Methods for the addition polymerization of cycloolefins using a cationic
Group 10 metal complex and a weakly coordinating anion of the formula:
wherein [(R)zM(L)x(L)y]
is a cation complex where M represents a Group 10 transition metal; R represents
an anionic hydrocarbyl containing ligand; L represents a Group 15 neutral
electron donor ligand; L represents a labile neutral electron donor ligand;
x is 1 or 2; and y is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and z is 0 or 1, wherein the sum of x, y,
and z is 4; and [WCA] represents a weakly coordinating counteranion complex; and
b and d are numbers representing the number of times the cation complex and weakly
coordinating counteranion complex are taken to balance the electronic charge on
the overall catalyst complex.
