Process for the oligomerization of α-olefins having low unsaturation

A process for the preparation of a poly(α-olefin) polymer comprising polymerizing at least one α-olefin in the presence of hydrogen and a catalytically effective amount of catalyst to form a substantially amorphous polymer possessing a Mw of from about 500 to about 50,000, a Mw/Mn of from about 1.0 to about 10, a Kv100 of from about 10 to about 10,000, an iodine number of from about 0.0 to about 10, and a Tg of below about −60° C., wherein the catalyst comprises the product obtained by combining a metallocene catalyst with a cocatalyst, the metallocene catalyst being at least one meso compound of general formula:

• wherein:
• A1 and A2 are independently selected from the group consisting of mononuclear and polynuclear hydrocarbons;
• M1 is a metal from group IVb, Vb, or VIb of the Periodic Table;
• R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C6-C10 aryl, C6-C10 aryloxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C7-C40 alkylaryl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl and halogen;
• R7 is selected from the group consisting of:
• ═BR11, ═AlR11, —Ge—, —Sn—, —O—, —S—, ═SO, ═SO2, ═NR11, ═CO, ═PR11 and ═P(0)R11, where
• R11, R12, and R13 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, —C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 fluoroalkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C6-C10 fluoroaryl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, and C7-C40 alkylaryl, or, alternatively, R11 can be combined with R12 or R11 can be combined with R13, in each case with the atoms connecting them, to form a ring;
• and M2 is selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, and tin;
• R8 and R9 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 fluoroalkyl, C6-C10 aryl, C6-C10 fluoroaryl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C2-C10 alkenyl, C7-C40 arylalkyl, C8-C40 arylalkenyl, and C7-C40 alkylaryl;
• m and n are identical or different and are zero, 1, or 2, with m plus n being zero, 1 or 2.