Process for producing α-olefin polymer, α-olefin polymer, and lubricating oil composition

摘要

Provided is a method of producing an α-olefin polymer including a step of polymerizing one or more kinds of α-olefins each having 6 to 20 carbon atoms with a catalyst obtained by using a specific transition metal compound. By the method, an α-olefin polymer having a viscosity suitable for use in a lubricating oil can be produced on an industrial scale with ease, and further, the characteristics of the product can be widely changed through the control of reaction conditions.

主权项

1. A method of producing an α-olefin polymer, comprising:
polymerizing one or more α-olefins, each comprising 6 to 14 carbon atoms, with a catalyst obtained by combining components (A) and (B): (A) a transition metal compound of formula (I): where R1 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, at least one selected from the group consisting of R1 to R3 represents a hydrogen atom, at least one selected from the group consisting of R4 to R6 represents a hydrogen atom, Ra and Rb each independently represent a divalent group for bonding two cyclopentadienyl rings selected from the group consisting of —CR7R8—, and —SiR7R8—, R7 and R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, X1 and X2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and comprising one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of a halogen atom, a silicon atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a nitrogen atom, and a phosphorus atom, and M represents a transition metal belonging to Group 4 of the periodic table; and (B) at least one selected from the group consisting of (b-1) an organic aluminum oxy compound and (b-2) an ionic compound capable of reacting with the above transition metal compound to transform the compound into a cation; wherein reaction conditions in the polymerizing comprise: a hydrogen pressure of 0 to 0.2 MPa (G); and a reaction temperature of 0 to 200° C.; wherein the α-olefin polymer has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 to 1,000 mm2/s; wherein the α-olefin polymer is an α-olefin polymer whose α-olefin unit sequence portion has an isotacticity of 20 to 40% and a syndiotacticity of 40% or less in terms of triad expression.