Patent ID: 6864334

Claim:
A method for polymerizing olefinic monomers, comprising contacting the following compounds in situ: (a) a metal compound MXZ n , wherein: (i) M is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ag and Au, (ii) X is selected from the group consisting of halide, hydride, triflate, acetate, borate, C 1 through C 12 alkyl, C 1 through C 12 alkoxy, C 3 through C 12 cycloalkyl, C 3 through C 12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, thiolate, nitrate, sulfate, nitrile, and hydroxide, and (iii) Z is selected from the group consisting of diethylether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, acetone, 2 butanone, phenylisocyanate, halide, hydride, triflate, acetate, borate, C 1 through C 12 alkyl, C 1 through C 12 alkoxy, C 3 through C 12 cycloalkyl, C 3 through C 12 cycloalkoxy, aryl, thiolate, carbon monoxide, nitrate, nitrile, hydroxide, sulfate, olefins, and water, wherein n equals 0, 1 or 2; (b) a compound L comprising a tri-dentate nitrogen-containing ligand selected from the group consisting of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine, [2,6-bis(1-phenylimino)ethyllpyridine, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, and their substituted derivatives; (c) an activating cocatalyst; and (d) one or more olefinic monomers selected from the group consisting of: (i) aliphatic olefins, (ii) olefins having a hydrocarbyl polar functional group and (iii) mixtures of at least one olefin having a hydrocarbyl polar functional group and at least one aliphatic olefin.