Process for polymerizing or copolymerizing olefins

In a process for polymerizing or copolymerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of:

• A. from 0.001 to 0.5 millimols calculated as the titanium or vanadium atoms per liter of the inert organic liquid medium of a transition metal catalyst compound prepared by reacting in an inert organic liquid medium
• 1. a titanium or vanadium compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula TiX.sub.4 wherein X is a halogen atom, compounds of the formula Ti(OR).sub.4-n X.sub.n wherein X is the same as defined above, R is an alkyl group, and n is zero or a positive number of less than 4, compounds of the formula VOX.sub.3 wherein X is the same as defined above, and compounds of the formula VX.sub.4 wherein X is the same as defined above, with
• 2. a solid carrier of a magnesium compound;
• and
• B. at least 0.01 millimol per liter of the inert organic liquid medium of an organometallic compound catalyst component of a metal of Groups I to III of the periodic table selected from the group consisting of:
• compounds of the formula RM wherein R is an alkyl or aryl group, and M is lithium, sodium, or potassium;
• compounds of the formula R.sub.2 M' wherein R is the same as defined above and M' is zinc or cadmium;
• compounds of the formula R.sub.2-l MgX.sub.l wherein R is the same as defined above, X is a halogen atom, and l is zero or 1;
• compounds of the formula MAlR.sub.4 wherein R and M are the same as defined above;
• compounds of the formula R'.sub.3-m AlX.sub.m wherein R' is a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl or aryl group, X is the same as defined above, and m is zero or a positive numer not greater than 3;
• compounds of the formula R'.sub.3-n Al(OR).sub. n wherein R' and R are the same as defined above, and n is a positive number greater than zero but not greater than 3;
• and compounds of the formula RAl(OR)X wherein R and X are the same as defined above;
• and with the proviso that where there are two or more of R, R', and X in the above formulae, they may be the same or different;
• the improvement wherein the transition metal catalyst compound is formed by reacting together:
• a. a magnesium compound adduct which is the reaction product of
• aa. 1 mol of a magnesium dihalide, with
• ab. from 0.1 to 10 mols of an electron donor selected from the group consisting of:
• water;
• aliphatic alcohols;
• aliphatic carboxylic acids;
• aliphatic carboxylic acid esters;
• aromatic carboxylic acid ester;
• aliphatic ketones;
• and aromatic ketones;
• with the proviso that the acids and alcohols each have from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, the esters have not more than 12 carbon atoms in each of their constituent acid and alcohol moieties, and the ketones have not more than 13 carbon atoms, said reaction being carried out at a temperature of -10 to +100.degree. C.;
• b. a compound of silicon or tin present in an amount of from 1/50 to 50 molar times per mol of the electron donor, having the formula R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 XSi, or R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 XSn, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different, and are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy, and halogen, and wherein X is a halogen;
• and
• c. a compound of titanium or vanadium selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formulae:
• TiX.sub.4 ;
• Ti(OR).sub.4-n X.sub.n ;
• VOX.sub.3 ;
• and VX.sub.4, wherein X is a halogen atom, R is an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and n is zero or a positive number of less than 4.