This invention relates to a process to produce a polyalpha-olefin comprising: 1) contacting one or more alpha-olefin monomers having 3 to 24 carbon atoms with an unbridged substituted bis cyclopentadienyl
transition metal compound having: 1) at least one non-isoolefin substitution on both cyclopentadientyl rings, or 2) at least two substitutions on at least one cyclopentadienyl ring, a non-coordinating anion activator, and optionally an
alkyl-aluminum compound, where the
molar ratio of
transition metal compound to activator is 10:1 to 0.1:1, and if the
alkyl aluminum compound is present then the
molar ratio of
alkyl aluminum compound to
transition metal compound is 1:4 to 4000:1, under
polymerization conditions wherein: i)
hydrogen is present at a
partial pressure of 0.1 to 50 psi, based upon the total pressure of the reactor or the concentration of the
hydrogen is from 1 to 10,000 ppm or less by weight; ii) wherein the alpha-olefin
monomer(s) having 3 to 24 carbon atoms are present at 10 volume % or more based upon the total volume of the catalyst / activator / alkylaluminum compound solutions, monomers, and any diluents or solvents present in the reaction; iii) the
residence time of the reaction is at least 5 minutes; iv) the productivity of the process is at least 43,000 grams of total product per
gram of transition
metal compound; v) the process is continuous or semi-continuous, and vi) the temperature in the
reaction zone does not rise by more than 10° C. during the reaction; and vii)
ethylene is not present at more than 30 volume % of the monomers entering the
reaction zone; and 2) obtaining a polyalpha-olefin (PAO), optionally hydrogenating the PAO, wherein the PAO comprises at least 50 mole % of a C3 to C24 alpha-olefin
monomer, and wherein the PAO has a kinematic
viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or less.