Heterogeneous catalyst component (A) for the polymerization of .alpha.-olefins comprising a functionalized support (A.1), an organo aluminum compound (A.2) and at least one metallocene complex of groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the periodic table (A.3), wherein said metallocene complex (A3) is linked to the functionalized support (A.1) through said organo aluminum compound (A.2), and wherein:
- a) said functionalized support (A. 1) results from the reaction of an inorganic porous support comprising one or more oxides of the elements of groups 2, 13 or 14 of the periodic table, dehydrated or not, and a functionalizing compound of general formula:
- ##STR15## wherein:
- R.sub.1 is halogen, an alkoxide of formula OR, R being a branched or a non-branched alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl group, a C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl group, a C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl group, a C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 arylalkyl group or a C.sub.7 -C.sub.40 alkylaryl group;
- R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are the same or different from each other, are linear or branched C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl groups, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 arylakyl groups, or C.sub.7 -C.sub.40 alkylaryl groups;
- R.sub.6 is a methylene group or propylene group;
- E is selected from the group consisting of --NH.sub.2, --NHR, --SH, --OH, and --PHR wherein R has the above defined meaning;
- the sum of a+b+c is equal to 3, a being always higher than 0;
- and,
- d, e independently have values between 0 and 10;
- and,
- b) said metallocene complex of groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the periodic table (A.3) is represented by the general formula III:
- ##STR16## wherein:
- M is a transition metal of the groups 3, 4, 5 or 6 of the periodic table;
- each X is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, linear or branched alkyl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxyl groups, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl groups, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl groups, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryloxyl groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 arylalkyl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.40 alkylaryl groups and C.sub.8 -C.sub.40 arylalkenyl groups;
- L.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl (Cp) of formula ##STR17## indenyl (Ind) of formula ##STR18## and fluorenyl (Flu) of formula ##STR19## wherein each G is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched alkyl groups from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl groups optionally substituted by an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 arylalkyl groups and C.sub.7 -C.sub.40 alkylaryl groups, and a group of general formula (IV) ##STR20## wherein:
- R.sub.7, R.sub.8, R.sub.9, R.sub.10, R.sub.11, R.sub.12, R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 are the same or different from each other, are hydrogen, linear or branched alkyl groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted by an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, C.sub.6 -C.sub.10 aryl groups, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 alkenyl groups, C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 arylalkyl groups or C.sub.7 -C.sub.40 alkylaryl groups, and provided that R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 optionally are equal to Y;
- Y is optionally a halogen or NR.sub.11 R.sub.12 or hydroxyl;
- o, p, q, r, s are integers which have values between 0 and 10;
- u=5-g,
- v=7-g,
- z=9-g,
- D is equal to L.sub.1 or is a heteroatom belonging to group 13, 14, 15, or 16 of the periodic table;
- A is a group which binds the ligands L.sub.1 and D according to the formula (V):
- ##STR21## wherein T is selected from the group consisting of carbon, silicon, germanium and tin;
- j is an integer which has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4;
- k is an integer which has a value of 0, 1, 2 or 3;
- m, n, and h are integers having a sum equal to 4;
- m and n have values of 0, 1 or 2 so that their sum is 1 or 2;
- h is no higher than 3;
- g is an integer between 0 and 2;
- and when h is equal to 3 then m+n are equal to 1 and g is 0.