

(3-(4-niethox\^henyi)-4~.methylcyc ^{^}

butylaraido)silanetitanium dichloride,

(3~(4-!i ¾hoxyphenyi)-4-pheivylcycb

butylamido)siiaftetitaniuffi dimethyl,

(3-4-methoxypheny!)^-phenylcyciopentadieii-1-yl)dimethy1(t- butyiamido)silanetitan i (11) 1 ,4-dipheii I-1 ,3-butadiene;

dichloride,

(3 -phenyl-4→nethoxyrycIopentadien- 1 -y!)dimethyl(t-butyIamido)silanetitanium dimethyl,

{ 3-phenyl-4-methoxycyciopentadien- 1 -yi)dmietltyl(t~foutyiamido)silanetitaiii«i'n (II) 1,4- diphenyl-l _s 3~butadse»e;

buiy lamido)sii aneti tan mm di ch loride,

(3-pheT.vyi-4~(N _; N-dknethyte

buty iaraido }si S aneti tan ium di methyl ,

(3~p eByl~4-( ,N~dimethylaniino)cyc!opeiitadi

buty!amido)siianetitamum (II) 3 ,4-diphenyl- 1 ,3-butadiene;

2-methyl-(3 _< 4-di(4-methy1phenyl)cycIopentadien-l-yJ)diinetljyI(t- butylamido)si1anetitamum dichloride,

2-raethyl-{3 _> 4-di(4-raethyIpheny!)cyclopentadieii- 1 -y!)ditnethy1(t- butyJamido)silanethanmi» dimethyl,

2-methy 3,4-di(4-methylphenyl)cyd^

buiylamido)si1anetilamum (11) L4-d:iphenyi-l .,3-buiadiene;

((2,3-diphefiyi ~(N,N-dm

hutylamidojs.ila.ne titanium dichloride,

^^^i beny^^Nj ^methyl mino^yclo eittadien- 1 -yl)dimetbyl(t- biriy!anudo)sila»e titanium dimethyl,

((2 ₅ 3-diphenyi 4~( ,N-dm^

buty!amido)si).an.etitan am (II) .1 ,4-diphenyl- 1 ,3 -butadiene;

(2 _J 3 _> 4-triphenyl-5-.m©thyIcyclopentadien-l-yI)dimethyI(t&g t;

buty1amido)silanetitamura dichloride,

(2 ,4 riphenyI-5-memylcycIope»iadiett-I-yI)dimeth.yl(t- butylaraido)silanetitanium dimethyl,

(2-3,4 riphenyl~5-.meihylcyclopentadieii-I-yl)dimethyl(t- butyIamido)silattetitaraum (II) 3 ,4- dipheny - i,3-butadieite;

(3-phenyl-4-methoxycyclopentadien- 1 -yl)cHmeihyl(t-butylamido)si1aneti.tani ^' um dichloride, (3-phenyl-4-meilioxycyc!opemadien-l -yl)dimefhyI(t-butylarai4o)silaneti ^' tani«m dimethyl,

(3 -phenyl-4-raethoxyryclopentadien- 1 -y!)dimethyl(t-butyIamido)silanetitanium (0) 1 ,4- diphenyl-1,3 -butadiene;

(2 -diphenyl-4-(n >utyl)cyclopen½dien-l-yi)dimediyl(t~

buty.lamido)silane&tanuun dichloride,

(2.3-dipheny!^(n-butyl)cyclopeMadie«^y1)dimetiiyl(t~

bift !amido)si.ianetitamura dimethyl.

(2 -diphenyl-4-(n-butyl)cyclopentadien-l-yl)dii¾ethyi(t- butylamido)si1a»etitamum (II) 1 ,4-diphenyl- 1 ,3-butadiene;

(2,3,4 ₅ 5-tetrapheaykycIopeHiadien-l~yl)dimediyl(t-batylamido _. )sH

dic oride,

(2 ,3 ,4,5-tetraphenyi cyciopeniadi en- 1 -yl)dimeihyl(t-botyiamido)si I aneiitanium dimethyl, a«d (2,34 _i 5 etrapheny1cyclopenmdieii-i-> )dimethyl(t- butylamido)sil.anetitanium (H) 1 ,4- diphenyl-l,3-butadiene.

j0O84| Additional examples of suitable metal complexes herein are polycyclic compl la:

where M is titanium in the -¾ +3 or - formal oxidation state;

R ⁷ independently at each occurrence is hydride, hydrocarbyl, silyL germyJ, halide, hydrocarbyioxy, hydroca.rbylsi.loxy, hydrocarbylsilylamino,

d.i(Iiydrocarbyl)amino ₃ hydrocarbyleneamino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino,

liydrocarbylene-phosphino, hydrocarbyisalfido, halo-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyloxy-substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl-substituted hydrocarbyl,

hydrocarby!siioxy-sttbstituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsilyiamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, dt(hydrocarbyl)am.ino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyleneamino- substituted hydrocarbyl; di(hydrocarhyI)phosphino-substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyleae-phosphino-subsiitttted hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbyisulfido-substituted hydrocar y!, said R' group having up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen, and optionally two or more o the foregoing groups may together form a divalent derivative;

R ⁸ is a divalent : hydrocarbylene- or substituted hydtocarbytene group forming a fused system with the remainder of the metal complex, said ^s containing from 1 to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen:

X ³ is a divalent moiety, or a moiety comprising one σ-bond and a neutral two electron pair able to form a coordinate-covalent bond to ML said X ^a comprising 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 !igand group having up to 60 atoms exclusive of the class of ligaiids that are cyclic, deiocalized, -bound ligand groups and optionally two X groups together form a divalent ligand group;

Z independently at each occurrence is a neutral ligatrag compoirad having up to 20 atoms;

X is 0, 1 or 2; and

z is zero or 1 ,

0O85 Suitable examples of such complexes are 3~pheiiyl-suhstituted s-indecenyl complexes corresponding to the formula;

2,3-dimethyl-substituted s-indecenyl complexes corresponding ^' to the formulas:

|Θ086| Additional examples of metal compiexes that are usefully employed catalysts according to the present invention include those of the formula:

j0087| Specific metal complexes include:

( 8-methy!ene- 1 jS^ihydrod beazo^ ^azulen-l-yl^N^ ^' 1 ,1- diroemy!ethy!)diraethylsilanamide titaruum (II) 1 ,4-dipheoyi- 1 ,3-butadiene,

(S-raet ylene- 1 ,8~dihydrodibeiizo[eJ?]azii!en~ 1 -y!,)-N~( 1 ,1 - dimethy!ethy!)dimethylsi laaamtde titanium (II) i ,3-pentadiene,

(8-metihyIene- 1 ^-diliydrodibeiizofeJ/ja uieii- 1 ~yl)~N-( 1,1- dimethyle hyl)dimethylsilanamide titanium (III) 2-(N,N-dimethy!araino)benzyl.

(8-raethyIene- 1 ,8~dih droclibetiz.o[t¾ h jazui en- 1 -yl )-N~( 1,1- dimeiSiy !etfayl)dimethylsi laiiamide titanium (IV) dicliiood ..

(8-methyIene- 1

dimetfaylethy!)dimethyisiianamide titanium (IV) dimethyl, (8-methy!ene- 1 ,8«dihy<frodibenzo[tf,6]azulen« i -yl)-N-( 1,1- d;me yiethyl)dimethylsilanamide titanium (IV) dibenzyl,

(8-difluororaeth.yieae-l ,8-dthydrodibenzo / azalen- 1 -yl)-N-(1 , 1- di«ietliylethyi)diffiei .vylsilananiide titanium (II) 1 ,4-diphenyi-l ,3 -butadiene,

( 8-difluorometh lene- 1 , 8-dihydrodihenzo[<?. /ijaziilen- 1 -y )-N-{ i,l- dimemy!ethy!)diraethylsilanamide titanium (II) 1,3-pentadiene,

(S-difluofomethylene-1 ,8-dihydrodibenzo^^azuien- 1 -yl)-N ^' -( 1 ,1- dimefhylethy!)dinsethylsilanamide titanium (HI) 2-(N,N-dimethyiamino)benzyi,

( 8-difl uoromethy lene- 1 , 8-di hydrodihe«zo[<?, &Jazuien~l -yi)-N~( 1. , 1 - dimetliylethyl)dimethylsilanamide titanium (IV) dichioride,

(8~difluoromeihylene-l ₅ 8-dihydrodibenzo[e, i]azu-en-l -yi)-N~(l ,1- dimeth.ylethyl)dimethylsi1anamide titanium (IV) dimethyl,

(8-di fl uoromethyiene- 1 ,8-dmydr<xlibenzo[e,#]azu!en- 1 -y l)-N-( 1 , 1 - dimethylethy!)dimethylsilanani.ide titanium (IV) dibenzy!,

(8-methyIene- 1 , ,8-dih ydrcxJibeJizo[«, A]azulen-2-yl )-N-( 1,1- dimemyiethyl)dhne y1silanamide titanium (II) 1 ,4-diphenyl-l ,3-butadiene,

(8-methylene- 1 ,8-dihydrodiben2o[ii,^3azuIen>2-yI)-lM-( 1 J - dimemylemy!)dimeihyisiianamide titanium (II) 1 ,3-pentadiene,

(8-methylene- i ,8-dihydr<xlibenzo[#,A] azulen-2-yl)- -( 1, 1- dimethy!emyl)dimetliylsilanamide titanium (iff) 2^N _J N~dimethyiamino)benzyl,

(8-raethylene- 1 _> 8-dthydfodibenzo[e 3azulen.-2-yl)- -( 1.1 - dimethylethy!)dimeihylsilanaraide titanium (IV) dichioride.

(8-methylene- 1 ₃ -dihydrodibeiizo[eJi]azuien-2-yl)- -( 1 ,1- d.imeth.y1ethyl)dimethylsilanamide titanium (IV) dimethyl,

(S-metliylene- 1 ,8~dihydrod!.berizo[£i,/?]a iuen-2-yl.}- ~( 1 ,1 - dimet1iyletbyl)dimethylsilanamide titanium (IV) dibenzyl,

( 8-difluoromethy lene- 1 , 8-dihydrodibenzo{ , .ft]azuien~2-yl)-N-( 1. , I - dimetiiylethyljdimethyisiiananiide titanium (II) i -dtphenyl-l,3-butadiene,

(8-di fluoromethylene-l, 8-dife ydrodibeozo[e ?]azu1ei)~2-y1)-N-(l _! l~ dimethylethyl)dimethy1silanamide titanium (II ) 1,3-pentadiene,

(8-difl uoromethyiene- 1 ,8-dihydrodibenzo[i?.. ?]azulen-2-yl)-N-(1 , 1 - dimethylethy!)dimethyisiianamide titanium (III) 2-(N,N-dimethyiamino)benzyl, (8-difluoromethylene- 1.S-difaydrodibenzofeJilazulen^-ylj-N-C i ,! - dimethy!ethyl)dimetb.ylsilanamide titanium (IV) dichloride,

(8-difluororaethylene- 1 ,8-{Jihydrodibenzo[e ₍ /i]azulen-2-yl)-N-(l , l- di«ietbyleth i)diffiei .vylsilananiide titanium (IV) dimethyl,

( 8-difiuoromethy lene- 1 , 8-dihydrodihenzo[<?. /?]azulen~2-y l)-N-( i,l- dimemylethy!)diraethylsilanamide titanium (IV) dibenzyl, and mixtures thereof, especially mixtures of positional isomers.

{ ^" 0088) Further illustrative examples of metal complexes for use according to the present

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

T is -MR ⁹ - or -0-;

R ⁹ is hydrocarbyl, silyl, geraiyl, dihydrocarbyiboryl, or halohydrocarbyl or up to .10 atoms not counting hydrogen;

R ^w independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, hydrocarbyl,

trihydrocarbylsilyl, trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, gerniyl, halide, hydrocarbyl oxy, hydrocarby!siioxy, hydrocarbylsilylatnino, di(hydrocarbyl)amino,

hydrocarbyleneamino, di(hydrocarbyl)phosphino,, hydrocarbylene-phosphino, hydrocarbyl sulfido, halo- substituted hydrocarbyl, bydrocarbyloxy- substituted hydrocarbyl, silyl- substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyl siloxy- substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbylsiiylamino- substituted hydrocarbyl, di(hydrocarbyl)amino- substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyleneamino-substituted hydrocarbyl, difhydrocarbyl)phosphino- substituted hydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyienephosphino- substituted hydrocarbyl, or hydrocarbyl sulfido- substituted hydrocarbyl, said R ^f "group having up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen atoms, and optionally two or more of the foregoing adjacent R ¹ groups may together form a divalent derivative thereby forming a saturated or unsaturated fused ring;

X ^s is a divalent moiety lacking in de localized π-electrons, or such a moiety comprising one σ-bond and a neutral two electron pair able to form a coordinate- covaient bond to M . said X ³ composing boron, or a member of Group 14 of tire Periodic Table of the Elements, and also comprising nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or oxvaen

X is a monovalent anionic ligand group having up to 60 atoms exclusive of the class of hgands that are cyclic ligand groups bound to M through delocalized it- e!ectrons or two X groups together are a divalent anionic ligand group;

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

x is 0, 1 , 2, or 3;

and z is 0 or 1 ,

[0089| Illustratively, T is ^ (CH;¾}, X is halo or hydrocarbyi, x is 2, X ^!i is dimethylsilane, z is 0, and R ⁱ at each occurrence is hydrogen, a hydrocarbyi, hydrocarbyloxy, dihydrocarbylamino, hydrocarbyleneaiuino, dihydrocarbylamino- substituted hydrocarbyi group, or hydrocarbylenearamo- substituted hydrocarbyi group of lip to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, and optionally two R ^lw groups may be joined together.

(0090} Illustrative metal complexes of the foregoing formula that may be employed in the practice of the present invention further include the following compounds:

2-yi)sitanetitamum (II) i,4-diphenyl-],3-butadiene,

(t-butyIamido)dimethyl-[6J]b€nzo-[4,5:2 3 ^> ](l-methyHsoi»dol)-(3H)-mdette- 2-yi }si lanetitanmm (II) 1 ,3-pentadiene,

(t-butylanudo)dimethyl- 6,7j benzo-[4 , 5:2\3'](i~methylisomdol)-{3H)-indene- 2~yl)silanetitaniura (111) 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzyl _i

(i uiyiamido}diniethyl- 6.7]benzo-{4,5:2\3^

2-yi )si.1 an eti tanium ( i V } dichl or ide,

2-yl)silanetttanium {IV) dimethyl

yl)siianeti.amum (IV) dibenzyl,

2-yI)siIanetitanium (IV) bisitrimeihylsilyl),

(cyc!ohexyfaiBido)dimethyf-[6J^

radene-2~ yl)siiane&tan.rura (CI) 1 ,4-diphenyl-l .3-btttadiene,

(cyc!ohexy m o)dimeihyl-[6J3^«zo-[4,5:2 3 ^, ](7-nietfaylisomdol)-(3H)- indene-2- yl)silanetitanium (11) 1 ,3-peniadiene,

(cycloh.ex.Ylaffiido)dimeih 1~ 6 7]beBzo-[4,5:2 ^: V

indene-2- yl)silanetita um (! if) 2-(N ₅ N-dimethylamino)benz> ^f i _: .

(cyclohexylan¾do)dinieihyl-[6,7]benzo-[4,5:2 3'j(l-metijyiisomdol)-(3H)- ftidene-2- yi)siianetitanium (IV) dicS loridt

(cyclohex ylamido)dimeihyl- [ 6,7]benzo-[4,5 ; 2 ' ,3 '] (1-meth yli soindol )~(3 H)~ mdene-2- y1)silanetitanium ( V) dimethyl,

i«de«e-2~ yl)silanetitan.iura (IV) dibenzyl,

icyc!ohexyiamido)dimethyl~[6 ]benz

mde.iie~2- yI)silanetHanium (IV) bi s{ tr i I ei hy Isi i y I ) ,

(t-batylamido)di(p-mediylpheiiyl)-[6 ]b nzo~[4,5:2 ^* -3'](I-meti>ylisoindol)- (3H)-mdene-2-yI)siIanetitanium (H) 1 ,4-diphenyl-l ,3 -butadiene,

f3H)-indene~2- yl)silanetitanium (II) 1 ,3-petitadieoe,

(t-butylamido)di(p-methylphe^

(3H)-indene-2- yi}silanetitanium (HI) 2-(N, -dimethyJamino)benzyl _}

(i:4}ui:yIamklo)di(p-m^

(3f )-Mdene-2- yf)sifanetitaaii«n (IV) dic loride,

(t4:>uLytaniido)di(p~m^^

(3H)-indene-2- yl)silanetitamum (IV) dimethyl

(i4 iUyIamido)di{p-metJiylpIienyl)-[6 _! 7]b a

(3H)-mdene-2- yl)silattetitaniui» (IV) dibenzyl,

(t-b«tyIamido)di(p-methyiphenyI)- 6,7Jben2o-[4,5:2\3 ^> 3{l-methyIisoindoi)- (3H Hndene-2-y!)silanetitanium (IV) bisitrimethylsilyl), (cyclohexylamido)di{p-methyiphenyi)- 6,7] enzo-[4,5:2 ⁵ _> 3'j(l- raethyiisomdol)~(3H) ndene>2- yl)sila»etitamum (II) 1 ,4-diphenyI- 1 ,3-butadiene,

(cyc!ohexylamido)di<p-methyiph«iyl)-[6 _> 7]benzo-[4 _> 5:2',3 ^, ]{I- me{:hylisoiodoi)~( 3 H)~indene~2~y !)si Saweti tanium (II) 1 ,3-pentadiene,

(cyc!ohexylat ^, nido)di{p-'methyIphenyi)~[6 _} 7)benzo~[4 _} 5 :2 ',3 '](!- raethyliso ado ^HHndene^-ylisil netitaniijra (III) 2-(H,N-"dimethyiamino)benzy1,

(cyc!ohexy m o)di(p-meti ^' 5ylpheoyl)-[6 _> 7]benzo-[4 _> 5:2 ^, ,3'](I->

methyJtso.indol)-(3H)-indene-2-yl)silaiietitanium (IV) dichloride,

(c cJohe l midoid^ -nieth iphenyl^^JJbenzo-HjS^'^'jCi- metliy!isoiiidoS)-(3H)-iiidene-2-y!}sila etitanhffi (IV) dimethyl,

(cyclohexylan¾do)di(p-metiiylpbetiyl)-[6,7] enzo-[4,5:2',3'J(i- methyiisoindol)-(3H)-iiidene-2- yl)silanetitanium (IV) dibenzyl and

(cyc1ohexylamido)di(p-methylphenyJ)- 6,7]benzo- 4,5 :2 ',3 '](!- memy]isoiodol)-(3HH»dene-2-y1)sila«etttanium (iV) bis(triroeihylsHy!).

|0O9JJ Illustrative Group 4 metal complexes that may be employed in the practice of the present disclosure further include:

(ten-burylamidoX 1 ,1 -dimethyl -2,3,4,9, 10-η- i ,4,5,6,7,8- hexahydronaphttmlenyl ^' )diniethylsilanetitaniw jditnetliyl

(tert-butylamidoX? , 1 ,2.3-tetramethyl-2,3 A9, 10-η- 1 ,4,5,6,7,8- bexaliydronaphthalenyl)dimetbylsilanetttaniumdimethyl,

(ien-butylanMdo)(tetra«iethyl-† -cyc!opentad.ietryl) dimethylsilanetitaniurn dibenzyl,

(tert-butylamido ){ ^' tetramethyl ~ -cyciopentadien:yl)dimethy iiaiieti.taniui¾ dimethyl.

