.ALPHA.-OLEFINS AND OLEFIN POLYMERS AND PROCESSES THEREFOR

摘要

Disclosed herein are processes for polymerizing ethylene, acyclic olefins, a nd/or selected cyclic olefins, and optionally selected o lefinic esters or carboxylic acids, and other monomers. The polymerizations are cata lysed by selected transition metal compounds, and someti mes other co-catalysts. Since some of the polymerizations exhibit some character istics of living polymerizations, block copolymers can b e readily made. Many of the polymers produced are often novel, particularly in regard to their microstructure, which gives some of the m unusual properties. Numerous novel catalysts are disclosed, as well as some novel processes for making them. The polymers made are useful as elastomers, molding resins, in adhesives, etc. Also described here in is the synthesis of linear .alpha.-olefins by the oli gomerization of ethylene using as a catalyst system a combination of a nickel compound ha ving a selected .alpha.-diimine ligand and a selected Le wis or Bronsted acid, or by contacting selected $(a)-diimine nickel complexes with ethylene.