Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Ronald Pearce

John P Candlin

Keith Collier Wilson

Denis G Ballard

Peter Anthony Robinson

Adrian Walter Parkins

Samuel Dimewere Ibekwe

Michael Franz Lappert

A transition metal compound containing at least one .pi.-bonded arene is contacted with an inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxyhalide, hydroxyhalide or halide. The transition metal compound can be a compound such as titanium(O)ditoluene or TiCl.sub.2.2AlCl.sub.3 durene. The inorganic compound is preferably of high surface area and this may be inherent in the compound or can be achieved by a grinding procedure. The inorganic compound can be treated with a halogen containing compound either before, during or after the contacting with the transition metal compound. The product of the contacting is useful either as catalyst for the polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbon monomers or as a component of such a catalyst. When used as a component of an olefine polymerization catalyst, the transition metal product can be mixed with an organo-aluminum compound and a Lewis Base compound such as an ester. The catalysts can be used to polymerize or copolymerize olefine monomers to obtain a high yield of a polymer having good properties. Some of the catalysts produce polymers of high molecular weight which have an interesting combination of properties.

Supported arene complex olefin catalysis

A transition metal compound containing at least one .pi.-bonded arene is contacted with an inorganic oxide, hydroxide, oxyhalide, hydroxyhalide or halide. The transition metal compound can be a compound such as titanium(O)ditoluene or TiCl.sub.2.2AlCl.sub.3 durene. The inorganic compound is preferably of high surface area and this may be inherent in the compound or can be achieved by a grinding procedure. The inorganic compound can be treated with a halogen containing compound either before, during or after the contacting with the transition metal compound. The product of the contacting is useful either as catalyst for the polymerization of unsaturated hydrocarbon monomers or as a component of such a catalyst. When used as a component of an olefine polymerization catalyst, the transition metal product can be mixed with an organo-aluminium compound and a Lewis Base compound such as an ester. The catalysts can be used to polymerize or copolymerize olefine monomers to obtain a high yield of a polymer having good properties. Some of the catalysts produce polymers of high molecular weight which have an interesting combination of properties.

Transition metal composition

Organometallic compounds of the general formula L.sub.r M(CH.sub.2 SiR.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3).sub.m (1) where M is a transition metal of Groups IIIA to VIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, m is an integer from 1 to the prevailing valency of the metal M, L.sub.r represents the sum of any other incidental ligands attached to the metal M, r being 0 or an integer, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 represent substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl groups or hydrogen atoms, at least one of said groups having the general formula ##SPC1## Where n is an integer from 1 to 5 and Y is a group capable of donating electrons to the metal M are useful as catalysts for olefin polymerization. The compounds may be used as catalysts alone or when supported upon a matrix for example of alumina. Particularly useful compounds are those in which the transition metal M has a valency lower than the maximum valency for that metal.

Organo-metallic compounds

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Ronald Pearce