Disclosed herein are processes for polymerizing ethylene, acyclic olefins,
and/or selected cyclic olefins, and optionally selected olefinic esters or carboxylic
acids, and other monomers. The polymerizations are catalyzed by selected transition
metal compounds, and sometimes other co-catalysts. Since some of the polymerizations
exhibit some characteristics of living polymerizations, block copolymers can be
readily made. Many of the polymers produced are often novel, particularly in regard
to their microstructure, which gives some of them 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 herein is the synthesis of linear -olefins by the oligomerization
of ethylene using as a catalyst system a combination a nickel compound having a
selected -diimine ligand and a selected Lewis or Bronsted acid, or by contacting
selected -diimine nickel complexes with ethylene.
