Process for the oligomerization of alpha-olefins having low unsaturation

摘要

A process is disclosed for the preparation of a poly(alpha-olefin) polymer wherein the process comprises polymerizing at least one alpha-olefin in the presence of hydrogen and a catalytically effective amount of catalyst comprising the product obtained by combining a metallocene catalyst with a cocatalyst, the metallocene catalyst being at least one meso compound of general formula: wherein: A¹ and A² are independently selected from the group consisting of mononuclear and polynuclear hydrocarbons; M¹ is a metal from group IVb, Vb, or VIb of the Periodic Table; R¹ and R² are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀-alkoxy, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, C₆-C₁₀ aryloxy, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₇-C₄₀ arylalkyl, C₇-C₄₀ alkylaryl, C₈-C₄₀ arylalkenyl and halogen; R⁷ is selected from the group consisting of: -BR¹¹, -AlR¹¹, -Ge-, -Sn-, -O-, -S-, -SO, -SO₂, -NR¹¹, -CO, -PR¹¹ and -P(O)R¹¹, where R¹¹, R¹², and R¹³ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ fluoroalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, C₆-C₁₀ fluoroaryl, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₇-C₄₀ arylalkyl, C₈-C₄₀ arylalkenyl, and C₇-C₄₀ alkylaryl, or R¹¹ and R¹² or R¹¹ and R¹³, in each case with the atoms connecting them, form a ring; and M² is selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, and tin; R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₁-C₁₀ fluoroalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, C₆-C₁₀ fluoroaryl, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl, C₇-C₄₀ arylalkyl, C₈-C₄₀ arylalkenyl, and C₇-C₄₀ alkylaryl; m and n are identical or different and are zero, 1, or 2, with m plus n being zero, 1 or 2.