(tert~butyiamido)(tetran.ieiliy]^^-cyclo

dimethyl,

dimethyl, (tert-butyiamidoXtetrameray1^ ⁵ -cydopentadienyl)dimethy ilane titanium (ill) 2~(dimethylamino)benzyl;

(tert-butylat do)( ^' tetramethyl^ (ill) ally ^' s. (tert-butyiamicloX^ (III) 2,4-dimethylpentadienyl,

(ten-butyla ido)(tetramethy

1 ,4-dipli ny!-i ^-butadiene,

1.3-peniadiene,

(tert-butylai¾ido)(2~m ihyiindenyl jdimeihyisiiaiietitaoium (II) 1 ,4-diphenyl- 1 ,3- butadiene,

(teri~butylaraidoX2-metbylmdeByI)d»nethyIsnatietiianium (II) 2,4-hexadiene, (tert-butyiamidoX2-methyli«deiiyl)dimethy1sHanetitani«m (IV) 2,3-dimethyl- 1,3- butadiene,

(ten-b ^' utylamidoX2-metbylindenyl)dimethyIsiIanetitanim (IV) isoprene., (tert-biityIamidoX2-methy!mdenyI)dimethyisiiant itanium (IV) 1,3 -butadiene, (ieit-butyiara do)(2 _; 3-di.raeihylmdeny!)di (IV) 2,3- dimethyl- ί ,3-butadieiie,

(tert~buiyiamido}(23~d½ (IV) isoprene,

(tett-biUySamid.o)(2 ~di (IV) dimethyl,

(tert-butylamidoX2 _> 3-dimethyl ^ (IV) dibenzyi,

(tert-butylamidoX2,3-du iethylindenyl)dimethylsilanetitaniui« (IV) 1,3- butadiene,

(tert-butyiainido)(2 _f 3-dimethylm^ (11) 1 ,3- pentadiene,

(tert«butylamido)(2 _s 3-dimethylm^^ (II) 3 , 4-ds phenyl- .3-butadieiie.

(lert~buty!amidoX2~methyLmde^^ (H) 1 ,3~pentadiene.,

(ten-b«tylamid X2-methyltndenyl)dimelylsHaiietitaniian (IV) dimethyl, (teri~butylamidoX2-metbyIi»de«yl)dimethyIsiIanetitamum ( V) dibenzyl, (tert }ut}lamido}(2-m (II) 1 ,4- diphenyi- ,3-bu.tadiene.

peiitadiente, (tert-butylamido)(2-methyl-4-ph^ (II) 2,4- bexadiene,

(ten-b«tylamid Xtetraraethyl^ ⁵ -cycIopentadienyl)dimetbyl- silanetitansum (IV) 1 ,3 -butadiene,

(tert-butylamido)(ted:ame&yl^ (IV) 2.3 -dimethyl- 1 ,3 -butadiene,

isoprene,

(teri-butylaraidoXtetrametibyI^ ^¾ -cyclopewtadie«yI)dimethyt- silanetUanium (If.)

1 ,4-dibenzyl- 1 ,3 -butadiene,

2,4-hexadiene,

3- methyi - 1 ,3-pentadiene,

(iert.-butylamido)(2,4-di ethylpe^

(tert-butylai ^' nidoX6.6- dime*hy1cyciohexadienyI)dimethy^

(tert-butylamidoX I ,l-dsmethyl-2,3, 4,9,10-η~1, 4,5,6.7,8-hexahydronapbthaien-

4- ylJdimethyisilanetitaiiiuffldiiBethyl,

(tert-butyf am kk>}( 1 ,1 ,2 ,3 -tetramethyi-2 , ,4,9, 10- 1 ~ 1 ,4,5,6,7.8- bexabydroftaphtliaien-4- yl)dimethylsi1a«etitaniumdimeihyl,

(tett-butylamidoXtetTamethyI«n ⁵ -cycIopentadienyl methylphenylsilanetitanium (IV) dimethyl,

(tert-b tyfamidoXte(rainethy]-^ yc1opentadienyl ffiethylphenylsiJanetitanium (II) 1 ,4-diphenyI- 1 ,3-butadiene,

dimethyl, and

l-(tert4xrtyiamido)-2-(^ (II) L4~d.ipheiiyl-i,3-butadiene.

(00 1 Other delocalized, π-bonded complexes, especially those coata iing other Group 4 metals, will, of course, be apparent to those skilied in the art, and are disclosed among other places in: WO 03/78480, WO 03/78483, WO 02 92610, WO 02/02577, US 2003/0004286 and US Patents 6,515,155, ,555,634, ,150,297, 6,034,022, 6,268,444, 6,015,868, 5,866,704, and 5,470,993.

[0093 j Additional examples of metal complexes that are usefully employed as catalysis are complexes o polyvalent Lewis bases, such as compounds corresponding to the formula:

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

X and Y" are each Independently selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus; more preferably both X ^b and Y* are nitrogen,

and ^i,! independently each occurrence are hydrogen or Ci o hydrocarhyl groups optionally containing one or more heteroatoms or inertly substituted derivative thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable R and *" groups include alkyl, alkenyl, aryi, aralkyl, (poly)alkylaryl and cycloalkyl groups, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen and haloge substituted derivatives thereof. Specific examples of suitable Rb and Rb' groups include methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, oeiyl, phenyl, 2,6-climethylphenyl, 2,6-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 2,4,6-trimetliylphenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5- trifluorometh I pheny ! , and benzyl;

g and g ⁵ are each independently 0 or 1 ;

M is a metallic element selected from Groups 3 to 15, or the Latithamde series of the Periodic Fable of the Elements. Preferably; M ⁱ is a Group 3-13 metal, more preferably M ^l> is a Group 4-10 metal:

L ^b is a monovalent, divalent, or trivalent anionic Sigaad containing from I to 50 atoms, not counting hydrogen. Examples of suitable L ^b groups include haltde; hydride; hydroearbyl, hydrocarbyloxy; di(hydrc arbyi)amido, hydrocarbyleneanwdo,

di(hydrocarbyl)phosphido; hydrocarhyisulfido; hydrocarbyloxy,

tri(hydrocarbylsiiyl)a!ky!; and carboxylates. More preferred L ^Sl groups are CI -20 alkyl, C7-20 aralkyi, 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 x j selected to provide charge balance;

Z ^h is a neutral ligand group coordinated to M ^b , and containing up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen. Preferred Z groups include aliphatic and aromatic amines, phosphines, and ethers, alkenes, alkadienes, and inertly substituted derivatives thereof. Suitable inert substituents include halogen, aSkoxy, aryloxy, alkoxycar onyl, aryloxycarbonyl. di(hydrocarbyi)arnine, tri(hydrocarbyl)silyl, and nitriie groups.

Preferred Z ^b groups include triphenylphosp iite, teirahydrofuraii, pyridine, and 1 ,4- dipheiiySbutadiene;

f is an integer from I to 3;

two or three of T'\ R ^(> and R ^b! may be joined together to form a single or multiple ring structure;

h is an integer from I to 6, preferably from 1 to 4, more preferably from 1 to 3; indicates any form of electronic interaction, especially coordinate or covaient bonds, including multiple bonds, arrows signify coordinate bonds, and dotted lines indicate optional double bonds,

(β0 4| In one embodiment, it is preferred that R ^b have relatively low sieric hindrance with respect to X ^L \ In this embodiment, most preferred R ^¾ groups are straight chain alkyl groups, straight chain alkenyl groups, branched chain alkyl groups wherein the closest branching point is at least 3 atoms removed rom X ^¾ , and halo,

dihydrocarbylamino, alkoxy or trihydrocarbylsilyl substituted derivatives thereof. Highly preferred R ^b groups in this embodiment are Ci-8 straight chain alky! groups. |¾095] At the same time, in this embodiment R ^b> preferably has relatively high sterie hindrance with respect to Y ^b . Non-limiting examples of suitable R ^b ' groups for this embodiment include alky! or alkenyl groups containing one or more secondary or tertiary carbon centers, cycfoa!kyl, aryl, aikaryi, aliphatic or aromatic heterocyclic groups, organic or inorganic oHgomeric, 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 groups are structures corresponding to the foil owin i n nit las :

wherein

Each R ^<! is CM -10 hydrocarbyl group, preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i- propyf t-butyl, phenyl, 2,6-dimethyl henyl, benzyl, or to!yl. Each R ^e is CI -10 hydrocarbyl preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i>propyl, t-butyl, phenyl, 2,6- dtmethy!pheny!, benzyl, or tolyl in addition, two or more R ^d or groups., or mixtures of Rd and Re groups may together form a polyvalent derivati ve of a hydrocarbyl group, such as, 1,4-butylene, 1 ,5-pentylene, or a multicyclic, fused ring, polyvalent hydrocarbyl- or heterohycirocarbyl- group, such as naphthalene-!, 8~diyt

00 6| Suitable examples of the foregoing polyvalent Lewis base complexes include:

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

d ^' is 4;

M ^b Is a Group 4 meiaL preferably titanium or hafnium, or a Group 10 metal, preferably Ni or Pd L ^h is a monovalent ligand of up to SO atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably halide or hydrocarbyl, or two L ^!l groups together are a divalent or neutral ligand group, preferably a C2.50 hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or diene group.

[0097] The polyvalent Lewis base complexes for use in the present invention especially include Group 4 metal derivatives, especially hafnium derivatives of hydrocarbylatnine substituted heteroaryl compounds corresponding to the formula.

wherein:

R ^u is selected from a!kyl, cycSoaSkyl, heteroaikyL cycioheteroalkyi, aryl, and inertly substituted derivatives thereof containing fr m 1 to 30 atoms not counting hydrogen or a divalent derivative thereof;

T ⁵ is 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- C - 20 hydrocarby! substituted methylene or si lane group; and

R ¹² is a Cs-jo heteroaryl group containing Lewis base functionality, especially a pyridin-2-yl- or substituted pyridin~2-yl group or a divalent derivative thereof;

M ^l is a Group 4 metal, preferably hafnium;

X' is an anionic, neutral or dianionic ligand group;

x' is a number from 0 to 5 indicating the number of such X ¹ groups; and bonds, optional bonds and electron donati e interactions are represented by lines, dotted lines and arrows respectively.

[9098) Suitable complexes are those wherein ligand formation results from hydrogen elimination from the amine group and optionally from the ioss of one or more additional groups, especially from R ¹² In addition, electron donatio from the Lewis base functionality, preferably an electron pair, provides additional stability to the metal center. Suitable metal complexes correspond to the formula:

wherein Μ', X x' _f R ^{! l} and Ί ¹ are as previously defined,

' - _s R ^S4 , R ^1" and ^!(, are hydrogen, halo, or an alkyl, cyeioalkyl, heteroalkyl, heterocycloalkyi, aryl, or sO f group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or adjacent R ¹³ ., R ^l4 , R or R ¹⁶ groups may be joined together thereb forming fused ring derivatives, and bonds, optional, bonds and electron pair donative interactions are represented by lines, doited lines and arrows respectively. Suitable examples of the foregoing metal com lexes correspond to the formula:

wherein

M ^l , X ^s , and ' are as previously defined,

R , ^H , . ¹⁵ and R ^Ul are as previously defined, preferably R ^L \ R ^!4 , and R ^{s >} are hydrogen, or CI -4 alkyl, and R ^½ is Q _> -20 aryl, most preferably naphthaleny I;

R ^a independently at each occurrence is Cj-4 alkyl, and a is 1-5, most preferably R*in two ortho- positions to the nitrogen is isopropyi or t-btrtyl;

R ^i? and R independently at each occurrence are hydrogen, halogen, or a Ci-so alkyl or aryl group, most preferably one ofR ⁷ and R ^5s is hydrogen and the other is a €6-20 aryl group, especially 2 -isopropyi, phenyl or a fused polycyelic aryl group, most preferably an antluacenyl group, and bonds, optional bonds and electron pair donative interactions are represented by lines, dotted lines and arrows respectively,

[0099} Exemplary metal complexes for use herein as catalysts correspond to the formula;

wherein X ¹ at each occurrence is halide, Ν,Ν-dimethy!aratdo, or Ci-4 alkyl, and preferably at each occurrence X ¹ is methyl;

R ¹ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, CI -20 alkyl, or C ~

20 aryl, or two adjacent R ^} groups are joined together thereby forming a ring, and f is I -

5; and

R independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, Ct.20 alkyl, or Qwo aryl or two adjacent R ^c groups are joined together thereby forming a- ring, and c is 1 -5 00100] Suitable examples of metal complexes for use as catalysts accor ding to the present inv ntion are complexes of the following formulas:

wherein R ^x is Ci-4 alkyl or cycloa!kyL, preferably methyl, isopropyi, f-but l or cycJohexyJ; and

X ¹ at each occurrence is ha!ide, Ν,Ν-dimeihyiamido, or C I -4 alkyl, preferably methyl.

[00101] Examples of metal complexes usefully employed as catalysis according to the present invention include: N-{2,6-di(l- ethyie^

2- diyi)memane)]hafnium dimethyl;

[H-(2,6-di(I-raeihyletbyS)p¾e:nyl)anr

2- diyl)raethane)jhat ura di(N,N-dimethylam.ido);

~(2,6~di(l-methyle^

2~ diyl)methane)]hafniuni dichloride;

[N-(2 ₅ 6-di(l-meihyleth l)piienyl)am

diyl(6-pyridia-2-diyl)methane)3 hafni um dimethyl;

-(2,6-d.i(l-tneih)½i .ryl)p eivyl)arHido

diyl(6-pyridin-2-diyl)meth8ne)] afniuiB di(N _s N -dimethylamido)

[N-(2,6-di(J-meAylethyl)phenyI)amido)(2 8opropylpheny )(a'-tiaphthalen-2- diyl{6-pyridin-2-diyi)metharie)]hafnium dichloride;

[N~(2/>-di(l-memylemyl)ph

diyl(6-pyridin-2-d.iyl)met aoe)]hafiiium dimethyl;

[N-(2 _; 6-di(l~metliylemyl^

diyl{6'pyridio-2-diyl _. )i»etbane)]hafhium di{N,N-diniethyiamido); and

[N-(2 _s 6-di(i-nieihylethyS^

diyl(6-pyriditt-2-diyl)met ane)3bafn.iun\ dichioride.

[001§2| Under the reaction conditions used to prepare the metal complexes used in the present disclosure, the hydrogen of the 2-position of the a-naphtha!ene group substituted at the 6-positio.n of the pyrid.irt-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 - naphthaienyi group, as well as stabilized by coordination to the pyridinyl nitrogen atom through the electron pair of the nitrogen atom,

[00103] Additional suitable metal complexes of polyvalent Lewis bases for use herein include com ounds corresponding to the formula:

, wherein; ²⁰ is an aromatic or inertly substituted aromatic group containing from 5 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or a polyvalent derivative thereof;

T ³ is a hydrocarbylene or hydrocarbyi si lane group having from 1 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof;

IVP is a Group 4 metal, preferably zirconium, or hafnium;

G is an anionic, neutral or dianiome ligatid group; preferably a halide, hydrocarbyi, silane, trihydrocarbylsilyihydrocarbyl, rrihydrocarbylsilyh 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. (00104] complexes correspond to the formula:

wherein:

* is a divalent bridging group of from 2 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably a substituted or imsubsiituted, C3-6 alkylene group;

and Ar independently at each occurrence is an aryiene or an aikyl- or ar l- substituted aryiene group of from 6 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;

M* is a Group 4 metal, preferably hafrimm or zirconium;

G independently at each occurrence is an anionic, neutral or dianionic ligaad group;

g is a number from 1 to 5 indicating the number of such X groups; and electron donative interactions are represented by arrows,

(00105] Suitable examples of metal complexes of foregoing formula inc lude the foil owing compounds

where M* is Hf or Zr,

Ar ⁴ is C«o aryl or inertly substituted derivatives thereof, especially 3,5- di(isopropyi)pheriyl , 3 , 5-di(isobatyI)phen yl , di enzo-I H-pyrro!e- 1 -yl , OF anthracen-5- yl, and

T ⁴ independently at each occurrence comprises a Gw, alkylene group, a Cs- cyeloalkylene group, or an inertly substituted deri vative thereof;

R. ²¹ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, or trihydrocarbyisilylhydrocarbyl 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, o 2 G groups together are a divalent derivative of the foregoing hydrocarbyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl groups,

{ ^" 00106] Suitable compounds are compounds of the formulas:

wherein. Ar is 3,5-di(isopropyl)phenyl, 3 ₅ 5-di(isobutyi)pljeijyl ₅ dihenzo H~ pyrrole- 1 -yl, or arrfhracen~5~yS,

R ²¹ is hydrogen, halo, or Cl -4 alkyi. especially metliyl

Ύ ⁴ is propan-!,3~diyi or buian~i,4-diyi, and

G is chloro, methyl or benzyl.

j 0H)7J An exemplary metal complex of the foregoing formula is:

{ ^" 00108] Suitable metal complexes for use according to die present disclosure further include compounds correspondin to the formoia:

„ where:

is zirco imi or haf iim; ²⁰ independently at each occurrence is a- divalent aromatic or inertly substituted aromatic group containing from 5 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;

T ³ is a divalent hydrocarbon or si lane group having from 3 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof; and

R ^l> independently at each occurrence is a monovalent Iigand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen, or two R ^D groups together are a divalent Iigand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen.

