Abstract: New polycyclic cyclopentadiene compounds having the formula (II) wherein the various substituents and symbols R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Z1 and Z2 and “n” have the meaning specified in the description. These compounds can form metallocene complexes with transition metals, which have shown unusual properties in the (co)polymerization of ethylene and alpha-olefins in general.

Abstract: Process for the selective oligomerization of ethylene to give ?-olefins essentially consisting of C4 to C8, characterized in that it is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system comprising the complex having general formula (II): (L)M(Y)n wherein L represents the ligand having general formula (I) M represents a transition metal; Y is selected from groups of an anionic nature bound to the metal as anion in ionic couple or with a covalent bond of the “?” type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tridentate ligands and the relative complexes of these ligands with transition metals. The ligands and their complexes are useful in the oligomerization and/or polymerization of ethylene and ?-olefins. The ligands are represented by formula (I) wherein R1 is ethyl, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C6-C15 aryl, and halogenated C6-C15 aryl; R7 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C10 alkyl, and C6-C15 aryl; and R8 is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, alkyl substituted phenyl, C1-C10 alkyl and C6-C15 aryl.

Abstract: Elastomeric blends are described, comprising an elastomeric composition and carbon black, the above elastomeric composition consisting of: (i) one or more elastomers (A) selected from ethylene-propylene (EPM) copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymers; (ii) one or more elastomers (B) selected from ethylene-propylene (EPM) copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) terpolymers and relative mixtures, the above elastomers having been previously treated with at least one hydroperoxide at a temperature ranging from 80° C. to 250° C. so as to undergo a reduction in the molecular weight: the weight ratio between the elastomers (i) and (ii), having a sum of 100, being from 0/100% to 90/10%.

Abstract: Process for the production of granules of expandable thermoplastic polymers by means of extrusion, which comprises: i) melting the polymer in a single- or multi-screw extruder (2); ii) incorporating an expanding agent in the polymer in the molten state; iii) granulating the polymer thus obtained in a device comprising a die (111), containing a series of ducts (115) made of a material having a high thermal conductivity (114), a cutting chamber (118) containing a set of hydraulic nozzles and a cutting system equipped with a set of knives (215) with a cutting edge which is radial with respect to the surface of the die; iv) annealing the granules thus obtained; v) cooling the annealed granules to room temperature.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of functionalized polyolefins, which comprises treatment under shear conditions of said polyolefins with an unsaturated monomer containing polar groups in the presence of at least one hydroperoxide as radicalic initiator. The process allows the grafting of unsaturated monomers without the formation of cross-linked polymeric material and without modifying the molecular weight distribution.

Abstract: New polycyclic cyclopentadiene compounds having the formula (II) wherein the various substituents and symbols R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Z1 and Z2 and “n” have the meaning specified in the description. These compounds can form metallocene complexes with transition metals, which have shown unusual properties in the (co)polymerization of ethylene and alpha-olefins in general.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated process for the preparation in continuous of epoxides which comprises: (a) preparing an alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solution of hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of over 3% by weight, using a gaseous stream containing hydrogen, oxygen and an inert gas, in the presence of a bimetallic catalyst based on palladium and platinum as active components; (b) putting the alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solution of hydrogen peroxide obtained in step (a) in contact with an olefin and a buffering agent, in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst suspended in the reaction solvent, in order to obtain a reaction mixture containing the epoxide corresponding to the olefin, water and alcoholic solvent; (c) treating the alcoholic stream leaving step (b), after separation of the epoxide, in order to eliminate the nitrogenated compounds present; (d) feeding the alcoholic solvent obtained in (c) to step (a).

Abstract: A catalytic composition for the selective oligomerization of ethylene and a process for preparing light linear (?-olefins, especially 1-hexene and 1-octene, starting from ethylene, using this composition, said composition comprising the following components: (A) a compound of a transition metal M of Group 4 of the periodic table; (B) an organic compound containing the sulfonic group (>SO2) bonded to two carbon atoms; (C) a hydrocarbyl organometallic compound of a metal M? selected from elements of Groups 1, 2, 12, 13 or 14 of the periodic table; components (A), (B) and (C) being in such a quantity that the atomic ratios respectively of the metal M in (A), of the sulfur S in the sulfonic group of (B) and of the metal M? in (C), respect the following proportions: S/M=(from 0 to 20)/1 and M?/M=(from 2 to 2000)/1, on the condition that when the compound of the metal M in component (A) is not a sulfonic complex of M, the S/M ratio is greater than 0.5, preferably greater than 1.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of elastomeric EP(D)M copolymers and terpolymers, characterized in that it is carried out in the presence of metallocene compounds of general formula (I) having a racemic stereoisomerism

Abstract: Process for the production of statistic elastomeric conjugated diene-vinyl arene copolymers having a branched structure which comprises: (1) anionic copolymerization in solution of the conjugated diene and vinyl arene monomers, in the presence of randomizing agents and an initiator selected from the group of Lithium alkyls, the copolymerization being carried out until the almost total disappearance of the monomers; (2) addition to the solution of step (1) of a quantity of Lithium alkyl from 1 to 4 times the molar quantity of the Lithium alkyl of step (1); (3) addition to the polymeric solution of step (2) of a compound having the general formula R—Br, the molar ratio between R—Br and the total Lithium alkyl ranging from 0.6/1 to 1/1, preferably from 0.7/1 to 0.9/1, thus obtaining an elastomeric branched copolymer.

