PREPARATION OF ALKALINE EARTH METAL ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS

Stable liquid hydrocarbon-soluble novel alkaline earth metal alkoxide compositions, and complexes thereof with, for example, alkyllithiums, dialkylmagnesiums, trialkylaluminums and the like, useful as or in the preparation of polymerization catalysts and initiators for the polymerization of alpha-olefins and diolefins, which are prepared, for instance, by reacting certain organomagnesium or other alkaline earth metal organo-compounds in liquid hydrocarbon solvents with (a) aliphatic 2-alkyl-substituted C4-C12 monohydric primary alcohols, or (b) mixtures of (a) with C3-C12 aliphatic secondary alcohols. Alternatively, these alcohols may be substituted by 2-alkoxyalkanols. Illustrative examples of the novel alkaline earth metal alkoxides are magnesium and barium 2-methyl-1-pentyloxide. An illustrative organometallic complex of the said alkaline earth metal alkoxides is that made by mixing n-butyllithium in heptane solution with magnesium 2-methylpentyoxide in heptane solution.