{ ^" 00109] Such complexes may correspond to the formula:

, wherein:

Ar ² iiidependemiy at each occurrence is an arylene or art alkyl-, aryk aikoxy- or amino- substituted arylene group of from 6 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen or any atoms of an y subsiituen t;

T ³ is a divalent hydrocarbon bridging group of from 3 t 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, preferably a divalent substituted or lur iibstiiiiied C3 aliphatic,

cyeloaliphatic, or bis{alky!ene)- substituted cycloaliphatk group having at least 3 carbon atoms separating oxygen atoms; and

R° independently at each occurrence is a monovalent Iigand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen, or two R ^D groups together are a divalent Iigand group of from 1 to 40 atoms, not counting hydrogen.

jOQiltij Further examples of metal complexes suitable for use herein include compounds of the formula-.

derivatives thereof, especially 3,5-di(isopropyi)phenyL 3,5-di(isobutyl)phetiyI, dibenzo- 1 H -pyrrole- 1 -yl, naphthyi, anihracen-5-yl ., 1 ,2,3,4,6,7, 8,9-octahydroanthracen-5-yl;

T ⁴ independently at each occurrence is a propylene- 1 ,3-diyl group, a

b.is(alky1ene)cyelohexan-l ,2~diyl group, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof substituted with from 1 to 5 a ky , aryl or aralkyt substituents having up to 20 carbons each;

R ^2{ Independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl,

txihydrocarbyisilyl, trihydrocarbylsilylhydrocarbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen; and

R ^D , in.depen.de.ntiy at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or

trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R ^D groups together are a divalent hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen.

jOOi 11 J Exem lary metal complexes are compounds of the formula:

where, Ar \ independently at each occurrence, is 3,5-di(isopropyi)phenyL 3,5- di(isobutyl)phenyl, dibenzo-l -pyrroie-l- i, or anthracen-5-yi.,

R ²¹ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyi, trihydrocarby!silyl, trihydroiarbylsiiylhydrocarbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen;

T ⁴ is propan-1 ,3-di l or bis(njethylene)cyclohexan-"l ,2>diy1; and

R ^D , .independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyi or

trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R° groups together are a hydrocarbyi ene, hydrocarbadiyl or hydrocarbylsilanediyl group of u to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen.

00 ^' 11 ) Suitable .metal complexes according to the present disclosure correspond to the formulas:

wherein, ° independen ly at each occurrence is chioro, methyl or benzyl.

[001131 Specific examples of suitable metal complexes are the following compounds:

A) bis(i2~oxoyl-3^l,2 A6J,8,9<K;tahy

phenaxy)- 1 ,3-propanediylhamnun (IV) dimethyl,

bis((2H3xoyi -3^1 ,2,3,4^ phenoxy }- 1 ,3-propanediylhafniurn (IV) dichloride,

h.is((2-oxoyl~3~( 1 ,2,3,4,6 ,8 _> 9^ctahydroanthracen-5-yI)-5-(iiieihyl)p et\yI)-2- phenoxy)- 1 ,3-propanediylhaSmim (IV) dibenzyl,

bis((2-oxoyl.-3~(dibenzo 1 H-pyrrole- .1 -yl)~5^ ethyl)phenyl)-2-phe»oxy)-.l ,3- propaaediyBiafiiium (IV) dimethyl,

his((2-oxoyl~3~{dibeim> Π

propaaediylhafniuiB ( IV) dichloride,

bis((2-oxoy I -3 -(dtbeozo- 1 H -pyrrole- 1 -yl)-5 -(methyl Jpherryl )-2-phenox }~ 1 ,3 - propanediylhamium (IV) dibenzyl,

B) bis((2~oxoyl-3-( 1 ,2 ,3 ^.e^jS. - ct b droanthracen-S-y -S-i ^' methy^ h n l^- phenoxymethyl)- 1 ,4-butaiiediylhafhium (IV) dimethyl,

bis((2~ox.oyl-3-(1 , 2,3,4,6, 7,8,9-oc^

phenoxymethyi)-L.4-biitanediylliafiiitu¾ { IV) dichloride,

his((2-oxoyl~3~( l ,2,3,4,6,7,8,9-ocia^^

phenoxy nediy -l^butaaediyBiafhiura (IV) dibenzyl,

bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo- 1 H-pyrrole- i -yl)-5-(methyl¾>heny1)-2-phenoxymethyl)- 1 ,4- butaniediylhafnium (IV) dimethyl,

bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo- 1 H-pyrrole- 1 -yl)-5-(methy{)phenyI)-2~phenoxymethyl)~ i ,4- h utan ed iy lhaf hi um (I V) di eh ior i de ,

b.is((2-oxoyl-3-(dtbenzo- !H-pyrrole- 1 -yl)-5-(mediyl)pbenyl>-2-phenoxymethyl )- 1 ,4- birianediylhaforum (IV) dibenzyl,

C) bis((2-oxoy!-3-{ l _! 2,: _; 4 _J 6J _J 9-octahydroa hracen-5-y^

phenox )-2,4-pentan.ediylhafiiium ( I V) dimethyl,

bis((2~oxoyl-3-( 1 ^^^^JjS^-octabydroantbracer -S-yl S-^iethy hen l)^- phenoxy)-2,4-penta»ediylhafniam (IV) dichloride,

bis((2-oxoyl-3^1,2 ,4,6,7 _> 9-octahydroanthrami-5-yl)-5-(TOetbyl)pheiiy!)-2- phenoxy)-2,4-pentanediylhatnrurn (IV) dibenzyl,

bIs((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo- 1 H-pyrrole- 1 -yl)-5-(mediyl)phenyl)-2-phenoxy)-2,4- pentanediylhat um (IV) dimethyl,

bis((2-oxoyl-3-(dibenzo-1 H-pyrrole- 1 -yl)-5-(methyI)phen>4)-2-phetioxy)-2,4- pentanediylhafnium (TV) dichloride,

hisC(2-oxoyI~3~(dib6nzo~ii:I~py^^^ ^{^}

pentanediylhafnium (IV) dibenzyl

phenoxymethyl)~raethyIenetrans- 1 ,2-cycIohexanediyIhafiiiura (IV) dimethyl,

b.is((2-oxoyl~3-( 1 ,2,3,4,6 J,8 _s 9-octahydi ^' oaiithracen-5-yl)-5~(nieihyl)phenyl)-2~ phenoxymethyl)-methylenetrans- 1 ,2-cyclohexanediyihaihium (IV) dichloride, bis((2~oxoyl-3^1 ,2 A6,7,^ _^

phenoxymeth i)-raethylenetrans- 1.2 yclohexanediyIhafhium (IV) dibenzyl, b.is((2-0 ^' xoyl~3-(djbenzo-l Ji~pyrroie~l-yl)-5-(methyI)pheiiyl)~2~pher.oxymet yi)~ methylenetrans- 1 ,2-cyclohexanediyUiafnium (IV) dimethyl,

bis((2-oxoyl -3 -(dibenzo- 1 H -pyrrole- 1 -yl)-5 -(methyl )phenyl )-2-phenox ymethyl)- methylenetrans-1 ,2-cyclohexaned.iyIhaihium (IV) dichloride, and

bis((2 >xoyI-3^dibenzo-IH-pyrrole^^

methylenetrans- 1 ,2-cyclohexanediyihafnium (IV) dibenzyl,

jOO ^' l 14] 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 USP 6,827,976 and US2004/0010103, and elsewhere,

[00115] The metal complex is activated to form the active catalyst composition by combination with the cocataiyst. The activation may occur prior to addition of the catalyst composition to the reac tor with or without the presence of other components of the reaction mixture, or in situ through separate addition of the metal complex and activating cocataiyst to the reactor.

00116] 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 poiyfunctiojial ligand source, in addition, the complexes may also be prepared by means of an amide elimination and hydroearhylation process starting from the corresponding Group 4 metal tetraamide and a hydrocarbylating agent, such as trimethylaiuminum. Other techniques may be used as well. These complexes are known from the disclosures of, among others, US patents 6,320,005, 6,1.03,657, WO 02/38628, WO 03/40195, and US 04/0220050.

(00 17} 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 el imination and chai n termination of growing polymer, or other process. Th 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, resulti ng .in the formation of long chain branches, that i s, 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, dependin on the comonomer composition of the reaction mixture. Long chain branching of olefin polymers is further described in USP's 5,272,236, 5,278,272, and 5,665,800.

jOO ^' l 18] Alternatively, branching, including h per-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, Mot. Catal . A : Chemical 102 (1995) 59-65; Zamheili et al., Macromolecoles. 1988, 21 , 617- 622; or Dias, et al, 1 o.L Catal. A : Chemical . 185 (2002) 57-64 may be used to prepare branched copolymers from single monomers, including ethylene. Higher transition metal catalysts, especially nickel and palladium catalysts are also known to lead to hyper- branched polymers (the branches of which are also branched) as disclosed in

Brookhart, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc , 1995, 1 17, 64145- 6415.

[00119 In one embodiment of the invention, the presence of such branching ( long chain branching, ! ,3 -addition, or hyper-branching) i the polymers of the in ventio can be confined to only the blocks or segments resulting front activity of the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A). Accordingly, in one embodiment of the disclosure a multi-block copolymer containing blocks or segments differing in the presence of such branching in combination with other segments or blocks substantially lacking such branching (especially high density or highly crystalline polymer blocks), can be produced from a single monomer containing reaction mixture, that is, without the addition of a deliberately added comonorner. Highly preferably , in a specific embodiment of the disc losure, a multi-block copolymer comprising alternating imbranched, ethylene homopolymer segments and branched polyethylene segments, especially ethylene/propylene copolymer segments, may be prepared from an initial reaction mixture consisting essentially of ethylene as the addi tion poiymerizabie monomer. The presence of such branching in the multi-block copolymers of the invention can be detected by certain physical properties of the resulting copolymers, such as reduced surface imperfections during melt extrusion (reduced melt .fracture), reduced glass transition temperature, Tg, for the amorphous segments compared to a non-branched polymer segment, and/or the presence of 1 ,3 -addition sequences or hyper-branching as detected by NMR techniques. The quantity of the foregoing types of branching present in the polymers of the invention (as a portion of the blocks or segments containing the same), is normally in the range from 0.01 to 10 branches per 1 ,000 carbons.

[ΟΘ12β| Exemplary procatalysts that fall within the scope of the first olefin polymerization procataSyst (A) of the present disclosure include but are no limited to Procatalysts (A1)-(A7), as listed below.

{00121 J Procata!yst (A 1 ): fN-(2,6-di( 1 -methy!ethyl)phenyl)amido)(2- dimethyl] prepared according to the teachings of WO 03/40195 and WO 04/24740 as well as methods known in the art.

10012 1 Procatalyst (A2) ; (EH(2,6-diisopropylp1ienyl)(2-methyl -3>

(oc{yiimino)butanr2-y!.)ami»o)ftt:imethyl haMum prepared according to methods known k the art.

(A2)

[00123] Procatalyst (A3): [[2\2 " 1 ,2 ycIohexa»ediylbis(me ie»eoxy-

KO)]bisf 3-(9H-carba ol-9-yl)-5- ½thyS[1 ,1 '-biphenyl]-2-oiato- O]](2-)]dimethyI known in the art.

[0012 1 Procatalyst (A4): [[ό',6' _} 4~buian^diy!bis(oxy~KO)3bis[3K9H-carbazol- 9-y!)-3'-fluoro-5-melhyl- l ,1 '-bipheriylj-2-oIato- O]]i2-)|-dinietbyi hafnium prepared according to methods know in the art.

[00125[ Procatalyst (AS): [[6 ⁵ ,6' ' '-[ 1 _? 4-bamiiedi 1bis(oxy- O)3bis[3-(9H-carba2ol- 9-yi)-3 '-f1uoro-5-octyl-[ 1 , 1 '-bipiienyi]-2-oiaio- O]](2-)]-dimethyi feafnitini prepared according to methods known in the art .

|0O126| Procatalyst (AS): [[6' ,6 '"-[J ,4-btitanediylbis(oxy-icO)]bis[3-{ ^' 9H-carfaa2ol-

9~ylKV-iluoro~5~{ ^

hafnum prepared according to methods known in the art.

00127 j Procatalyst (A7): ( (6E)^Butylimmo- N)-l-c'clohexen-i-yi)-2 ₎ 6-bis(l- tneth>ethyl)l^n^ minato- N)trimethyl-ha um re are according to the

well as methods known in the art.

Second Olefin Polymerization Catalyst (B)

[00128 J The second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B) of the present disclosure comprises a meta!-Hgand comple of Formula (1): (I), wherein:

each 21 independently is (C¾ ^^h drocarbon, (Ci w)heierohydrocarbon., {Ci-Gio)hydrocarbyl, Si(R ^a k Ge(R ^{C !} )3, P(R¾ N(R ^C1 ) ₂ . 0R ^C , SR ^C CN, CF.?, R ^a S(0)~, R ^a S(0) ₂ ~, (R };>C ^∞ K R C(0)0-, R ^cl OCfO)~ , R C(0) ^' N(R , (R ^Ci )2NC(0}~ , halogen atom, or hydrogen atom;

each R ^u independently is (Ci-Cno)hydrocarbyl or

(Ci-C3E )heterohydiOcarbyl;

each M ^A independently is a metal of any one of Groups 3 to 6 or Groups 7 to 9 of a Periodic Table of the Elements, the metal being in a formal oxidation state of ÷2, +3, +4, +5, or +6;

mi is an integer of 1 or 2;

each independently is hydrogen, (C _j -C 0)hydroear yl, or

(C _j -C4 ₍₎ )heterohy<ifocarbyl; ^ ^, X A

each of Q Q , and Q ^* * independently is hydrogen, (Cj-C^hydroearbyl,- (C - _Q )hydrocarbylO- _t (C j )hydrocarbyi.S(O)-, (C 'C4Q)hydrocar ylS(0)2~, «Cj ^^h droairb l^ -, ((C | ^Qjhydrocarbyi^P-, or (C _| -C40) ^' heterohydrocarbyl; each independently is (C -C Q)hydrocarbyI or

(C I -C40)heterohydrocarbyl; wherein and Q^, Q~ and Q- P and Q^, and and optionally are taken together to form a

aay three or four of Q ^■ to Q ³ optionally are taken together to form a respective trivalent or tetravalent analog of (C|~C40)hydrocarbylene or

(C j -C40)heterobydrocarbyiene, and the remainder of Q' to , are as defined above; each of the hydrocarby!. heterohydrocarbyl, Si(R ^Ci Ge(R ^C! )3, P(R )2, N(R ) ₂ , OR ^{C i} , SR ^cl _t R ^Ci S(O _. R ^a S{G) ₂ ~, (R ^Ci )2C-N ^» , R C(0)G-, R GC(G)~, C ⁱ C(0)H(R)-. (R ^C! )2NC(0)-, hydroearbylene, and heterohydrocarbyiene groups independently is unsubstiiuted or substituted with one or more R ^s substituents; and each R ^s independently is a halogen atom, polyflnoro substitution, perfiuoro substitution, unsubstiruted (Ci-C s8)alkyl, FuC-, FCH2O-, F-jMCQ-, F O-, oxo (i.e., O), RiSi-, R ₃ Ge- ₅ RO-, RS-, RS(0>, RSCO^ ¾Ρ-, R ₂ N-, RaC-Ν-, NC-, RQO)0~, ROC(0 , RC(0)N(R)- , or.R2NC(0)- , or two of the R ^s are taken together to form an unsubstiiuted (Ci~C{;s)aJkylene, wherein each R independently is an urisubsti luted (Oi-Ci stalky! : arid

optionally, R ^u or . may have an additional interaction with M ^A . j00 ^' 129J In some embodiments, M is a metal of any one of Groups 3 to 6. In other embodiments, ^A is a metal of any one of Groups 7 to 9, in some embodiments, M ^A is a metal of Group 3 (e.g., Sc, Y, La, etc-.), including all the ianthanid.es, in a +3 formal oxidation state.

100130] In certain embodiments, the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B) is the hard block/segment catalyst (i.e., low comonomer incorporator) of the olefin block copolymers of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the metal-iigand complex of formula (I) is catalytically active in its cationic state. In other words, the metal- ligand complex of formula (I) becomes an active catalyst when cationic and requires an activator (co-catalyst). In certain embodiments, the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B) is active when neutral and requires no activator (cocataiyst) in order to become an active catalyst. Neutral Group III catalysts described in this disclosure do not require an activator to polymerize olefins.

[00131] In certain embodiments, Zl is (Ct- o)hydrocarbyL (C¾~

C )heterohydrocarbyl, Si(R ^cl )i, or a hydrido group. In certain embodiments, Zl is a substituted benzyl or heteroarylbenzyl . In certain embodiments, Zl is selected from die

{00132 The metal ligand complex of Formula CI) above, and all specific

embodiments thereof herein, is intended to include every possible stereoisomer, including coordination isomers, thereof.

