A process for preparing conjugated diene (co)polymers comprising polymerizing at least one conjugated diene in the presence of a catalytic system comprising: (a) at least one pyridyl iron (III) complex having general formula (I) or (II): wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom; or are selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom, or is selected from linear or branched, optionally halogenated C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups, optionally substituted aryl groups; X, identical or different, represent a halogen atom such as, for example, chlorine, bromine, iodine; or are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, OCOR.sub.6 groups or OR.sub.6 groups wherein R.sub.6 is selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups. n is 3; (b) at least one co-catalyst selected from organo-aluminum derivatives, preferably from: (b.sub.1) aluminum compounds having general formula (III): Al(R.sub.7)(R.sub.8)(R.sub.9) (IIl) wherein R.sub.7 represents a hydrogen atom, or is selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups, alkylaryl groups, arylalkyl groups, alkoxy groups; R.sub.8 and R.sub.9, identical or different, are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups, alkylaryl groups, arylalkyl groups; (b.sub.2) aluminoxanes having general formula (IV): (R.sub.10).sub.2AlO[-AI(R.sub.11)O-].sub.m-AI-(R.sub.12).sub.2 (IV), wherein R.sub.10, R.sub.11 and R.sub.12, identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom, or a halogen atom such as chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine; or are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl groups, cycloalkyl groups, aryl groups, said groups being optionally substituted with one or more silicon or germanium atoms; and m is an integer ranging from 0 to 1000; (b.sub.3) partially hydrolyzed organo-aluminum derivatives; (b.sub.4) haloaluminum alkyls having general formula (V) or (VI): AI(R.sub.13).sub.p(X).sub.3-p (V) AI.sub.2(R.sub.13).sub.q(X).sub.3-q (VI) wherein p is 1 or 2; q is an integer ranging from 1 to 5; R.sub.13, identical or different, are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20 alkyl groups; X represents a chlorine or bromine atom, preferably chlorine; provided that said co-catalyst (b) is not selected from organo-boron der

An olefin polymerization catalyst containing a complex of a ligand being a diimine compound represented by the formula (1) and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group 8 elements, Group 9 elements and Group 10 elements: ##STR00001##
wherein Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are respectively a group represented by the formula (2): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are respectively a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is 1 or more and 5 or less, and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are respectively a hydrogen atom or an electron-donating group.

An olefin polymerization catalyst containing a complex of a ligand being a diimine compound represented by the formula (1) and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group 8 elements, Group 9 elements and Group 10 elements: ##STR00001##
wherein Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are respectively a group represented by the formula (2): ##STR00002##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 are respectively a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms of R.sup.1 and R.sup.5 is 1 or more and 5 or less, and R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are respectively a hydrogen atom or an electron-donating group.

A method of polymerizing a first, and a second class of monomers to form product polymer. The first class of monomers polymerize via a radical pathway in the presence of light, and the second class of monomers polymerize via an insertion pathway in the absence of light.

A method of polymerizing a first, and a second class of monomers to form product polymer. The first class of monomers polymerize via a radical pathway in the presence of light, and the second class of monomers polymerize via an insertion pathway in the absence of light.

Described herein are polymerization catalysts having a structure according to formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein ##STR00002##
is a diimine ligand, A.sup.? is a counter anion, and R.sup.2 is a fluorinated alkane, alkene or alkyne, a fluorinated aromatic, a fluorinated cycloalkane or cylcoalkene, a fluorinated heteroaromatic, or a fluorinated heterocyclic. Also described herein are polymers having a terminus having a structure according to Formula (3): ##STR00003##
wherein R.sup.2 is a fluorinated alkane, alkene or alkyne, a fluorinated aromatic, a fluorinated cycloalkane or cylcoalkene, a fluorinated heteroaromatic, or a fluorinated heterocyclic.

Described herein are polymerization catalysts having a structure according to formula (1): ##STR00001##
wherein ##STR00002##
is a diimine ligand, A.sup.? is a counter anion, and R.sup.2 is a fluorinated alkane, alkene or alkyne, a fluorinated aromatic, a fluorinated cycloalkane or cylcoalkene, a fluorinated heteroaromatic, or a fluorinated heterocyclic. Also described herein are polymers having a terminus having a structure according to Formula (3): ##STR00003##
wherein R.sup.2 is a fluorinated alkane, alkene or alkyne, a fluorinated aromatic, a fluorinated cycloalkane or cylcoalkene, a fluorinated heteroaromatic, or a fluorinated heterocyclic.

The present invention discloses a catalytic system for preparing highly branched alkane from olefin, which contains novel nickel or palladium complexes. In the presence of the catalytic system, highly branched oily alkane mixture can be efficiently obtained from olefins (such as ethylene) under mild conditions. The alkane mixture has a low bromine number, and can be used as a processing aid(s) and lubricant base oil with high-performance. Provides also was a method for preparing the catalyst and a method for preparing an oily olefin polymer.

The present invention discloses a catalytic system for preparing highly branched alkane from olefin, which contains novel nickel or palladium complexes. In the presence of the catalytic system, highly branched oily alkane mixture can be efficiently obtained from olefins (such as ethylene) under mild conditions. The alkane mixture has a low bromine number, and can be used as a processing aid(s) and lubricant base oil with high-performance. Provides also was a method for preparing the catalyst and a method for preparing an oily olefin polymer.

Described herein are polymers comprising a terminus having a structure according to formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R is a fluorinated alkane, alkene or alkyne, a fluorinated aromatic, a fluorinated cycloalkane or cylcoalkene, a fluorinated heteroaromatic, or a fluorinated heterocyclic.