Appeal No. 2005-2257
Application No. 10/087,028
L is a neutral or charged ligand; and
p is a integer such that complex I is neutral and the
valency of M is satisfied; and
2) introducing at least one olefin into the reaction
vessel, wherein at least two molecules of olefin are
coupled together.
The reference set forth below is relied upon by the examiner
in the Section 102 rejection before us:
Hauptman et al. (Hauptman) WO 01/923242 A2 Dec. 6, 2001
(published World Intell. Prop. Org. Patent Application)
All of the appealed claims stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(a) as being anticipated by Hauptman.
OPINION
Hauptman discloses compounds useful as olefin polymerization
catalysts including, for example, the ligands represented by
formulae XIV and XV shown on page 30. The undisputed issue in
this appeal is whether the R26 and R27 substituents of these
ligands comply with the appealed independent claim 12 definition
for catalyst substituents R1 and R2 and in particular the proviso
that “not more than 1 of R1 or R2 is a hydrocarbon which is
branched at the imino-bonded carbon atom.”
Concerning this issue, the appellant and the examiner both
agree that Hauptman defines his R26 and R27 substituents as being
“each independently hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl,
3
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007