{00133] in some embodiments M ^A is a metal of Group 3. Group 3 metals (symbol), including lanthanoids and actinoids. useful in the present disclosure are scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), the lanthanides (sometimes called lanthanoids), especially lanthanum (La), cerkim (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodyrnmm (Nd), promethiuni (Pni), samarium (Stn), europium (En), gadolinium (Gd). terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holium (Ho), erbium (Erj, thulium. (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium t Lu), and the stable aetimdes

(sometimes called actinoids), especially stable isotopes of actinium (Ac), thorium (Th), and uranium (U). Unstable actinides such as protactinium (Pa), neptunium (Np),

Plutonium (Pu), americium (Am), curium (Cm), berkelium (Bk), californium (€f), einsteinium (Es) fermium (Fm), mendelevium (Md), iiobeHum (No), and lawrencium (Lr) are excluded from the acimides useful in the present disclosure. Preferred Group 3 metals are Sc and Y. In other embodiments M ^A is a metal of Group 4. Preferred Group 4 metals are those in a formal oxidation state o +3 or +4, more preferably +4. For purposes of the present disclosure, ruth erfordi urn (Rf) is excluded from the Group 4 metals useful in the present disclosure. In still other embodiments M ^A is a metal of Group 5. Group 5 metals useful in the present disclosure are vanadium (V), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta). For purposes of the present disclosure, dubnium (Db) is excluded from the Group 5 metals useful in tlte present disclosure. In still other embodiments M ^A is a metal of Group 6. Group 6 metals useful in the present disclosure are chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), and tungsten (W). For purposes of the present disclosure, seaborghim (Sg) is excluded from the Group metals useful in the present disclosure. In sti ll other embodiments M ^A is a metal of Group 7. Group 7 metals useful in the present disclosure are manganese (Mn), technetium (Tc), and rhenium (Re), preferably Mn. For purposes of the present disclosure, bohriura is excluded from Group 7 metals useful in the present disclosure. In still other embodiments M ^A is a metal of Group 8. Group 8 metals useful in the present disclosure are iron (Fe) and ruthenium (Ru). For purposes of the present disclosure, osmium (Os) and hassmm (Fis) are excluded from Group 8 metals useful in the present disclosure. In still other

embodiments ^A is a metal of Group 9, Group 9 metals useful in the present disclosure are cobalt. (Co), rhodium (Rh.), and iridium (Ir), preferably Co or h, For purposes of the present disclosure, meitnerium is excluded from Group metals useful to the present disclosure.

|00134| When used to describe a chemical group (e.g., (C _j -C^alk i), the parenthetical expressioo of the form "(C _x -C' _v ) _f " means that the inisuhststuted version of the chemical group comprises from a number x carbon atoms to a number y carbon atoms, wherein each x and y independently is an integer as described for the chemical group. Thus, for example, an unsubstituted (C _| -Chalky! contains from I to 40 carbon atoms. When one or more substituents on the chemical group contain one or more carbon atoms, the substituted (€ _χ -€ _γ ) chemical group may or may not comprise more than y total carbon atoms; .i.e., the maximum total number of carbon atoms of the substituted (C _x -C _y ) chemical group would be equal to y plus the sum of the number of carbon atoms of each of the subsiituent(s). Any atom of a chemical group that is not specified herein is understood to be a hydrogen atom.

{ ^' 00135 j In some embodiments, the metal-Mgand complex of formula (1)

independently contains one or more of the substituents R ^s . Preferably there are not more than 20 R ^¾ , more preferably not more than 10 R ^s , and still more preferably not more than 5 R ^s in the com pound. Where the compound of formula ( I) contains two or more substituents R ^s , each R ^s independently is bonded to a same or different substituted chemical group.

{00136 j In some embodiments, at least one R ^s is poiyfluoro or perfluoro. For present purposes "poiyfluoro" and "perfluoro" each count as one substituent. The term "poly" as in "poiyfluoro" means that, two or more H _; but not all H, bonded to carbon atoms of a corresponding unsubsiitoted chemical group are replaced by a fJuoro in the substituted chemical group. The term "per" as in "perfluoro' ^' means each H bonded to carbon atoms of a corresponding unsubstitoted chemical group is replaced by a fluoro in the substituted chemical group.

|00I37| As used herein, the term "(C _j -C^hydrocarby " means a hydrocarbon radical of from 1 to 40 carbon atoms and the term "(C ] -C4Q)hydrocarbylene" means a hydrocarbon diradical of from 1 to 40 carbon atoms, wherein each hydrocarbon radical and diradical independently is aromatic or non-aromatic, saturated or unsaturated, straight chain or branched chain, cyclic (including mono- and poly-cyclic, fused and non-fused polycyelic) ot acyclic, or a combination of two or more thereof; and each hydrocarbon radical and diradical is the same as or different from another hydrocarbon radical and diradical, respectively, and independently is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more R ^h ,

[00138 J Preferabiy, a

substituted (C ^^Q^tlk l, (C^-C^cycloalkyl, (C3~C2o)c cIoalk i- Ci~C2o)alk lene _> fCg~C ₎ ) L or (Cg-C2Q)aryJ~(C- _j ~C _' ?0)alk lene. More preferably, a (C

C4 )h drocarb l independently is an unsubstituted or substituted (Cj-

C2o)hydroc rbyj _> e.g., (C ] -C2o)alk l, (C^-C^o^yc alk l, (Ογ-C _j Q)cycloaikyi-(Cj-

C _| 0}alkylene, (C^-C^oja l, or (Cg-C^ g)aryl-(C _j -Ci r ₎ )alkylene. Still more preferably, a (C i -C40)hydrocarbyl independently is an unsubstituted or substituted (C _| ~

C g)hydroearbyl, e.g., (C j -C g)alkyl, ( yC gicycl oalkyl, (C3-C _j 2 _. )cycloaikyi-(C _j -

Cg)alkylene, (Cg-C _| g)aryl, or (C$-€ j 2)a*yKC j -C$)alkylene. Preferably; any (C _v

C _j )cycioa!ky! independently is an unsubstituted or substituted (C -C j _f) )cycloalkyk

100139] The term "(C _j ~C 0)aik i" means a saturated straight or branched hydrocarbon radical of from 1 to 40 carbon atoms that is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more R ^s . Examples of unsubstituted (€ _j -C )alk i are unsubstituted (C

Chalky!; unsubstituted (C|-C _j Q)alkyl; unsubstituted. (C _| -C5)aikyi; methyl; ethyl; 1 ~ propyl; 2 -propyl; 1 -butyl; 2-butyl; 2-niethylpropyl; ϊ ,Ι-dimethylethyl; 1-pentyl: I - hexy l: 1-heptyl; 1-nonyl and i -decyl. Examples of substituted. {Cj -C4o) lk l are substituted (C]-C2 ) lkyl, substituted (C _j ~C )aikyi _? irilluoroniethyL and (C^jalkyl.

Preferably, each (C _j -C^alkyl independently is methyl, trifluoromethyl, ethyl, 1 - propyl, or 2-metnylethyl.

[001 0] The term '^C _j -C^lalkylene" means a saturated straight or branched chain diradical of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms that is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more R ^s . Preferably, (Cj -C?Q _. )alkylene, together with atoms of formula (I) through which the (C _j -C ₂ o)alkylene is bonded, comprise a 5- or 6-membered ring. Examples of i substuirted (C _j -C ₂₍ ))a!.kylene are linsubstituted (C- _j -C j Qjalkylene, including unsubstiiuied L2~(C _r C _{J 0} )aHcyl.ene; -C¾~, -C¾CH , -(CH ₂ ) ₃ - _> -CH ₂ CH H ₃ , <CH ₂ ) -, -(CH ₂ ) ₅ - _> -(CH ₂ ) ₆ - ₅ -(C¾) _r , -(CH ₂ )g-, and -(CH ₂ ) ₄ C(H)(CH ₃ K

Examples of substi tuted (C C2 ₎ )aIkyleiie are substituted (C _j ~C _j ojalk iene, ~CF ₂ - , -C(O)-, and «(CH ₂ ) j 4€CH ₃ ) ₂ (CH ₂ )5~ (i.e. , a 6,6-diraethyi substituted normal A ,20- eicosyiene),

{00141 J The term an unsubstituted or substituted (by one or more R ^s ) mono-, hi- or tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical of from 6 to 40 total carbon atoms, of which at least from 6 to 14 carbon atoms are ring carbon atoms, and the mono-, bi- or tricyclic radical comprises 1 , 2 or 3 rings (first, second, and third rings, respectively), wherein any second or third ring independently is fused or non- fused to a first ring or each other, and the first ring is aromatic and, preferably, at least one of any second or third rings is aromatic. Examples of unsubstituted (C^-C^aryi are unsubstituted (C$-C ₂₍ }ary ^' l unsubstituted (Cg-C _| g)aryl; 2-{C _j -C5>alkyl-phenyl;

2,4-bis(C^ -C5)aikyl-phenyi; phenyl; fliioreny!; tetrahydrofluorenyJ ; iiidacenyl;

hexahydroindacen l; indenyi; dihydroindenyi; naphthyl; tetrahydranaphiivyl; and phenanthrene. Examples

substituted. (Cg-C _j g)ary1; 2,4-bis[(C ₂ Q)alkyi3-pheny!; poiyfiuorophenyl;

pentafluorophenyl; and fluoren~9~one~ 1 -yi .

{001 2J The term "( C^-C^Qic cloaik f' means saturated cyclic hydrocarbon radical of from 3 to 40 carbon atoms that is unsubstituted or substituted by one or more R*. Examples of unsubstituted (C ₃ -€ ₄ ())eyci.oalkyl are unsubstituted

(C-¾-C ₂ o)cyc]oalkyi ₅ linsubstituted (C ₃ -C _j Q)cyeloalkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopenty!, cyciohexyi, cyeloheptyl, cyelooctyl, cyclononyl, and cyclodecyk

Examples of substituted (C3~C40)c cloalkyl are substituted (C ₃ -C ₂ Q)cycloa1k.yl, substituted (C ₃ -C _j Q)cycloalkyl, cyclopentanon-2-yl, and 1 -fluorocyclohexyl . {001431 Examples of (C -C4o)faydrocarbylene are unsubstituted. or substituted diradical analogs of the Cg-C4 )aryl, (C ^• ¾-C4o)cyc!oaik i _> and C2~C4o) lk K In some embodiments, the diradicals ate on adjacent carbon atoms (i.e., 1,2 -diradicals), or spaced apart by one, two, or more intervening carbon atoms (e.g., respective 1 ,3- diradicals, 1 ,4-diradicais. etc.). Preferred is a 1,2-, 1 ,3-, 1 ,4-, or an alpha,omega~ diradscal (i.e., having maximum spacing between the radical carbons), more preferably a 1 ,2-diradical More preferred are diradical analogs, especially 1,2-diradicals, of (Cg-C4Q)aryI, (G^-C^cycioaikyL and (CS-C^^alk l are (C^-C| g)aryleite _s

(C3-C2 ₍₎ )c cio Sfc 1ene, and (C ₂ -C2 )aikyle e, respectively.

{ ^" 00144] The term "(C \ -C^heterohydrocarbyJ" means a heterohydrocarbon radical of from 1 to 40 car bon atoms and one or more heteroatoms N (when comprising -N ^::: ); O; S; S(0); S(0) ₂ ; Si( ^cl ) ₂ ; P(R ^P ); and N(R ^N ), wherein independently each R ^C1 is unsubstiruted (C _j -C j g)hydrocarbyl, each R ^f> is unsubstituted (C _j -C j g)hydrocarbyl; and each ^N is unsubstituted (C j -C j g)hydrocarby L The terra "(C _j -

C40)heterohydrocarbyiene" means a heterohydrocarbon diradical of from I to 40 carbon atoms and one or more heteroatoms Si(R )?, P(R ^P ), N(R ), N, O, S, S(0), and

S(0) ₂ as defined above. The heterohydrocarbon radical and each of the

heterohydrocarbon diradicals independently are on a carbon atom or heteroatom thereof. Each heterohydrocarbo radical and diradical independently is unsubstituted or substituted (by one or more R ^s ), aromatic or non-aromatic, saturated or unsaturated, straight chain or branched chain, cyclic (including mono- and poly-cyclic, fused and non-fused polycyclic) or acyclic, or a combination of two or more thereof; and each heterohydrocarbon is the same as or different from another heterohydrocarbon radical and diradical, respectively.

[001 5J Preferably, a (C _| -C4 _Q )hetei hydrocarbyl independently is unsubstituted or substituted (C _j ; -C o)h tero lkyl, (C2-C4o)heterocycloalkyl,

C2-C4o)heterocycloa!k. HC _j -C-2o)alkylene _? (€ 3-C4Q cycJ aik l-{€ j - C ₂ o)heteroa!k.y!ene, (C2-C 0)hete.rocyclo lkyl-(C _j -C20 _. )beteroalkylene, (C _j - C4 )heteroaryls (C j -C20)heteroaryl-(C ^ -C ₂ 0)alkyiene, (C^-C ₂ 0)aryl-(C _j - C20 _. )heteroaikylene, or (C j -C2o ^ ^eteroar >'HC j -C20)heteroalkylene. More preferably, a (Cj independently is unsubstituted or substituted (C- _j - C?0)heterohydrocarby e.g. , (C ~C?0)heteroalkyl ₅ (C9-C 0)heteiOcycl ai.kyl,

(C2-C2 ₍₎ )heterocycloa!k i-(C _j -C2o)aik lene ₅

C2o)hetero !k !ene, (C -C2o)heieroc cloaikyKC j -C heteroalkylene, (C _j - C20)heteroar i,

C2 )hefceroa!k !eoe, or (C _j -C2 )heteroar l-(C _j -C^Qjbeteroaik !ene. Still more preferably, a (C _| -C40)heterohydrocarbyl independently is unsubstituted or substituted (C _j -C i g)heterohydrocarbyl _s e.g., (C i-C _j g)heteroalkyl, (C2-C _j g)Iieterocyc1oalkyi (C7-C \ 2)heieroc-ycloaIkyI-(C -Cg^lkylene, (C^^ _| 2)cycioaik i-(C _j - C^heteroalkylene, { (¾-€ _j 2 _. )heterocyclo lkyl-(C j -Cg)heteroalkylene, (C j - C _j 2)heteroaryl, (C ] -C _j 2)heteroaryl-(C _j -Cg)aIkyIene _T (Cg-C _j g)aryl-(C _| - or (C |-C _j ?)heteroaf !-(C _j -Cg)heteroaikyietie. Preferably, any (C2- C g)heterocycloa!kyl independently is unsubstituted or substituted (C - Cg)heterocycloalkyl.

f 00146] Examples of (C _j -C^heteroalkyl and (C _j -C^heteroalkylene are saturated straight or branched chain radical or diradicaJ, respectively, of from 1 to 40 or I to 20 carbon atoms, respectively, and one or more of the heteroatoms Si(R ^cl )2 _» P(R ^P ) _> {R ^N ),

N, O, S, S(0), and $(G)j as defined above, wherein the (C C^hetero lk l and (C

C2 )heteroa!k ! n independently are unsubstituted o substituted by one or more RA

|00147| Examples of unsubstituted (C^- ^Jheterocycloaikyi are unsubstituted (CV

C20)heterocycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C9-C j Q)heterocycloalkyL aziridin- 1 -yl, oxetan-2- yl, ietrabydrol¾ran~3~yi, pyrrolidin- 1 -yl _} tetrahydroth30phen~S,S-dioxide-2-yl, morpholin-4-y!, 1 ,4-dioxan-2-yl, hexahydroa epin-4-yi 3-oxa-cyclooetyL. 5-thia- cyciononyl, and 2-aza-cyclodecyl.

£00148) Examples of unsubstituted (C j -C ^' 4 _{} )heteroaryl are unsubstituted

(€ -C2o)heteroaryl _f unsubstituted (Cj-Cj Q)heieroaryi, pyrrol-1 -yl; pyrrol-2-yi; furan- 3- yl; thiophen-2-yl; pyrazoi-1-yi; isoxazol-2-yl; isothiazot-5-yl; imidazol-2-yl; oxazol-

4- yl; fhiazot-2-yl; 1,2,4-triazoI-l-yl; l,3 ₅ 4-oxadiazol'2-yl; l _t 3,4 hiadiazol-2-yl;

tetrazol-J -yl; tetrazol-2-yI; tetrazoi-5-yl; pwidj»e-2-yl; pyrhmdin-2-yl; pyrazin-2-yl; indol-l-yl; benzimidazole-l-yl; q ΐκοΐπι- 2 -y Ϊ ; and isoqainolm-l ~yl.

(00149] The term "halo" means fluoro { F), chloro (CI), brorao { Br), or iodo (I) radical Preferably, halo is fluoro or chloro, more preferably fluoro.

(00150] Preferably, there are no O-O, S-S, or OS bonds, other than OS bonds in an S(O) or S{0)2 diradical functional group, in the meial-l tgand complex of formula (I).

{00151] Preferably, each substituted (C j -C4 )hydrocarbyl excludes and is different than unsubstiiuted or substituted {Cj (i.e., each substituted (C _j -

C40 _. )hydrocarbyl is as defined in the first embodiment, wherein the substituted (C _| -

C4 )hydrocarby! is not an unsubstituted or substituted (C -C-40)heterohydrocarbyl); preferably, each .substituted excludes and is different than unsubstitoied or substituted (C j ~C40)heterohydrocarby!ene; and more preferably a combination thereof,

(00152] The term "saturated" means lacking carbon-carbon double bonds, carbon- carbon triple bonds, and (in lieteroatom-coiitaining groups) carbon-nitrogen, carbon- phosphorous, and carbon-silicon double bonds. Where a saturated chemical group is substituted by one or more substituents R ^$ , one or more double and/or triple bonds optionally may or may not be present in substituents R ^s . The term "unsaturated" means containing one or more carbon-carbon doubie bonds, carbon-carbon triple bonds, and (in heteroatora-containing groups) carbon-nitrogen, carbon-phosphorous, and carbon- silicon double bonds, not including any such double bonds that may be present in substituents R ⁵ , if any, or in (hetero)aroraatic rings, if any.

