Sulfur-containing and sulfur-nitrogen-containing catalysts for polymerization of olefins and polar monomers

A method for polymerizing olefinic monomers selected from the group consisting of:

• (A) acyclic aliphatic olefins, (B) olefins having a hydrocarbyl polar functionality, and (C) mixtures of (i) at least one olefin having a hydrocarbyl polar functionality and (ii) at least one acyclic aliphatic olefin, the method comprising contacting the olefinic monomer or monomers under polymerization conditions with a catalyst system comprising:
• (a) a complex having a formula selected from the group consisting of LMX1X2 and LML′, wherein
• L is a chelating ligand containing sulfur donors,
• M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, manganese, iron, cobalt, palladium and nickel,
• X1 and X2 are independently selected from the group consisting of halides, hydride, triflate, acetate, borate, alkyl, alkoxyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkoxyl, aryl, thiolate, carbon monoxide, cyanate and olefins, and
• L′ is a bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of dithiolene, dithiolate, diphosphine, bisimine, bispyridine, phenanthroline, oxolate, catecholate, thiolatoamide, thiolatoimine, thiolatophosphine and derivatives thereof;
• and
• (b) an activating cocatalyst.