Abstract: An alternating copolymer of an olefinic unsaturated compound and a conjugated vinyl compound is produced by contacting said monomers with at least one organoboron halide or/and a mixture of at least one organo-compound of metal from Groups IIb, IIIb and IVb of the Mendeleev Periodic Table and at least one halogeno-compound of metal from Groups IIIb and IVb of the Mendeleev Periodic Table. A typical catalyst is ethylboron dichloride or a combination of triethylaluminum and tin tetrachloride.

Abstract: Novel alternating copolymers having functional groups are prepared by subjecting to alternating copolymerization at least one olefin, at least one acrylic ester and at least one .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its derivative represented by the formula: ##EQU1## wherein Y and Z are independently --O--, --S--, or --NR.sup.3 --, and R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently hydrogen or hydrocarbon groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Said alternating copolymer consists essentially of a structure in which said olefin is bonded to only said acrylic ester or said .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its derivative, and said acrylic ester and said .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acid or its derivative are bonded to only said olefin, and has a sufficiently high molecular weight.