(00153] Some embodiments contemplate a ttivalent or tetravalent analog of a diradical group. As applied to the diradical group, the term "ttivalent or tetravalent analog'' respectively means triradical or tetraradieal that is formally derived by abstracting one or two hydrogen atoms, respectively, from the diradical group.

Preferably, each abstracted hydrogen atom independently is taken from a C-H

functionality. A ttivalent analog is preferred over a tetravaient analog. (0015 1 in some embodiments,, at least one, or at least two, or all of Q ' to P independently are unsubsti tuted (i.e., lack substituents R ^s ). In other embodiments, each sufastituent R ^s independently is a (C _| ~C | Q)alkyi, and more preferably a (C| -Chalky L

(§0155] In other embodiments, tlie metai-ligand complex of formula (I) is as described in the first embodiment, except wherein one radical group (e.g.,

(C _j -C4())hydrocarbylC(0)0-, (C j -C^ drocarbyl, and (C _j -C4Q)hydrocarbylene) is deleted from the definitions of any one of to C .

[00156] The rnetal-iigand comple of formula (I) may exist as an isolated crystals), optionally in substantially pure form (i.e., greater than 90%X or as a mixture with one or more other metai-ligand complexes of formula (I); in the form of a soivaied adduct, optionally in a solvent, especially an organic liquid, preferably an aprotic solvent; in the form of a dimer; or in the form of a chelated derivative thereof, wherein the cheiated derivati ve comprises the metai-ligand complex of formula (I) and a chelating agent. Preferably, the chelating agent is an organic Lewis base (e.g., an aprotic organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) or an aprotic amine base such as trieliry!amine).

[00157] in some embodiments, a reducing agent is employed to produce lower oxidation state (e.g., +2) metai-ligand complexes of formula (1) from higher oxidation state (e.g., +4) metai-ligand complexes of formula (I). By the term "reducin agent" herein is meant a metal reducing agent or reducing agent compound which, unde reducing conditions, causes the metal , M ^A . to be reduced from a higher to a Sower oxidation state (e.g., from a ÷6 formal oxidation state to a +4 formal oxidation state). Examples of suitable metal reducing agents are alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum and zinc, and alloys of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals such as

sodium mercury amalgam and sodium/potassium alloy. Examples of suitable reducing agent compounds are sodium naphtha!enide, potassium graphite, lithium alkyls, lithium or potassium alkadienyls, and Grignard reagents (e.g., aikyi magnesium halides). Most preferred reducing agents are the alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, especially lithium and magnesium metal. Suitable techniques that may be adapted by an

ordinarily skilled artisan for preparing the metai-ligand complexes of the present disclosure are known and preferably are derived from techniques taught, for example, in (USPNs US 5,866,704; US 5,959,047: and US 6,268,444. | Θ015 | in some embodiments, the metal -ligand complex of formula (I) is in an isolated form, which means being substantially solvent-tree, for example, contains 10 percent by weight or less of a total of any solvents) used in a preparation thereof and the metal- S gand complex of formula (1) being at least 70% by weight of the isolated form. Still more preferably, the meial-ligand complex of formula (I) is in an isolated and purified form (i.e., the meial-ligand complex of formula (1) being substantially solvent-free and comprising at least 80% by weight, more preferably at least 90% by weight, of the purified form. As used herein, percent by weight is based on the total weight of a form or mixture. Preferably, the weight percent of the meial-ligand complex of formula 0) in such mixtures is determined using 13 -carbon or proton nuclear magnetic resonance (^C- or *H-NM „ respectively) spectroscopy.

[00159] The present disclosure further provides the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B) described herein, except that the one or more catalysts comprise one or more of the following:



81

83

84

90

92

Actfvator/Co-catatyst

{00160 An activator is an additive which renders a procatalyst active with respect to olefin polymerization by contacting it to, or combining it with, the procatalyst.

Commonly used activators abstract a monoamonic Hgamt typically an alkyl group, in some cases ^' benzyl or methyl group, to form a eationie metal-ligand complex of the procatalyst, which has a weakly coordinating or noncoordinating anion derived or present as a portion of the activating agent. For example, activators of this type include: Bronsted acids, such as [Ri Hf (ammonium) based activators, e.g. N,N~

dimethylanilfrumn tetrakis(pet.tai3ttorophenyl)boraie); and Lewis acids, such as alk i aluminums, polymeric or oligomerie alumoxanes (also kn wn as akmiinoxanes), boranes (such as iris(pentaf1uorophenyl)borane), or carbocationic species (such as tritvi teatrakis(peiitafiuoiOphenyl)borate), When an alumoxane alone is used as the activator, preferably the number of moles of the alumoxane that are employed is at least 100 times the number of moles of the metal-ligand complex. Lower loading of alumoxanes do not act as activators, rather they serve as scavenging agent. A scavenging agent sequesters impurities in the reactor prior to additio of the catalyst, and as such, does not constitute an activator,

{001611 Suitable activating co-catalysts for use herei include alky! aluminums; polymeric or oligomerie alumoxanes (also known as aluminoxanes); neutral Lewis acids; and non-polymeric, non-coordinating, ion-forming compounds (including the use of such compounds under oxidizing condi tions). A suitab le acti vating technique is bulk electrolysis. Combinations of one or more of the foregoing activating co-catalysts and techniques are also contemplated. The term "aiky! aluminum'' means a monoalkyl aluminum dihydride or monoalkylaluminum dihalide, a dialkyl aluminum hydride or diaikyi alum in urn halide, or a iriaikyialuminiiffi. Aluminoxanes and their preparaiioiis are known at for example, United States Patent Number (USPN) US 6, 103,657, Examples of preferred polymeric or oiigomeric alumoxanes are methyla!umoxane, triiso utyialmmnum-modified methylalumoxane, and isobutylalumoxane.

[001 21 Exemplary Lewis acid activating co-catalysts are Group 13 meta! compounds containing from 1 to 3 hydrocarbyl substituenfs as described herein. In some embodiments, exemplary Group 13 metal compounds are iri(hydrocar yl)- substituted-aluminum or tri(hydrocarbyl)-boron compounds, hi some other

embodiments, exemplary Group 3 metal compounds are tri((Ci-Cio)alkyl)aiumimim or tri({C6-Cis)aryl)boron compounds and haiogenated (including perhalogenated) derivatives thereof, hi some other embodiments, exemplary Group 13 metal compounds are iris(fluofo-substituted phenyl)boranes, in other embodiments..

tris(pentaihiorophenyl.)borane. In some embodiments, the activating co-catalyst is a tris({€ j -C2o)hydiOcarbyl)methane borate (e.g., irityl tetrakis(pentafluorophenyi)borate) or a tri((Ci-C2i>)hydrocarbyi}animoiiium tetra((C t-C½)hydrocarbyl)borate (e.g., bis(octadecyl)memylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate). As used herein, the term "ammonium" means a nitrogen cation that is a a

( Ci-Caf h droca y hNiB) - , a ((Ci-C2o)hydrocarbyi) ₂ N(H)2 ^÷ ₇

(Ci- ^f !iydrocarbyl ^li);} ^"1" , or (H) ^r , wherein each (Cj-Csojhydrocarby! may be the same or different.

[00163 J Exemplary combinations of neutral Lewis acid acti vating co-catalysts include mixtures comprising a combination of a tri((CVC4)alkyl )aluminum and a haiogenated compound, especially a

tfis(penta.fiuorophenyi)borane. Other exempiary embodiments are combinations of such neutral Lewis acid mixtures with a polymeric or oiigomeric alumoxane, and

combinations of a single neutral Lewis acid, especially tris(pentatlaorophenyl)borane with a poiyraeric or oiigomeric alumoxane. Exempiary embodiments ratios of numbers of moles of (metal-ligand complex):(firis(pentefluoro-phenylborane): (alumoxane) [e.g., (Group 4 metal-ligand complex):(tris(pentafluoro-phenylborane):(aiumoxane)] are from 1 ; 1 : i to 1 ; i 0:30, other exemplar embodiments are from 1 : 1 : 1.5 to 1 :5: 10. £00164) Many activating co-catalysts and activating techniques have been previously taught with respect to different metal-l.iga.nd complexes in the following USPNs: US 5,064,802; US 5,153,157; US 5,296.433; US 5,321 ,106; US 5,350,723; US 5,425,872; US 5,625,087; US 5,721,185; US 5,783,5.12; US 5,883,204; US 5,91 ,983; US

6,696,379; and US 7,163,907. Examples of suitable hydrocarbyloxides are disclosed in US 5,296,433. Examples of suitable Bronsted acid salts for addition polymerization catalysts are disclosed in US 5,064,802; US 5,91 ,983; US 5,783,512. Examples of suitable salts of a cationic oxidizing agent and a non-coordinating, compatible anion as activating co-catalysts for addition polymerization catalysts are disclosed in US

5,321 ,106. Exampies of suitable carbenium salts as activating co-catalysts for addition polymerization catalysts are disclosed in US 5,350,723. Examples of suitable silyiium salts as activating co-catalysts for addition polymerization catalysts are disclosed in US 5,625,087. Examples of suitable complexes of alcohols, mercaptans, silanols, and o imes with tris(pentafluorophenyl)boraiie are disclosed in US 5,296,433. Some of these catalysts axe also described in a portion of US 6,515,155 .81 beginning at colum 50, at line 39, and going through column 56, at line 55, only the portion of which is incorporated by reference herein.

|00165| In some embodiments, the procatalysts of the present disclosure may be activated to form an active catalyst, composition by combination with one or more cocataiyst such as a cation forming cocataiyst, a strong Lewis acid, or a combination thereof Suitable cocatalysts for use include polymeric or oligomeric aluminoxanes, especially methyl aluminoxane, as well as inert, compatible, noncoordinati g, ion forming compounds. Exemplary suitable cocatalysts include, but are not limited to modified methyl aluminoxane (MMAO); bis(hydrogenated tallow

alkyl)methylammomum tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate; triethyl aluminum (TEA); and any combinations thereof

1001 6] in some embodiments, one or more of the foregoing activating co-catalysts are used in combination with each other. An especially preferred combination is a mixture of a tri((C _{ -C )bydrocarbyl)a1uminum, tri((C,--C )hydrocarbyl)borane, or an ammonium borate with an oligomeric or polymeric a!uraoxane compound. n exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the co-catalyst is [(C .-isi½-3?)-

2CH5NH] tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate salt. }00167| The ratio of total number of moles of one or more cataly sts to total number of moles of one or more of the acti vating co-catalysts is from 1 : 10,000 to 100: 1. In some embodiments, the ratio is at least 1 :5000, in some other embodiments, at least 1.1000; and 10:1 or less, and in some other embodiments, 1 :1 or less. When an alumoxane alone is used as the activating co-catalyst, preferably the number of moles of the alumoxane that are employed is at least 100 times the number of moles of the catalysts. When teis{pentafiuorophenyJ)horan.e alone is used as the activating co- catalyst, in some other embodiments, the number of moles of the

tris(penta.fl ^' uorophenyl)borane that are employed to the totai number of moles of one or more catalysts form 1 :0,5 to 1 ; 10, in some oilier embodiments, from 1 ; 1 to 1 :6, in some other embodiments, from 1:1 to 1:5. The remaining activating co-catalysts are generally employed in approximately mole quantities equal to the total mole quantities of one or more catalysts.

Polymerization Processes

00168} Any conventional polymerization processes may be employed to produce the block copolymers of the present disclosure. Such conventional polymerization processes include, but are .not limited to, solution polymerization processes, gas phase polymerization processes, slurry, or particle forming polymerization processes, and combinations thereof using one or more conventional reactors, e.g., loop reactors, isothermal reactors, fiuidized bed reactors, stirred tank reactors, batch reactors in parallel, series, and/or any combinations thereof.

|00169| In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, multi-block copolymers are prepared via a solution polymerization process employing a first olefin

polymerization procatalyst (A), a second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B), one or more cocatalysts. and a chain shuttling agent (C).

|¾0170] The polymeriza ion processes of the disclosure employing first olefin polymerization procatalyst A, a second olefin polymerization procatalyst B, one or more cocatalysts, and chain shuttling agent C may be further elucidated by reference to

Figure 1, where there are illustrated activated catalyst she A, 0, which under polymerization conditions forms a polymer chain, 13, attached to the active catalyst site, 2. Similarly, active catalyst site B, 20, produces a differentiated polymer chain, 23, attached to the active catalyst site, 22. A chain shuttling agent C I , attached to a polymer chain produced by active catalyst B, .14, exchanges its polymer chain, 23, for the polymer chain, 13, attached to catalyst site A. Additional chain growth under polymerization conditions causes formation of a multi-block copolymer, 18, attached to active catalyst site A. Similarly, chain shuttling agent C2, attached to a polymer chain produced by active catalyst, site A, 24, exchanges its polymer chain, 13, for the polymer chain, 23, attached to catalyst site B. Additional chain growth under polymerization conditions causes formation of a multi-block copolymer, 28, attached to active catalyst site B. The growing multi-block copolymers are repeatedly exchanged between active catalyst A and active catalyst B by means of shuttling agent€ resulting in formation of a block or segment of differing properties whenever exchange to the opposite active catalyst site occurs. The growing polymer chains may be recovered while attached to a chain shuttling agent and functionalized if desired. Alternatively, the resulting polymer may be recovered by scission from the active catalyst site or the shuttling agent, through use of a proton source or other killing agent.

(00171 J It is believed (without wishing to be bound by such belief), that the composition of the respective segments or blocks, and especially of the end segments of the polymer chains, may be influenced through selection of process conditions or other process variables, in the polymers of the invention., the nature of the end segments is determined by the relative rates of chain transfer or termination for the respecti ve catalysts as well as by the relative rates of chain shuttling. Possible chain termination mechanisms include, but are not. limited to, β-hydrogen elimination, β-hydrogen transfer to monomer, p»methyl elimination, and chain transfer to hydrogen or other chain- terminating reagent such as an organosilane or chain functionalizmg agent. Accordingly, when a low concentration of chain shuttling agent is used, the majority of polymer chain ends will be generated in the polymerization reactor by one of the foregoing chain termination mechanisms and the relati ve rates of chain termination for catalyst (A) and (B) will determine the predominant chain terminating moiety. That is, the catalyst having the fastest rate of chain termination will produce relatively more chain end segments in the finished polymer.

(00172 J in contrast, when a high concentration of chain shuttling agent is employed, the majority of the polymer chains within the reactor and upon exiting the polymerizat on zone are attached or bound to the chain shuttling agent. Under these reaction conditions, the relative rates of chain transfer of the polymerization catalysts and the relative rate of chain shuttling of the two catalysts primarily determines the identity of the chain terminating moiety. Jf catalyst (A) has a fester chain transfer and/or chain shuttling rate man catalyst (B), then the majority of the chain end segments will be those produced by catalyst (A).

[00173 J At intermediate concentrations of chain shuttling agent, all three of the aforementioned factors are instrumental in determining the identity of the final polymer block. The foregoing methodology may be expanded to the anal ysis of multi-block polymers having more than two block types and for controlling the average block lengths and block sequences for these polymers. For example, using a .mixture of catalysts 1, 2, and 3 with a chain shuttling agent, for which each catalyst type makes a different type of polymer block produces a linear block copolymer with three different block types. Furthermore, if the ratio of the shuttling rate to the propagation rate for the three catalysts follows the order 1>2>3, then the average block length for the three block types will follow the order 3>2>ί , and there will be fewer instances of 2-type blocks adjacent to 3 -type blocks than 1-type blocks adjacent to 2-type blocks.

j00l?4| It follows thai a method exists for controlling the block length distribution of the various block types. For example, by selecting catalysts 1 , 2, and 3 (wherein 2 and 3 produce substantially the same polymer block type), and a chain shuttling agent, and the shuttling rate follows the order 1 > 2 > 3, the resulting polymer will have a bimodal distribution of block lengths made from the 2 and 3 catalysis.

[001751 During the polymerization, the reaction mixture comprising one or more monomers is contacted with the activated catalyst composition according to any suitable polymerization conditions. The process is characterized by use of elevated temperatures and pressures. Hydrogen may be employed as a chain transfer agent for molecular weight control according to known techniques i f desired. As in other similar polymerizations., it is highly desirable that the monomers and solvents employed be of sufficiently high purity that catalyst deactivation does not occur. Any suitable technique for monomer purification such as devolatilization at reduced pressure, contacting with molecular sieves or high surface area alumina, or a combination of the foregoing processes may be employed. The ski lled artisan will appreciate that the ratio of chain shuttling agent to one or more catalysts and or monomers in the process of the present invention may be varied in order to produce polymers differing in one or more chemical or physical properties. Supports may be employed in the present invention, especially in slurry or gas-phase polymerizations. Suitable supports inciu.de solid, particuiated, high surface area, metal oxides., metalloid oxides, or mixtures thereof (interchangeably referred to .herein as an inorganic oxide). Examples include: talc, silica, alumina, magnesia, titania, zirconia, S112O3, aluniinosiHcates, borosilieat.es, clays, and mixtures thereof. Suitable supports preferably have a surface area as determined by nitrogen porosimetry using the B.E.T. method from 10 to 1000 m /g, and preferably from 100 to 600 m ² /g. The average particle size typically is from 0.1 to 500 μηι, preferably from. 1 to 200 μηι, more preferably 10 to 100 pm.

