Process for the production of polymers of ª‡-olefines

Polymers of olefins are obtained by the use as sole catalystic material of metal chelates of Group IVb, Vb, VIb, VIIb, or VIII metals and b -diketones, b -ketocarboxylic esters, acetylacetonimide, salicylaldehyde, chloromalondialdehyde, a -hydroxypropionic acid, dihydroxymalonic acid, histidine or 1,3-diaminobutyric acid. Copolymers with a wide variety of monomers may be obtained. Optional ingredients are catalyst carriers, such as charcoal, carbon black, aluminium oxide, silica gel and aluminium silicate, and organic amines or carboxylic acids or amides. The reaction may be in bulk, in water, or preferably in an organic medium. Most of the examples illustrate the use of acetylacetonate complexes. The products may be of high crystallinity or enhanced 1,4-cis or 1,4-trans structure.