Transition metal/rare earth catalyst and olefin polymerization process

A process for producing a polymerization catalyst system comprising:

• (1) contacting neodymium trichloride and n-butyl lithium to produce a reaction mixture;
• and
• (2) contacting said reaction mixture of step (1) and titanium tetrachloride to produce a catalyst A;
• (3) contacting said catalyst A and a catalyst B comprising (Me.sub.5 C.sub.5)NdCl.sub.2.Li(Et.sub.2 O).sub.2 and a metal alkyl selected from the group consisting of butyl lithium, dibutyl magnesium, diethylaluminum hydride, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein said neodymium trichloride is present in an amount in the range of 1 to 30 moles per mole of titanium tetrachloride;
• said n-butyl lithium in step (1) is present in an amount in the range of 1 to 10 moles of n-butyl lithium per mole of neodymium trichloride;
• said (Me.sub.5 C.sub.5)NdCl.sub.2.Li(Et.sub.2 O).sub.2 is present in an amount in the range of 0.1 to 10 moles of (Me.sub.5 C.sub.5)NdCl.sub.2.Li(Et.sub.2 O).sub.2 per mole of titanium tetrachloride;
• and
• said metal alkyl in step (3) is present in an amount in the range of 1 to 100 moles of metal alkyl per mole of (Me.sub.5 C.sub.5)NdCl.sub.2.Li(Et.sub.2 O).sub.2 ;
• and
• wherein said contacting in step (1) is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 15.degree. C. to 110.degree. C.;
• a pressure of 0 to 50 psig;
• and for a time of 1 minute to 2 days;
• said contacting in step (2) is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 15.degree. C. to 110.degree. C.;
• a pressure of 0 to 50 psig;
• and for a time of 1 second to 1 hour;
• and
• said contacting in step (3) is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 15.degree. C. to 110.degree. C.;
• a pressure of 0 to 750 psig;
• and for a time of 1 second to 1 hour.