Dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic/olefin polymers

Abstract

A process is provided to produce a dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic/olefin polymer. The process comprises contacting at least one dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic compound, at least one olefin, at least one titanium complex, and at least one aluminoxane in a polymerization zone under polymerization conditions to form the dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic/olefin polymer.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process to produce a dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic/olefin polymer said process comprising contacting at least one dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic compound, at least one olefin, at least one titanium complex catalyst, and at least one aluminoxane in a polymerization zone under polymerization conditions to form said polymer; 
 wherein said dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic compound has the formula:                          wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;    wherein said titanium complex has the following general formula:    (X 1 )(X 2 )(X 3 )(X 4 )M 1      wherein M 1  is titanium;    wherein (X 1 ) is independently selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyls, indenyls, fluorenyls, substituted cyclopentadienyls, substituted indenyls, and substituted fluorenyls;    wherein substituents on the substituted cyclopentadienyls, substituted indenyls, and substituted fluorenyls of (X 1 ) are selected from the group consisting of aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic and cyclic groups, silyl groups, alkyl halide groups, halides, organometallic groups, phosphorus groups, nitrogen groups, oxygen groups, such as alkoxides and aryloxides, silicon, phosphorus, boron, germanium, and hydrogen;    wherein (X 2 ), (X 3 ), and (X 4 ) are independently selected from the group consisting of halides, aliphatic groups, substituted aliphatic groups, cyclic groups, substituted cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and cyclic groups, combinations of aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, combinations of substituted aliphatic groups and substituted cyclic groups, amido groups, substituted amido groups, phosphido groups, substituted phosphido groups, alkoxide groups, substituted alkoxide groups, aryloxide groups, substituted aryloxide groups, organometallic groups, and substituted organometallic groups.    
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein said olefin contains 2 to about 10 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 2  wherein said dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic compound is dicyclopentadiene.  
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 3  wherein said olefin is ethylene.  
     
     
         5 . A process according to  claim 4  wherein said titanium complex is selected from the group consisting of n 5 -cyclopentadienyl(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy)titanium(IV) dichloride, bis(n 5 -cyclopentadienyldichlorotitanium) oxide, n 5 -cyclopentadienyl(3,5-di-tert-butylphenoxy)titanium(IV) dichloride, and n 5 -cyclopentadienyl(N,N-bis(trimethylsilyl)amido)titanium(IV) dichloride, and n 5 -cyclopentadienyl titanium (IV) trichloride, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 5  wherein said polymerization zone is a solution process or a slurry process.  
     
     
         7 . A process to produce an ethylene/dicyclopentadiene polymer comprising contacting: 
 1) n 5 -cyclopentadienyl titanium(IV) trichloride    2) ethylene;    3) dicyclopentadiene; and    4) methylaluminoxane;    in a solution polymerization process under polymerization conditions to produce said ethylene/dicyclopentadiene polymer.    
     
     
         8 . A polymer produced by  claim 1 .  
     
     
         9 . A polymer produced by  claim 7 .  
     
     
         10 . A dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic/olefin polymer consisting essentially of at least one polymerized dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic compound and at least one polymerized olefin.  
     
     
         11 . A dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic/olefin polymer according to  claim 10  wherein said at least one polymerized dialkenyl-tricyclic-nonaromatic compound is dicyclopentadiene and wherein said at least one polymerized olefin is ethylene.  
     
     
         12 . A normally solid ethylene/dicyclopentadiene polymer characterized by being soluble at 70° in toluene.  
     
     
         13 . An article produced from the polymer of  claim 10 .  
     
     
         14 . An article produced from the polymer of  claim 11.