Abstract: Unexpected corrosion of downstream sections of a dialkyl carbonate manufacturing apparatus has been traced to alkyl chloroformate impurities, which slowly decompose to yield hydrochloric acid. An improved process and apparatus for dialkyl carbonate synthesis reduce corrosion by physically removing or chemically decomposing the alkyl chloroformate impurities within the corrosion-resistant upstream sections of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of zeolitic catalysts of the MFI type in spheroidal form. The process consists in emulsifying and consolidating in paraffinic hydrocarbons, in the presence of a non-ionic surface-active agent or a suitable combination of a non-ionic surface-active agent and a cationic surface-active agent, a dispersion of particles of zeolitic material of the MFI type in a silica sol.

Abstract: Unexpected corrosion of downstream sections of a dialkyl carbonate manufacturing apparatus has been traced to alkyl chloroformate impurities, which slowly decompose to yield hydrochloric acid. An improved process and apparatus for dialkyl carbonate synthesis reduce corrosion by physically removing or chemically decomposing the alkyl chloroformate impurities within the corrosion-resistant upstream sections of the apparatus.

Abstract: Unexpected corrosion of downstream sections of a dialkyl carbonate manufacturing apparatus has been traced to alkyl chloroformate impurities, which slowly decompose to yield hydrochloric acid. An improved process and apparatus for dialkyl carbonate synthesis reduce corrosion by physically removing or chemically decomposing the alkyl chloroformate impurities within the corrosion-resistant upstream sections of the apparatus. The alkyl chloroformate may be decomposed by passing it through a passageway at a temperature of about 30 C to about 130° C. for a time of about 0.5 hour to about 10 hours. The passageway may include one or more holding vessels or a tubular section that promotes plug flow.

Abstract: New polycyclic cyclopentadiene compounds having the formula (II) wherein the various substituents and symbols R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Z1 and Z2 and “n” have the meaning specified in the description.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of zeolitic catalysts of the MFI type in spheroidal form. The process consists in emulsifying and consolidating in paraffinic hydrocarbons, in the presence of a non-ionic surface-active agent or a suitable combination of a non-ionic surface-active agent and a cationic surface-active agent, a dispersion of particles of zeolitic material of the MFI type in a silica sol.

Abstract: A metallocene compound of a metal M of group 4 in the table of elements, comprising a cyclopentadienyl group and at least one oligomeric group R′ bonded to M, having the following formula (II): -(AxDyUz)RI  (II) wherein: A represents any monomeric unit deriving from a vinylaromatic group polymerizable by means of anionic polymerization, having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms; D represents any monomeric unit deriving from a conjugated diolefin polymerizable by means of anionic polymerization, having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms; U represents any generic optional monomeric unit deriving from an unsaturated compound copolymerizable with any of the above conjugated diolefins D or vinylaromatic compounds A; RI represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, each index “x” and “y” can be independently zero or an integer, provided the sum (x+y) is equal to or higher than 2, preferably between 2 and 50, more preferably between 2 and 25; “z

Abstract: A process is described for the hydrogenation of olefin double bonds present in polymers and copolymers of conjugated dienes, which comprises putting the above polymer or copolymer of conjugated dienes in contact with hydrogen in an inert solvent, in the presence of a catalytic system, characterized in that the above catalytic system essentially consists of one or more titanium compounds selected from those having general formula (I) wherein: M is selected from Ti(III) and Ti(IV) and their mixtures.

Abstract: Catalytic composition for the (co)polymerization of ethylene and other &agr;-olefins, including a metallocene complex of a metal M of group 4 of the periodic table or the product obtainable from the same combined with a suitable activator, wherein said metallocene complex includes at least one cyclopentadienyl group and at least one unsaturated hydrocarbyl organic group bonded to the metal M, having the following formula (I): -(AxDyUz)RI  (I) wherein: A represents any monomeric unit deriving from a vinylaromatic group polymerizable by means of anionic polymerization, having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms; D represents any monomeric unit deriving from a conjugated diolefin polymerizable by means of anionic polymerization, having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms; U represents any generic optional monomeric unit deriving from an unsaturated compound co-polymerizable with any of the above conjugated diolefins D or vinylaromatic compounds A; RI represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 car