Abstract: Atactic copolymers derived from an alpha-olefin, optionally ethylene and a non-conjugated diene are provided. The units derived front the diene provide pendant groups having internal or terminal double bonds. Suitable dienes for preparing such copolymers include: CH2═C(R1)—R2—C(R3)═CH2, CH2═C(R1)R4—C(R3)═CH—CH3, wherein R1 and R3 are indenpendently selected from hydrogen or an alkly group, R2 and R4 are alkylene moieties having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms and at least 1 carbon atom respectively, or a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formulae: ═CR5R6, —CR7═CH2, wherein R5 and R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl. Also provided are processes for the functionalisation of the atactic copolymers and their use as lubricating oil additives.

Abstract: A catalyst system suitable for preparing substantially terminally unsaturated atactic polymers or copolymers of &agr;-olefins having a number average molecular weight in the range 300-500,000 comprises (A) a metallocene complex and (B) a cocatalyst comprising (i) a Group III Metal alkyl compound and (ii) a triaryl boron compound. Preferred metallocenes are those having alkyl ligands on the metal atom. The preferred Group III metal alkyl compound is triisobutyl aluminum and the preferred triaryl boron compounds is tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron.

Abstract: Atactic copolymers derived from an alpha-olefin, optionally ethylene and a non-conjugated diene are provided. The units derived from the diene provide pendant groups having internal or terminal double bonds. Suitable dienes for preparing such copolymers include: CH2═C(R1)—R2—C(R3)═CH2, CH2═C(R1)—R4—C(R3)═CH—CH3, wherein R1 and R3 are indenpendently selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, R2 and R4 are alkylene moieties having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms and at least 1 carbon atom respectively, or a diene having a cyclic ring with one strained ring double bond and a substituent on the ring of the Formulae: ═CR5R6, —CR7═CH2, wherein R5 and R6 and R7 are independently selected from hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl. Also provided are processes for the functionalisation of the atactic copolymers and their use as lubricating oil additives.

Abstract: Catalyst system suitable for preparing substantially terminally unsaturated atactic polymers or copolymers of &agr;-olefins having a molecular weight (Mn) in the range 200-500,000. The catalyst system includes a metallocene of the formula: [RmCpH(5-m)][RnCpH(5-n)]M(Z)Y wherein CpH is a cyclopentadienyl ligand, each R represents an alkyl or an aryl substituent on the CpH ligand or two R's may be joined together to form a ring, or the Rs in each CpH group when taken together represents an Si or C bridging group linking two CpH groups wherein the Si or C group may itself be substituted by hydrogen atoms or C1-C3 alkyl groups, M is a metal selected from hafnium, zirconium and titanium, Z is selected from a hydrogen atom, a trifluoromethane sulphonate, an alkyl and an aryl group, Y is selected from a, 1,3-diketonate and a &bgr;-ketoester arion, and each of m and n is same or different and has a value from 0 to 5.

Abstract: A catalyst system suitable for preparing substantially terminally unsaturated atactic polymers or copolymers of &agr;-olefins having a number average molecular weight in the range 300-500,000 comprises (A) a metallocene complex and (B) a cocatalyst comprising (i) a Group III Metal alkyl compound and (ii) a triaryl boron compound. Preferred metallocenes are those having alkyl ligands on the metal atom. The preferred Group III metal alkyl compound is triisobutyl aluminum and the preferred triaryl boron compounds is tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron.

Abstract: A catalyst system suitable for preparing substantially terminally unsaturated atactic polymers or copolymers of &agr;-olefins having a number average molecular weight in the range 300-500,000 comprises: A) a metallocene complex; and B) a cocatalyst comprising: i) an aluminoxane; and ii) a Group III metal alkyl compound having at least 2 carbon atoms. The use of the Group III metal compound allows for a reduction in the aluminoxane content in the cocatalyst. Preferred metallocenes are those having alkyl substitution on the cyclopentadienyl rings and the preferred Group III metal alkyl compound is triisobutyl aluminum.