Novel catalyst for producing relatively narrow molecular weight distribution olefin polymers

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is most advantageously practiced in a polymerization process wherein an .
alpha.
-olefin is polymerized, generally in the presence of hydrogen as a molecular weight control agent, in a polymerization zone containing an inert diluent and the catalytic reaction product as hereinbefore described.
Especially advantageous is the copolymerization of ethylene and higher .
alpha.
-olefins using the catalytic reaction product of this invention.
The foregoing polymerization process is most beneficially carried out under relatively low temperature and pressure (as compared to classical high pressure free radical techniques), although very high pressures are optionally employed.
Olefins which are suitably homopolymerized or copolymerized in the practice of this invention are generally the aliphatic .
alpha.
-monoolefins or .
alpha.
-diolefins having from 2 to 18 carbon atoms.
Illustratively, such .
alpha.
-olefins can include ethylene, propylene, butene-1, pentene-1, 3-methylbutene-1, 4-methylpentene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, dodecene-1, octadecene-1, 1,7-octadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, mixtures thereof and the like.
It is understood that .
alpha.
-olefins may be copolymerized with other .
alpha.
-olefins and/or with small amounts, i.
e.
, up to about 25 weight percent based on the polymer, of other ethylenically unsaturated monomers such as styrene, .
alpha.
-methylstyrene and similar ethylenically unsaturated monomers which do not destroy conventional Ziegler catalysts.
Most benefits are realized in the polymerization of aliphatic .
alpha.
-monoolefins, particularly ethylene and mixtures of ethylene with up to 50, especially from about 0.
1 to about 40, weight percent of propylene, butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, 4-methylpentene-1, 1,7-octadiene, 1,4-hexadiene or similar .
alpha.
-olefine or diolefin, based on total monomer.
Particularly suitable titanium compounds which can be employed herein include for example, tetraethoxy titanium, tetraisopropoxy titanium, tetra-n-butoxy titanium, tetraphenoxy titanium, tetra-n-propoxy titanium, tetra-(2-ethylhexoxy)titanium, di-n-butoxy titanium dichloride, titanium tetrachloride, mixtures thereof and the like