Patent ID: 7582712

Claim:
A catalyst precursor, prepared by a process comprising the steps of combining in a reactor: magnesium; a compound having the formula R 1 m Si(OR 2 ) n , wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbyl, m is 0-3, n is 1-4, and m+n=4, and wherein each R 1 and each R 2 may be the same or different; a compound having the formula R 3 x SiX y , wherein R 3 is C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbyl, X is halogen, x is 0-3, y is 1-4, and x+y=4, and wherein each X and each R 3 may be the same or different; a compound having the formula M(OR 4 ) a X 4-a , wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, and V, wherein R 4 is C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbyl, X is halogen, and 0<a≦4 wherein each X and each R 4 may be the same or different; a substituted aromatic furan compound having a structural formula, wherein R 5 and R 8 are independently C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbons, and wherein R 6 and R 7 are independently hydrogen or C 1 -C 20 hydrocarbons; and an alkyl halide or aromatic halide compound having the formula R 9 X, wherein R 9 is an alkyl group containing from 3 to 20 carbon atoms or an aromatic group containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms and X is halogen; wherein the compounds having the formulas R 1 m Si(OR 2 ) n and R 3 x SiX y are combined prior to either being exposed to the compound having the formula M(OR 4 ) a X 4-a , and wherein the alkyl halide or aromatic halide compound having the formula R 9 X is introduced to the reactor after the addition of magnesium, the substituted aromatic furan, and the compounds having the formulas R 1 m Si(OR 2 ) n , R 3 x SiX y , and M(OR 4 ) a X 4-a .