{00176] in one embodiment of the invention the present catalyst composition and optional support may be spray dried o otherwise recovered in solid, particuiated form to provide a composition that is readily transported and handled. Suitable methods for spray diying a liquid containing slurr are well known in the art and usefully employed herein. Preferred techniques for spray drying catalyst compositions for use herein are described in US-A's-5 ,648,310 and 5,672,669.

j00i?7| The polymerization may be earned out as a continuous polymerization, preferably a continuous, solution polymerization, in which catalyst components, shuttling agent(s), monomers, and optionally solvent, adjuvants, scavengers, and polymerization aids are continuousl supplied to the reaction zone and polymer product continuously removed there from. 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 small regular or irregular intervals, so that, over time, the overall process is substantially continuous. The catalyst compositions can be advantageously employed in a high pressure, solution, slurry, or gas phase polymerization process. For a solution polymerization process it is desirable to employ homogeneous dispersions of the catalyst components in a liquid diluent in which the polymer is soluble under the polymerization conditions employed. One such process utilizing an extremely fine silica or similar dispersing agent to produce such a homogeneous catalyst dispersion where either the metal comple or the cocatalyst is onl poorly soluble is disclosed in US-A-5,783,5 2. A solution process to prepare the no vel polymers of the present invention, especially a continuous solution process is preferably carried out at a temperature between 80°C and 250°C, more preferably between !00°C and 2! O , and most preferably between 1 10°C and 2iO°C. A high pressure process is usually carried out at temperatures from 100°C to 400°C and at pressures above 500 bar (50 MPa). A slurry process typically uses an. inert hydrocarbon diluent and temperatures of from 0°C up to a temperature just below the temperature at which the resulting polymer becomes substantially soluble in the inert, polymerization medium. Preferred temperatures in a slurry polymerization are from 3 ^Q °C, preferably from 60 ^': C up to 1 , 15"C, preferably up to ]00°C. Pressures typically range from atmospheric ( 100 kPa) to 500 psi (3.4 MPs). In all of the foregoing processes, continuous or substantially continuous polymerization conditions are preferably employed. The use of such polymerization conditions, especially continuous, solution pol merization processes employing two or more active polymerization catalyst species, allows the use of elevated reactor temperatures which results in the economical production of multi-block or segmented copolymers in hig yields and efficiencies. Both homogeneous and plug-flow type reaction conditions may he eraployed. The latter conditions are preferred where tapering of the block composition is desired,

)00178) Both catalyst compositions (A) and (B) may be prepared as a homogeneous composition by addition of the requisite metal complexes to a solvent in which the polymerization will be conducted or in a diluent compatible with the ultimate reaction mixture. The desired cocataiyst or activator and the shuttling agent may be combined with the catalyst composition either prior to, simultaneously with, or after combination with the monomers to be polymerized and an additional reaction diluent.

[001791 At all times, the individual ingredients as well as any active catalyst composition must be protected from oxygen and moisture. Therefore, the catalyst components, shuttling agent and activated catalysts must be prepared and stored in an oxygen and moisture free atmosphere, preferably a dry, inert gas such as nitrogen. 00180) Without limiting i any way the scope of the invention, one means for carrying out such a polymerization process is as follows, in a stirred-tank reactor, the monomers to he polymerized are introduced continuously together with an 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 C4-3 O hydrocarbons 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. Procatalysts along with cocatalyst and chain skittling agent 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 catalyst addition rate, as well as by cooling or heating coils, jackets or both. The polymerization rate is controlled by the rate of catalyst addition. The ethylene content of the polyme 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 control ling other polymerization variables such as the temperature, monomer concentration, or by the previously mentioned chain transfer agent, as is well known in the art. Upon exiting the reactor, the effluent is contacted with a catalyst kill agent such as water, steam or an alcohol The polymer solution is optionally heated, and the polymer product is recovered by flashing off gaseous monomers as well as residual solvent or dil uent at reduced pressure, and, if necessary, conducting further devolatilization in equipment such as a devolatilizing extruder. In a continuous process the mean residence time of the cataiysi and polymer in the reactor generally is from 5 minutes to 8 hours, and preferably from 10 minutes t 6 hours, j 0018 J. Alternatively, the foregoing polymerization may be carried out in a continuous loop reactor with or without a monomer, catalyst or shuttling agent gradient established between differing regions thereof, optionally accompanied by separated addition of catalysts and/or chain transfer agent, and operating under adiahatk or non- adiabatic solution polymerization conditions or combinations of the foregoing reactor conditions. Examples of suitable loop reactors and a variety of suitable operating conditions for use therewith are found in USF's 5,977,251, 6 19,989 and 6,683, 149, |0Θ182] Although not as desired, the cataiysi composition may also be prepared and employed as a heterogeneous catalyst by adsorbing the requisite components on an inert inorganic or organic particu!ated solid, as previously disclosed. In an preferred embodiment, a heterogeneous catalyst is prepared by co-precipitating the metal complex and the reaction product of a inert inorganic compound and an active hydrogen containing activator, especially the reaction product of a tri (C I .4 alkyl) aluminum compound and an ammonium salt of a

hydroxyaryltris(penta.fluorophenyi)borate, such as an ammonium salt of (4-hydfoxy- 3,5-<iitertiarybutylphenyl)tris(pentafluorophenyi)borate. When prepared in

heterogeneous or supported form, the catalyst composition may be employed hi a slurry or a gas phase polymerization. As a practical limitation, slurry polymerization takes place in liquid diluents in which the polymer product is substantially insoluble.

Preferably, the diluent for slurry polymerization is one or more hydrocarbons with less than 5 carbon atoms. If desired, saturated hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane or butane may be used in whole or part as the diluent. As with a solution polymerization, the a-olefm comonomer or a mixture of different a- olefin monomers may be used in whole or part, as the diluent. Most preferably at least a major part of the diluent comprises the o-olefin monomer or monomers to be polymerized.

{ ^" 00183] Preferably for use in gas phase polymerization processes, the support materia! and resulting catalyst has a median particle diameter from 20 to 200 μπι, more preferably from 30 pm to 150 pm, and most preferably from 50 μηι to 100 μιη.

Preferably for use in slurry polymerization processes, the support has a median particle diameter from 1 μηι to 200 μηι, more preferably from 5 μηι to 100 pm, and most preferably from 10 μηι to 80 μηι.

[00184] Suitable gas phase polymerization process for use herein are substantially similar to known processes used commercially on a large scale for the manufacture of polypropylene, ethylene/ a- olefin copolymers, and other olefin polymers. The gas phase process employed can be, for example, of the type which employs a

mechanically stirred bed or a gas fJuidized bed as the polymerization reaction zone. Preferred, is the process wherein the polymerization reaction is carried out in a vertical cylindrical polymerization reactor containing a fluidized bed of polymer particles supported or suspended above a perforated plate or fiuidization grid, by a flow of Ouidization gas.

{00185 j The gas employed to fluidize the bed comprises the monomer or monomers to be polymerized, and also serves as a heat exchange medium to remove the heat of reaction from the bed. The hot gases emerge from the top of the reactor, normally via a tranquihzation zone, also known as a velocity reduction zone, having a wider diameter than the fluidized bed and wherein fine particles entrained in the gas stream have an opportunity to gravitate back into the bed. it can also be advantageous to use a cyclone to remove ultra-fine particles from the hot gas stream. The gas is then normally

recycled to the bed by means of a blower or compressor and one or more heat

exchangers to strip the gas of the heat of polymerization.

1001861 A preferred method of cool ing of the bed, in addition to the cooli ng provided by the cooled recycle gas, is to feed a volatile liquid to the bed to provide an evaporative cooling effect, often referred to as operation in the condensing mode. The volatile liquid employed in this case can be, for example, a volatile inert liquid, for example, a saturated hydrocarbon having 3 to 8, preferably 4 to 6, carbon atoms. In the case that the monomer or comonomer itself is a volatile liquid., or can be condensed to provide such a liquid, this can suitably be fed to the bed to provide an evaporative cooling effect. The volatile liquid evaporates in the hot fhiidized bed to form gas which mixes with the flmdizing gas, if the volatile liquid is a monomer or comonomer, it will undergo some polymerization in the bed. The evaporated liquid then emerges fr m the reactor as part of the hot recycle gas, and enters the compression/heat exchange part of the recycle loop. The recycle gas is cooled in the heat exchanger and, if the temperature to which the gas is cooled is belo the dew point, liquid will precipitate from the gas. This liquid is desirably recycled continuously to the fhudized bed. it. is possible to recycle the precipitated liquid to the bed as liquid droplets carried in the recycle gas stream. This type of process is described, for example in EP-8969 ! ; U.S. 4,543,399; WG-94/ 25495 and U.S. 5,352,749. A particularly preferred method of recycling the liquid to the bed is to separate the liquid from the recycle gas stream and to reinject this liquid directly into the bed, preferably using a method which generates fine droplets of the liquid within the bed. This type of process is described in WO-94/28032. The polymerization reaction occurring in the gas f!uidized bed is catalyzed by the continuous or semi-continuous additi on of catalyst composition according to the invention. The catalyst composition may be subjected to a prepolymer ization step, for example, by polymerizing a small quantity of olefin monomer in a liquid inert diluent, to provide a catalyst composite comprising supported catalyst particles embedded in olefin polymer particles as well. The polymer is produced directly in the fluidized bed by polymerization of the monomer or mixture of monomers on the fluidized particles of catalyst composition, supported catalyst composition or prepoiyraerized catalyst composition within the bed, Start-up of the polymerization reaction is achieved using a bed of preformed polymer particles, which are preferably similar to the desired polymer, and conditioning the bed by drying with inert gas or nitrogen prior to

introducing the catalyst composition, the monomers and any other gases which it is desired to have in the recycle gas stream., such as a diluent gas, hydrogen chain transfer agent, or an inert, condensable gas when operating in gas phase condensing mode. The produced polymer is discharged continuously or senii-continuously from the fliudized bed as desired.

100187] The gas phase processes most suitable for the practice of this invention are continuous processes which provide for the continuous suppl of reactants to the reaction zone of ihe reactor and the removal of products from the reaction zone of the reactor, thereby providing a steady-state environment on the macro scale in the reaction zone of the reactor. Products are readily recovered by exposure to reduced pressure and optional ly elevated temperatures (devolatilization) according to known techniques. Typically, the iloidized bed of the gas phase process is operated at temperatures greater than 50°C, preferably from 60°C to 1 10°C, more preferably from 70°C to 1 10°€. (00188] Examples of gas phase processes which are adaptable for use in the process of this invention are disclosed in US Patents- 4,588,790; 4,543,399; 5,352,749;

5,436,304; 5,405,922; 5,462,999; 5,461 ,123; 5,453,471 ; 5,032,562; 5,028,670;

5,473,028; 5,106,804; 5,556,238; 5,541,270; 5,608,019; and 5,616,661.

{00189] As previously mentioned, funetionalized derivatives of multi-block copolymers are also included within the present invention. Examples include metallated polymers wherein the metal is the remnant of the catalyst or chain shuttling agent employed, as well as further derivatives thereof, for example, the reaction product of a metallated polymer with an oxygen source and men with water to form a hydroxyl terminated polymer. In another embodiment, sufficient air or other quench agent is added to cleave some or all of the shuttling agent-polymer bonds thereby converting at least a portion of the polymer to a hydroxy! terminated polymer. Additional examples include olefin terminated polymers formed by β-hydride elimination and ethyienic unsaturation in the resulting polymer.

{ ^" 00190] In one embodiment of the invention the multi-block copolymer may be fiinctionalized by maleation (reaction with raaleic anhydride or its equivalent), metallation (such as with an alkyl iithiiim reagent, optionally in the presence of a Lewis base, especially an amine, such as tetramethyle ylene iamine), or by incorporation of a diene or masked olefin in a copoiymerizaiion process. After polymerization involving a masked olefin, the masking group, for example a trihydtocarbyisilane, may be removed thereby exposing a more readily ftinctiona!ized remnant Techniques for functiona!ization of polymers are well known, and disclosed for example in USP 5,543,458, and elsewhere.

{ ^" 00:191 J Because a substantial fraction of the polymeric product exiting the reactor is terminated with the chain, shuttling agent, further functionalization is relatively easy. The metallated polymer species can be utilized in well known chemical reactions such as those suitable for other alkyl- aluminum, aikyi~gal.liu.ra, aikyi-zinc, or alkyl-Group 1 compounds to form amine-, hydroxy-, epoxy ketone, ester, nitrile, and other fimctionalized terminated polymer products. Examples of suitable reaction techniques that ate adaptable for use here in are described in Neg.ishi, "GrganometalHcs in Organic Synthesis", Vol, 1 and 2, (1980), and other standard texts in organoroeiallic and organic synthesis.

Polymer Products

[00192] in certain embodiments; multi-block copolymers (i.e., olefin block copolymers or OBCs) prepared by the compositions/catalyst systems/processes of the present disclosure are defined as having:

[00.193 (A.) Mw/!Vm from 1.0 to 10.0 (e.g., from 1.0 to 9.0, f m 1.0 to 8.0, from 1.0 to 7.0, from 1.0 to 6.0, from 1.0 to 5.0, from .1.5 to 5.0, from 1.5 to 4.0, from 1.7 to 3.5, etc), at least one melting point, Tin, in degrees Celsius, and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, where in the numerical values of Tm and d correspond to the relationship:

7% _ti ≥ ^™ 2002.9+453S.5(<: )~2422.2(<;/) ² ; and/or

{§01 41 (B) Mv /Ma from about 1.7 to about 3,5, and is characterized by a heat of fusion, AH in J/g, and a delta quantity, AT, in degrees Celsius defined as the temperature difference between the tallest DSC peak and the tallest CRYSTAF peak., wherein the numerical values of ΛΤ and ΔΗ have the following relationships:

Δ T> 0.1299(Δ/ί) i 62.81 for AH greater than zero and up to 130 J/g,

A7≤≥ 8° C. for AH g eater than 130 J/g, wherein the CRYSTAF peak is determined using at least 5 percent of the cumulative polymer, and if less than 5 percent of the polymer has an identifiable CRYSTAF peak, then the CRYSTAF temperature is 30° C; and/or

1001 5] (C) an elastic recovery. Re, in percent at 300 percent strain and 1. cycle measured with a compression-molded film of the ethylene/a-olefin interporymer, and has a density, d, in grams cubic centimeter, wherein the numerical values of Re and d satisfy the following relationship when ethylene a-olefin interpolymer is substantially free of a cross-linked phase:

Re>U$l ^~ l629(d); and/or

[00196] (D) a molecular fraction which eltrtes between 40° C, and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in that the fraction has a molar comonomer content of at least 5 percent higher than that of a comparable random ethylene interpolymer fraction during between the same temperatures, wherein said comparable random ethylene interpolymer has the same coraononier(s) and has a melt index, density, and molar comonomer content (based on the whole polymer) within 10 percent of that of the ethyiene a~olefin interpolymer; and/or

Ι00Ί97] (E) a storage modulus at 25° C, G'(25* C), and a storage modulus at 100° C, G'(100°€.), wherein the ratio of G'(25° C.) to G' (1.00° C.) is in the range of about I ; 1 to about 0: 1; and/or

(§0198) (F) a molecular fraction which eiutes between 40° C. and 130° C. when fractionated using TREF, characterized in thai the fraction has a block index of at least 0.5 and up to 1 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw Mn, greater than 1.3; and/or

[00199] (G) an average block index greater than zero and up to 1.0 and a molecular weight distribution, Mw/Mn greater than 1.3. It is understood that the olefin block copolymer may have one, some, all, or any combination of properties (A)-(G). Block Index can be determined as described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,608,668 herein incorporated by reference for that purpose. Analytical methods for determining

properties (A) through (G) are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No 7,608,668, Col. 31, line 26 through Col. 35, line 44, which is herein incorporated by reference for that purpose.

{ ^" 00200] in certain embodiments, the olefin block copolymers prepared by the compositions/catalyst systems/processes of the present disclosure have density of from 0.820 g/cc to 0,925 g/cc (e.g., from 0.860 g cc to 0.890 g cc). In some embedments, the olefin block copolymers prepared by the composrfions/catalysi: systems/processes of the present disclosure have a melt index (Mi) from 0. 1 g/10 min to 1000 g/10 miri (e.g., from. 0,1 g/10 min to 500 g/10 min, from 0.1 g/ 10 min to 100 g/10 min, from 0.1 g/10 min to 50 g/10 min, from 0.1 g/10 min to 35 g/10 min, from 0.1 g 10 min to 30 g/10, from 0.1 g/10 min to 20 g/10 min, and/or .from 0.1 g 10 min to 15 g/10 min), as measured by ASTM D 1238 (190° C/2. 6 kg), in certain

embodiments, the olefin block copolymers prepared by toe compositions/catalyst systems/processes of the present disclosure ha ve a molecular wei ht of 10,000 to 250,000 g/nroie (e.g., from 10,000 to 200,000 g/mole and/or from 20,000 to 175,000 g/mole). In certain embodiments, the olefin block copolymers prepared by the compositions/catalyst systems/processes of the present disclosure have a residual zinc content from 50 ppm to 1000 ppm (e.g., from 50 ppm to 750 ppm, from 50 ppm to 500 ppm, and/or from 75 ppm to 400 ppm). In certain embodiments, the olefin block copolymers of the present disclosure have a molecular weight distribution (MWD or PDI) of less than 5.0 (e.g., less than 4.0, less than 3.5, less than 3.0, less than 2.9, less than 2.8, etc.). In certain embodiments, the olefin block copolymers of the present disclosure have a thenno-mechanical resistance (TMA) of greater than 1 0 °C.

Example

Methodologies

[002011 Combined Catalyst Efficiency: The combined catalyst efficiency is calculated by dividing the mass (e.g., the number of grams (gpoiyjner-) ^' ) of the olefin block copolymer prepared by the mass (e.g., the total number of milligrams or grams (g^i)) of metal from both procatalysts.

|00202| SymRAD HT-GPC Analysis: The molecular weight data was determined by analysis on a hybrid Syrayx/Dow built Robot-Assisted Dilution High-Temperature

Gel Permeation Chromatographer (Sym-RAD-GPC). The polymer samples were dissol ved by heating for 120 minutes at I60°C in 1 ,2,4-trichiorobenzene (TCB) at a concentration o l O mg/mL stabilized by 300 ppm of butyl ated hydroxy! toluene (BHT). Each sample was then di luted to 1 mg rnL immediately before the iniection of a 250 iiL aliquot of the sample. The GPC was equipped with two Polymer Labs PLgel 10 μηι M XED-B columns (300 x 10 mm) at a flow rate of 2.0.mliminute at 1.60°C.

Sample detection was performed using a PoiyChar 1R4 detector in concentration mode. A conventional calibration of narrow polystyrene (PS) standards was utilized with apparent units adjusted to homo-polyethylene (PE) using known Mark-Houwink coefficients for PS and PE in TCB at this temperature.

(00203) Differentia! Scanning Calorinietry (DSC) analysis: Melt temperature (Tm), glass transition temperature (Tg). crystallization temperature (Tc) and Heat of Melt may be measured by differential scanning calori.rn.etry (DSC Q2000, TA instruments, Inc.) using a Heat-Cool -Heat temperature profile. Open-pan DSC samples of 3-6 mg of polymer are first heated from room temperature to setpoint at 1 °C per min. Traces are analyzed individually using TA Universal Analysis software or TA instruments TRIOS software.

|00204| Density: Density measurements are conducted according to ASTM D792.

[00205] Melt index: h and l io are measured in accordance with ASTM D-l 238 (190 ; 2.16 kg and 10 kg).

{0Θ2Θ6] ^U C 3NMR spectroscopy: C N spectroscop is one of a number of techniques known in the art for measuring comonomer incorporation into a. polymer. An example of this technique is described for the determination of comonomer content for ethyiene/a-olefin copolymers in Randall (Journal of Macromo!ecuiar Science, Reviews in acromolecular Chemistry and Physics, C29 {2 & 3), 201 -317 {1989}), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The basic procedure for determining the comonomer content of an ethylene/olefin interpolymer involves obtaining a ⁱ³ C NMR spectrum under conditions where the intensity of the peaks corresponding to the different carbons in a sample is directly proportional to the total number of contributing nuclei in the sample. Methods for ensuring this proportionality are known in the art and involve allowance for sufficient time for relaxation after a pulse, the use of gated-decoup!ing techniques, relaxation agents, and the like. The relative intensity of a peak or group of peaks is obtained in practice from its computer- generated integral. After obtaining the spectrum and integrating the peaks, those peaks associated with the comonomer are assigned. This assignment can be made by reference to known spectra or literature, or by synthesis and analysis of model compounds, or by the isse of isotopicaii labeled comonomers. The mole % comonomer can be determined by the ratio of the integral s corresponding to the number of moles of comoiioraer to the in tegrals corresponding to the number of moles of ail of the monomers in the interpolymer, as described in the aforementioned Randall reference. |0O207| The soft segment weight percentage and hard segment weight percentage of an ethylene/olefin intetpolyraer of the present disclosure is determined by DSC, and mole % comonomer i the soft segment of an ethylene/olefin interpolymer of the present disclosure is determined by ^{! j} C NMR spectroscopy and the methods described in WO 2006/101 66 A L which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[00208| ^,J C NMR Analysis: The samples are prepared by adding approximately 2,7 g of a 50/50 mixture of tetrachloroemane-d ² /ort ^' hod.ichloroben5tene to 0.2 g sample in a 10 mm NM tube. The samples are dissolved and homoge ized by heating the tube and its contents to 150° C. The data are collected using a JEOL Eclipse™ 400 MHz spectrometer, Bruker 400 MHz spectrometer, or a Varian Unity Plus™ 400 MHz spectrometer, corresponding to a ^li C resonance frequency of 100.5 MHz, The data is acquired using 256 transients per data file with a 6 second pulse repetition delay. To achieve minimum signal-to-noise for quantitative analysis, multiple data files are added together. The spectral width is 25.000 Hz with a minimum file size of 32K data points. The samples are analyzed at 120° C in a 10 mm broad band probe. The comonomer incorporation is determined using Randall's triad method (Randall, J.€.; IMS-Rev. Maeromoi. Chem. Phys., C29, 201-317 (1989), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

{00209 j Residual zinc content (ppm) may be measured by standard industry procedure, such as mass balance or an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) method.

[002101 Reactivity Ratios: Reactivity ratios of the olefin polymerization procatalysts may be determined by the discussion and mathematical formulas above.

Working Examples

{0021 11 The following examples illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure but are not intended to be limiting in any way. More specifically, the following, non- limiting examples demonstrate inventive CSA and dual catalyst combinations capable of producing olefin block copolymers having desirable properties with commercially acceptable catalyst efficiency and process control at elevated reactor temperatures (e.g., equal to or greater than 120 Ό.

Proca ^

00212] Exemplary, non-limiting procatalysts falling within the scope of the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A) of the present disclosure (Procatalysts (Al) and

(A4)) have the structures shown below:

|00213j A exemplary, non-limiting procatalyst falling within the scope of the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B) of the present disciosure (Procatalyst B l) has the

(Bl).

|00214] Synthesis of Procatalyst fA4)

j Q215| 2-iodo~4-fluoiOphenol (14.2 g, 59.6 mmol) and 1 ,4~dibroniobutane (3.6 raL 30 mmol) are combined in acetone {200 mL) and stirred, at reflux over 3 days. The mixture is cooled, filtered and concentrated under vacuum. The residue is dissolved in dichloromethane (150 mL) and washed with KOB (50 mL, 3 N) and saturated K2CO3

(2 x 50 mL). The organic fraction is then dried over MgS(>4 and concentrated to yield a white powder. The white powder is rinsed and sonicated in hexanes, cooled, filtered, and dried under vacuum to yield the des red product (12.22 g, 77.3 %) Η MR (400 MHz, CDCI3) 5 7.49 (dd, J - 7.7, 3. Ϊ Hz, 2H), 7.01. (td, J - 8.4, 3.1 Hz, 2B), 6.74 (dd, i

- - 5.3 Hz, 411}. 2.16 -· 2.01 (ra, 411).

[00216| The is(aryl iodide) ( 10.0 g, 18.9 mmol ^' ), boronate ester ( 18.2 g, 37.7 mmol), THF (200 mL), and a solution of Na2C03 (12,0 g, 113 mmol) in water (50 mL) are placed in a 500 mL 2-iieck flask and are purged with nitrogen for 15 minutes. The palladium catalyst is added to a solution in THF. The reaction is heated to 65 °C and stirred overnight. The desired protected product precipitates as a whit solid formation over the course of the reaction. The .mixture is then cooled, .filtered and the white solid is washed with water. The solid is then transferred into a clean flask and suspended in a MeOH/Ti lF mixture. Hydrochloric acid (5 drops) is added to the solution, and the solution is heated to reflux overnight over which time the suspension fully

dissolves. The solution is cooled, filtered, and concentrated to yield a brownish oil. The rernainina free-flowina liquid is decanted and discarded. The viscous brown oil remaining slowly crystallizes as a brownish solid upon standing in methanol for several days. This solid is collected by filtration, dissolved in dichloromethane and passed through a silica plug (Rf ·- 1 in dich romethane). The light red solution resulting from eiution with dichloromethane is collected and concentrated to yield a red solid which is sonicated with diethyl ether, filtered, and dried to yield the target compound as an off white pinkish solid (14.98 g, 96 %). ¾ NMR (400 MHz, CDCb) δ

8.25 7.99 (m, 4H), 7,29 (ddd, J ~ 8.2, 7.1, U Hz, 4H), 7.25 - 7.19 (m, 6H), 7.19 -

7.12 (m, 8H), 7,00 (ddd, 9.0, 7.7, 3.1 Hz, 2H), 6.72 (del, J ~ 9.0, 4.5 Hz, 2H), 6.10 (s, 2H), 3.88 -· 3.64 (m, 4H), 2,33 (s, 6H), 1.63 (t, 3.2 Hz, 4H),

{00217| Addition of methyl magnesium bromide (0.812 mL, 3 M, 2,4 mmol) to hafnium tetrachloride (0.1 5 g, 0.609 mmol) is performed in a toluene (20 mL) suspension at -35 °C. The reaction is stirred warming slightly over 20 minutes. This solution is then transferred to a solution of the ligand in toluene ( iO mL). The solution is stirred overnight after which time the solvent is removed under high vacuum. The residue is extracted with dichSoromethane (15 mL) and filtered. The dichloromethane is then removed under high vacuum to yield the product as an off white solid (0.325 g, 52%). Ή N.MR (400 MHz, Benzene-de) S 8.19 - 8.1 1 (m, 2H), 8.05 (dt, J - 7.6, 1.0 Hz, 2H), 7.44 (tt J - 8.9, 0.9 Hz, 4H), 7.32 (ddd, J - 8.2, 7.1 , 1.3 Hz, 2H), 7,28 - 7.20 (m, i 7.21 - 7.09 (m, 5H), 7.09 (dd, J - 2.3, 0.8 Hz, 2H) ₅ 7.02 (ddt, J - 7.9, 1.4, 0.7 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (dd, J - 2.3, 0.8 Hz, 2H), 6.82 (dd, j - 9.2, 3.2 Hz, 2H), 6.57 (ddd, J - 9.1 , 7.2, 3.2 Hz, 2i¾ 4.60 (dd, i = 9.1, 4.9 Hz, 2H), 3.89 - 3.68 (m, 2H), 3.21 (dd, J = 1 1.6, 4.4 Hz, 2H), 2.1 1 (d, J - 1.4 Hz, 8H), 0.68 - 0.4S (m, 2H), 0.40 (d, I - 13.3 Hz, 2H), ~1.17 (s, 6H).

{00218] Synthesis of Procatalyst <B1)

(00219] Synthesis of [(E)-NM6^otyIimino)cyclohex-1-en-l-yI)-2,6- diisopropy1aittlido]Sc[bis( ^' 2>dimetIt taminobeiucy])]: In a nitrogen-filled glovebox, a solution of (£)-A-(6-(butylimino)cyclohex-l-en-l-yl)-2 _: ,6-diisopropyianiline (0.250 g, 0.766 mmol, 1 equ v.) in toluene (2.5 mL) was added to a solution of Sc(C£b-0- NMeaCsH- s (0.343 g, 0.766 mmol., 1 equiv.) in toluene (2.5 mL). The material was stirred at 60"C for 17 hours, yielding a dark brown yellow solution. All volatiles were removed in vacuo to yield a dark brown/yellow oil. Hexane (10 mL) was layered onto the oil, and the mixture was stored in a -30°G freezer for 3 months, however no appreciable amount of precipitate formed. The solution was filtered through a syringe filter, and all volatiles were removed in vacuo, yielding a thick black oil. The oil was dissolved hexamethyldisiloxane (3 roL), and stored in a -30 ⁵ C freezer for 3 days. A large amount of yellow solid precipitated from solution. The material was filtered through a prechilled glass frit, washed with minimal cold hexamethyldisiloxane, and dried in vacuo to yield a yellow powder (0.2506 g, 5.1% yield). Residual

hexamethyldisiloxane was removed by dissolving the solid in hexane and drying in vacuo. ^l B NMR (400 MHz, Benzene-d*) « 7.21 - 7.12 (m, 3B) ₅ 6.99 (ddd, J - 8.2, 6.6, 1.8 Hz, 2H) _? 6.95 - 6.89 (m, 2H), 6.82 - 6.71 (m _s 4H), 4.43 (t, J - 4.9 Hz, IH), 3.55 (hept J - 6.7 Hz, 2B), 2.73 - 2.64 (m, 2H), 2.27 ($, 12H), 1.98 (f, i - 6.4 Hz, 2H), 1.87 (q, J - 5.7 Hz, 2H), 1 .61 - 1 ,48 (m, 4H) ₅ 1.44 - 1.37 (m, 2H), 1.37 - 1.29 (m, 2H\ 1.21 (d J - 6.8 Hz. 611), 1.16 (d, J - 6.7 Hz, 6H), 1.21 - 1.1 1 t in. 2111 0.84 (t, J - 7.3 Hz, 3H). ¹³ C NMR (400 MHz, Benzene-dc) « 174.33, 148.84, 1.45.56, 145.17, 144.31 , 143.09, 128.72, 125.43, 124,71 , 123.80, 120.05, 118.45, 109.60, 48.33, 47.67, 44.26, 30.96, 27.93, 27.50, 26.78, 24.62, 23.27, 22.95, 20.86, 13.60.

[Q0220| Synthesis of Procatalvs (Al )

{( 0221| Procatalyst (Al) is synthesized in accordance with the procedures described in U.S. Patent. No. 6,953,764 B2, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Polymerization Examples

Batch Reacto

{0022 J Batch reactor polymerization runs were performed for Procata!ysts (Al), (A4), (Bl), an inventive CSA and dual catalyst combination (i.e., Procatalysts (Al) aitd (Bi) and a chain shuttling agent), and a further inventive CSA and dual catalyst combination (i.e., Procatalyst (A4) and (Bl ). The batch reactor polymerization runs were performed in accordance with the procedure described below and the process conditions outlined in Tables 1-3. The co-catalyst ("Cocat ") is

[H Me(C 18H 37)2] [B(C6F5)4] .

{(10223) A 2 L Pan' reactor is used for all batch reactor polymerization runs. The reactor is heated via an electrical heating mantle and is cooled via an internal serpentrae cooling coil containing water. Both the reactor and the heating/cooling system are controlled and monitored by a Carnile TG process computer. All chemicals used for polymerizat on or catalyst makeup are run through purification columns. I -octene, toluene, and Isopar-E (a mixed alkanes solvent available from ExxonMobil, Inc.) are passed through 2 columns, the first containing A2 alumina, and the second containing Q5 reactant (available from Engelhard Chemicals nc.). Ethylene gas is passed through 2 columns, the first containing A204 alumina and activated 4A° molecular sieves, the second containing Q5 reactant. Hydrogen gas is passed through Q5 reactant and A2 alumina. Nitrogen gas is passed throug a single column containing A204 alumna, activated 4A° molecular sieves and Q5 reactant. Catalyst and cocata!yst (also called the activator) solutions are handled in a nitrogen-filled giovebox.

[0022 j The load column is filled with Isopar-E and I -octene to the load setpomts by use of an Ash croft differential pressure cell, and the material is transferred into the reactor following (at least) a wash. Hydrogen (as specified) is loaded into the reactor, via a shot tank with an internal volume of approximately 75 mL, immediately following the soiventfcomonomer addition. The reactor is then heated up to the polymerization temperature setpoint. Subsequently, MMAO-3A (10 pmol) and diethyl zinc (DEZ, as specified) solutions are added to the reactor via the shot tank once the reactor is within 25 degrees of the reaction temperature setpoint. Next, ethylene is added to the

specified pressure as monitored via a micro-motion flow meter. Finally, dilute toluene solutions of catalyst and cocatalyst (as specified) are mixed, transferred to the shot tank, and added to the reactor to begin the polymerization reaction. The combined catalyst solution is then added to the reactor. The polymerization conditions are typically maintained for 10 rain with supplemental ethylene added on demand to maintain the specified pressure. Exothermic heat is continuously removed from the reaction vessel via the internal cooling coil, The resulting solution is removed from the reactor and stabilized by addition of 5 mL of a toluene solution containing

approximately 6.7 g of a hindered phenol antioxidant (Irganox 1010 from Ciba Geigy Corp.) and 1.3.3 g of a phosphorus stabilizer (Irgafos 1680 from Cib Geigy Corp.). Polymers are recovered by drying in a hood overnight and then are run for 12 h in a temperature-tamped vacuum oven with a final set point of 140°C. Between

polymerization runs, a wash cycle is conducted in which isopar-E (850 g) is added and the reactor is heated to at least 160°€. The reactor is then emptied of the heated solvent immediately before beginning a new polymerization run. Table 1

Table 2

Table 3 6 I 11.1 I 2.1 12.1 28,168 -63.6 -49.0, 760,22 7.61 17.9

13.0,

113.0

7 I 11.1 8.9 25.1 50,757 -65.4 -44.5, 522,933 13.03 18.2

1 12.9

8 1 12. 9.2 12.2 27.355 - - 130,076 3.02 3 -

9 12.8 1 11.9 90,201 - - 8 3,467 8.52 24.1 -

10 12.1 10.3 16.7 33.236 - - 499.062 8.95 10.7 -

H 9.0 6.4 12.1 24,081 - - 54,384 4.03 1 1.9 -

12 1 9.4 1 6.9 12.0 23,882 - - 23,718 3.03 10.1 -

[00225] Controls for each individual procaiaiyst are shown m Runs 1 -4. in the absence of a chain shuttling agent, the procaiaiysts are compatible and produce polymer blends, as indicated by the data of Table 3, Runs 5-7. These batch reactor results suggest that the procaiaiyst pair of (A4) and (B l) or (AT) and (Bl) may be able to produce OBCs under the right conditions.

[00226] In addition, as seen in FIG. 2, the GPC trace of Run 1 shows the molecular weight distribution of the polymer produced by Bl as a single catalyst; the GPC trace of Run 3 shows the molecular weight distribution of the polymer produced by A4 as a single catalyst, and the GPC trace of Run 4 shows the molecular weight distri bution of the polymer produced by A 1 as a single catalyst . The GPC trace of Run 6, in which both B 1 and A4 were introduced into reactor without diethyl zinc, is bimodal, showing molecular weight contributions from both Bl and A4. The GPC- trace of Run 7, in which both Bl and Al were introduced into reactor without diethyl zinc, is bimodal, showing molecular weight contributions from both Bl and Al , Accordingly, FIG. 2 provides evidence that the procatai yst pair of (A 1 ) and (B 1 ) or ( A4) and (B 1 ) may be able to produce OBCs at elevated reacto tempera tures,

100227] As shown in Table 3 Runs 1 -2, (B l ) is a low comonomer incorporator with a reactivity ratio of 57 (at 120°C) or 105 (at 50°C). Table 3, Run 4 shows that at

12(FC, (Al ) is a high comonomer incorporator with a reactivity ratio of 5.5. Table 3, Run 3 shows that at 120°C, (A4) is a high comonomer kcorporator with a reactivity ratio of 5. Thus, the rati of the reactivity ratios (n ^ftm) at 120°C for Bl and A l (and for Bl and A4) is less than 0.5 ,

[00228] Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 3, the GPC trace from Runs 1 1 & 12, in which both Bl and Al were introduced into a reactor with diethyl zinc, is monomodal with a narrower polydispcrsity index, indicative of a single molecolar weight distribution comprised of polymer chain thai transferred between both catalyst sites as is required for chain shuttling.

Specific Embodiments

[00229] The following are exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure and combinations thereof.

1 . A composition comprising an admixture or reaction product resulting from combining:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procatalyst

(B) a second olefin polymerization procatalyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization procataiyst comprises a metal - ligand complex f Formula (I):

(1), wherein:

each Zi independently is (Ci-C4«)hydrocarbon, (Ct-C*>)heierohydrocarbon _s (Ci-C;4ft)hydrocarbyL (Ci-C4o)heterohydrocarbyl _t Si(R ) ₅ , GeCR ).?, PCR ^C % (R ^Ci }2, O ^cl , SR , CN ₅ C¾ R ^Ci S(GK R ^a S(G)2-, (R ^a ) ₂ C-N- _? R C(0)0-, R OC(0)- , R. ^a C(0)N(R)- , (R ⁱ );2NC(0)- , halogen atom, or hydrogen atom;

each R ^Ci independently is (Ci-C.¾i)hydrocarbyl or (Ci-C.¾i)heterohydrocarbyl; each M ^A independently is a metal of any one of Groups 3 to 6 or Groups 7 to 9 of a Periodic Table of the Elements, the metal being in a formal oxidation state of +2, -3, +4, +5, or +6;

mi is an inieaer of 1 or 2;

each oj independently is hydrogen, or

(C i -C4Q)heteroh drocarbyl; each ofQ ² , Q ³ , and Q ⁴ independently is hydrogen, (C j -C40)hydrocarbyl, (C J -C o)hydroca b lO-, (C _j -C4Q)hydrocarbylS-, (C _j -C^ _Q jhydrocarbyiSiO)-,

(C _| -C4 )bydrocarby!S(())- - _> ((Cj^^hyd oca byl^N-, ((C 40)hydioca b i> P-, or (C I -C4Q)heterohydrocarbyi; each P independently is (C _j -€ )11 ydrocarbyi or (C j - ^Jheterohydroc-arbyl; wherein Q and Q^, and Q ³ . and θΛ and and optionally are take together to form a (C j -C4 )hydrocarbylene or (C j -C4o)heterohydrocarbylene ₅ or any three or four of to Q~ optionally are taken together to form a respective trivalent or tetravalent analog of (Cj-C4Q)hydrocarbylene or

(C _j -C4 )heterohydrocarbylene ₉ and the remainder ofQ* to Q ⁵ ₅ are as defined above;

each of the hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl, Si(R ^Ci ) , Ge(R ¹ )s, P(R }2, N(R ^CV }2 _? OR ^c \ S ^C1 , R ^C1 S(0K R ^C3 S(0) ₂ - ₅ (R ^C1 )20 ^» N-, R ^Ci C(0)0- _s R OC(OK

R ^, C(0)N(R)- _t (R ^Ci )2NC{O)-, hydrocarbyieiie, and heierohydrocarbyleiie groups independently is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R ^s substituents; and each R ^¾ independently is a halogen atom, polyfhioro substitution, perfluoro substitution, unsubstituted

RsSK R:,Ge- _? RO-, RS-, RS(0)-, RS(0) ₂ -, R ₃ P-, RsN-, R ₃ C-N-, NC-, RC(0)CK

ROC(O)- , RC(0)N(R)- , or RsNCCO)- , or two of the R ^s are taken together to form an unsubstituted (Ci~Cis)alkyiene, wherein each R independently is an wisubstituted

optionally, R ^u or R ^s may ^' have an additional interaction with M .

2. The composition of embodiment I , further comprising (D) an activator,

3. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein M ^A is a metal of any of Groups 3 to 6.

4. The composition of an of the preceding embodiments, wherein M ^A is a metal of Group 3 or Lanihamde. 5, The composition of an of the preceding embodiments, wherein M ^A is scandium.

6 , The composition of any of the precedin embodiments, wherein Zl is (C.i-C4o)h.ydrocafbyl, <Ci-C o)heterohydrqeart>yl _} Si(R ^c ¾ or a hydrido group.

7. The composition of any of die preceding embodiments, wherein 21 is a substituted benzyl or substituted heter oar yi benzyl.

8. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein Zl is

9, The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the metal-iigand complex of Formula (!) is selected from the group consisting of:

10. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first olefin polymerization procatalysi (A) and the second olefin polymerization procatalysi (B) have respective reactivity ratios ru and r /.a, such that the ratio (V ITIB) under polymerization conditions is 0.5 or less.

1 1. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first polymerization procatalysi (A) comprises a metal-ligand complex of Formula (11), wherein:

M is zirconium or hafnium;

R ²⁰ independently at each occurrence is a divalent aromatic or inertly substituted aromatic group containing from 5 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;

^' P is a divalent hydrocarbon or silarte group having from 3 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof; and

R ^D independently at each occurrence is a monovalent ligand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen, or two R° groups together are a divalent iigand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen.

12. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein said metal-h ^' gand complex of Formula OIL) has the following structure:

derivatives thereof, especially 3,$-di(i$opropyl)phenyl ₅ 3 _} 5-di(isobiityi)phenyl _> dibenzo- .1 H-pyrrole- .1 -yl, naphthyl, anthraeen~5~yL l,2,3,4,6 ₃ 7 ₅ 8,9K ciahydroanihracen.-5-yi;

T independently at each occurrence is a propylene- 1.,3-diyl group, a

bis(alkyiene)cyclohexan- 1 ,2-diyl group, or m inertly substituted derivative thereof substituted with from I to 5 aikyi aryl or aralkyl substituents having up to 20 carbons each; ²¹ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyi, trihydrocarbylsiiyihydroc-arbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen; and

R ^D , independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or

trihydrocarbylsilyi group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R groups together are a divalent hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or trihydrocarbylsilyi group of up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen.

13. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein said metal-li aiid complex of Formula (ΠΪ) has the following structure:

di(isob ^' utyl)phenyI _> dibenzo- 1 H -pyrrole- 1 -yl, or anthracen-5-yl,

R ^2t independently a each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyi, trihydrocarbykilylhydrocarbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen;

Ύ ⁴ is propan-1 ,3-diyl or bis(methyle«e)cyciohexan-l ,2-diyl and

R , independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or

trihydrocarbylsilyi group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R° groups together are a hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiy l or hydrocarbylsilanediyl group of up to 40 atoms not co on ting hydrogen,

14. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein said metal-ligand complex of Formula (Hi) is selected from the group consisting of:

15, The composition of any of embodiments 1-10, wherein the first olefin polymeri ture:

wherein X ^s at each occurrence is halide, Ν,Ν-ilimet yta tdo, or Ci-4 alky!, and preferably at each occurrence X ¹ is methyl;

R ^r independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, Cl-20 aikyi, or C6~ 20 aryl, or two adjacent R ^} groups are joined together thereby fonning a ring, and f is I -

5; and

R independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, Ct-20 aifcyi, or Gwa> aryl, or two adjacent R ^c groups are joined together thereby fomiing a ring, and c is 1-5.

16. The composition of embodiment 15, wherein the first olefin polymerization procaialyst (A) has the following structure:

wherein R* is CI -4 alkyl or cycloa!kyi, preferably methyl, isopropyl, i-butyl or cyciohexyi; and

X ¹ at each occurrence is halide, Ν,Ν-diniethylamido, or l-4 alkyl, preferably methyl,

17, The composition of embodiment 16, wherein the first olefin the following structure:

18. The composition of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the chain shuttling agent is an aluminum, zinc, or gallium compound containing at least one hydrocarby! subs&tuent having from 1 to 12 carbons.

19. An. olefi polymerization catalyst system comprising:

(A) a first olefin polymerization procataiyst,

(B) a second olefin polymerization procataiyst, and

(C) a chain shuttling agent,

wherein the second olefin polymerization procataiyst comprises a metal- ligand complex of Formula (]): (I), wherein:

each Zl independently is (C j

(Ci-C4o)hydrocarbyi, Si.(R ^a k Ge(R ^C! K P(R ^C1 ) _2> N(R ^C1 ) ₂ . 0R ^C , SR ^C1 , CN, CF.?, R ^a S(0)~, R ^a S(0) ₂ ~, (R ^C, )*( N-- R C(0)0-, ^cl OCfO)~ , R C(0) ^' N(R , (R ^Ci )2NC(0}- , halogen atom, or hydrogen atom;

each R. ^u independently is (Ci-C:¾o)hydrocarbyi or (Ci~C3o)heterohydrocarbyl; each M ^A .independently is a .metal of any one of Groups 3 to 6 or Groups 7 to 9 of a Periodic Table of the Elements, the metal being in a formal oxidation state of +2,

tm is an integer of I or 2;

each independently is hydrogen, (C _j -C^hydrocat yl, or

(C _j -C40)heterohydrocarbyl; each of Q^, Q^, and independently is hydrogen, (C _j -C^Jhydrocarbyi, (C _j -C4Q)hydrocarhyIO-., (C _j -C4Q)h droearbyl (C _j -C4 ₍₎ )hydrocarbylS(0}- _}

(C -C4o)hydrocar y!S{0)2-, ((C j -C-4o)h drocarbyl)2N ^> , ((C j -C4 )h droca byl)2P~ _: , or (C _| -C4o)heterohydrocarbyl; each independently is (C - _| ~C ^' 40)hydrocarbyI or ( _j -C40}heierohydrocarbyl; wherein and Q and Q-\ and Q^, and and C optionally are taken together to form a (C _j -C o)hydrocar ylene or (C -C4 _Q )heterohydrocarbylene, or any three or four of to p optionally are taken together to form a respective trivalent or tetravaietri analog of (C -C4 _Q )hydrocafbylene or

(C -C40)heterohydrocarbyiene _> and the remainder of Q to are as defined above; each of the hydrocarbyl heterohydrocarbyL Si(R ^C5 )3, Ge(R ^c P(R ^a )2, N(R ) _: , OR ^c \ SR , R ^a S(OK R ^a S(0) ₂ -, (R )20hh R ^C C(G)0-, R OC(Q>, R ^c, C(0)N(R.)« _> (R ')2NC(0)-, hydrocarbylene, and heterohydrocarbylene groups independently is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R suhstituents; and each R ^s independently is a halogen atom, polyflooro substitution, peril uoro substitution, unsubstkuted (Ci~C i8)alkyl, F C-, FCH2O-, F2HCO-, F3CO-, oxo (i.e., =0), RjSi-, R ₃ Ge-, RO-, RS-, RS(0>, RS(0) ₂ -, R ₂ P-, R ₂ N-, R ₂ C=Nh NC-, RC(0}0-,

ROC(0)~ , RC(Q)N(R)- , o RsNQ ^' G)- , or two of the I ^s are taken together to form an wherein each R independently is an unsubstituted

optionally, R ^{c 5} or R ^s may have an additional interaction with M ^A .

20. The catalyst system of embodiment .1 , further comprising (D) an activator,

21. The catalyst system of embodiment 19 or 20, wherein M ^A is a metal of any of Groups 3 to 6.

22. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 1 -21, wherein M ^A is a metal of Group 3.

23. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 19-2:2, wherein M ^A is scandium.

24. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 19-23, wherein Zl is

(Cj~C4ii)hydrocarbyl, (C i-C4o)heterohydrocafbyi _> Si(R ^c1 )¾ or ahydrido group.

25. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 1 -24., wherein Zl is a substituted benzyl, or substituted heteroaryibenzy! .

26. The cataiyst system of any of embodiments 1 -25, wherein Zl is

27. The cataiyst system, of any of embodiments 1 -26, wherein the metai- ligand complex of Formula (!) is selected from the group consisting of:

28. The catalyst system, of any of embodiments 19-27, wherein the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A) and the second olefin polymerization procatalyst (B) have respective reactivity ratios ru and r /.a, such that the ratio (V ITIB) under polymerization conditions is 0.5 or less.

29. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 1 -28 , wherein the first olefitt polymerization procatalyst (A) comprises a metal -Kgand complex of Formula (0); (II), wherein:

M is zirconium or hafnium;

R ²⁰ independently at each occurrence is a divalent aromatic or inertly substituted aromatic group containing from 5 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen;

^' P is a divalent hydrocarbon or silane group having from 3 to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or an inertly substituted derivative thereof; and

D independently at each occurrence is a monovalent ligand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen, or two R° groups together are a divalent ligand group of from 1 to 20 atoms, not counting hydrogen.

30. The catalyst system of any of the embodiments 19-29, wherein said metal-ligand complex of Formula f ll) has the following structure:

derivatives thereof, especially 3,5-di(isopropyl)pbenyJ ₅ 3 _} 5-di(isobutyl)phenyl _> dibenzo- .1 H-pyrrole- .1 -yl, naphthyl, anthraeen~5~ l, l,2,3,4,6 ₃ 7 ₅ 8,9K ciahydro nihracen-5-yi;

T independently at each occurrence is a propylene- 1 ,3-diyl group, a

bis(aJkyiene)cyclohexan- 1 ,2-diyl group, or m inertly substituted derivative thereof substituted with from I to 5 aik i aryl or araikyi substituents having up to 20 carbons each; ² ' independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, trihydrocarbylsilyihydroc-arbyl, 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 groups together are a divalent hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiyl or trihydrocarbylsUyl group of up to 40 atoms not counting hydrogen.

31. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 19-30, wherein said metal- ligand com lex of Formula (ΠΪ) has the following structure:

di(isobuty! }pSienyi, dibenzo- 1 H -pyrrole- 1 -yl, or anthracen-5-yl,

R ²ⁱ independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halo, hydrocarbyl, trihydrocarbylsilyl, trihydrocarbyki ylhydrocarbyl, alkoxy or amino of up to 50 atoms not counting hydrogen;

Ύ ⁴ is propan-J ,3-diyl or bis(methyle«e)cyciohexan-i ,2-diyl and

R , independently at each occurrence is halo or a hydrocarbyl or

trihydrocarbylsilyl group of up to 20 atoms not counting hydrogen, or 2 R° groups together are a hydrocarbylene, hydrocarbadiy l or hydrocarbylsilanediyl group of up to

40 atoms not cou ting hydrogen,

32, The catalyst system of any of embodiments 1 -35 , wherein said metai- ligarsd complex of Formula (III) is selected from the group consisting of:

33, The catalyst system of any of embodiments 19-28, wherein the first olefin structure:

wherein X ^s at each occurrence is halide, Ν,Ν-ilimethyla tdo, or Ci-4 alky!, and preferably at each occurrence X ¹ is methyl;

R ^r independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, C I -20 alky , or C6~ 20 aryl, or two adjacent ^} groups are joined together thereby forming a ring, and f is I -

5; and

R independently at each occurrence is hydrogen, halogen, Ct-20 aifcyi, or Gwa> aryl, or two adjacent R ^c groups are joined together thereby fomiing a ring, and c is 1-5.

34, The catalyst system of any of embodiments 19-28, wherein the first olefin polymerization procatalyst (A) has the following structure:

wherein R* is Ci-4 alkyl or cycloalkyl, preferably methyl, isopropyl, i-butyl or cyciohexyi; and

X ¹ at each occurrence is haHde, , -dimeihyiaraido, or C I -4 alkyl, preferably methyl.

35, The catalyst system of any of embodiments 19-28, wherein the first olefin pol following structure:

36. The catalyst system of any of embodiments 1 -35, wherein the chain shuttling agent is an aluminum, zinc, or gallium compound containing at least one hydrocarbyi substituent having from I to 12 carbons.

37. A process for preparing a multi-block copolymer comprising contacting one or more addition po!ymerizab!e monomers under addition polymerization conditions with a composition according to any of embodiments 1.-18 or an olefin polymerization catalyst system of embodiments 1 -36.

38. A process for preparing a multi-block copolymer comprising contacting ethylene and at least one copolymerizable comonorner other than ethylene under addition polymerization conditions with a composition according to any of embodimen ts 1 -18 or an olefin polymerization catalyst system of embodiments 19-36. 39. A process for preparing a .niulii-bioek copolymer comprising contacting ethylene and a C3-8 aipha-oiefin under addition polymerization conditions with, a composition according to any of embodiments 1-1.8 or an olefin polymerization catalyst system of embodiments 19-36.

40. The process according to any of embodiments 37-39, wherein the process is a continuous solution process.

41. The process of embodiment 40, wherein the process is carried out at temperature of equal to or greater than 120 °C,

42. A multi-block copolymer prepared by the process according to any of embodiments 37- 1.

43. The multi-block copolymer of embodiment 42, wherein the multi-block copolymer comprises, in polymerized form, one or more addition polyroerizable monomers, said copolymer containing therein two or more segments or blocks differing in comonomer content, crystal!inity, tacticity, homogeneity, density, melting point or glass transition temperature,

44. A multi-block copolymer of embodiment 42, wherein the multi-block copolymer comprises, in polymerized form, ethylene and one or more eopol raerizahie comonomers, said copolymer containing therein two or more segments or blocks differing in comonomer content, crystal linity, tacticity. homogeneity, density, melting point or glass transition temperature.

45. A fimctionalized derivative of the multi-block copolymer of embodiment 42.

46. A multi-block copolymer of embodiment 42 comprising the same in the form of a film, at. least one la yer of a multilayer film , at l east one layer of a lami nated article, a foamed article, a fiber, a nonwoven fabric, an injection molded article, a blow molded article, a roto-moided article, or an adhesive.