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BRANCHED OLEFIN POLYMER, PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR AND USE THEREOF

20240199771 ยท 2024-06-20

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    A branched olefin polymer, a preparation method therefor and the use thereof are provided. The branched olefin polymer is obtained by polymerizing at least one C4-C20 nonterminal olefin monomer with optional ethylene, propylene, and C4-C20 terminal olefin monomers; and the branched olefin polymer has the following characteristics: (a) a molecular weight of 20000 to 500000 g/mol; (b) a molecular weight distribution of 3.5 to 6.0, and a bimodal structure characterized by GPC; (c) a melting point of 0? C. to 110? C. and a glass-transition temperature of ?80? C. to ?50? C.; and (d) having 20 to 200 methyl groups per 1000 methylene groups.

    Claims

    1. A branched olefin polymer, characterized in that the branched olefin polymer is obtained by polymerizing at least one C4-C20 internal olefin monomer and optionally ethylene, propylene, or a C4-C20 terminal olefin monomer, the branched olefin polymer having the following characteristics: (a) a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 500,000 g/mol; (b) a molecular weight distribution of from 3.5 to 6.0, with GPC characterization showing a bimodal profile; (c) a melting point of from 0? C. to 110? C., and a glass transition temperature of from ?80? C. to ?50? C.; and (d) a number of methyl groups per 1,000 methylene groups of from 20 to 200; and the branched olefin polymer including a structure of R.sup.1R.sup.2CH(CH.sub.2).sub.nCHR.sup.3R.sup.4 or R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3C(CH.sub.2).sub.nCR.sup.4R.sup.5R.sup.6, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 contain a segment structure of R.sup.7R.sup.8C(CH.sub.2).sub.mCR.sup.9R.sup.10, wherein R.sup.7 to R.sup.10 contain a segment structure of R.sup.11CH(CH.sub.2).sub.pCHR.sup.12 or R.sup.11CH(CH.sub.2).sub.pCR.sup.12R.sup.13, wherein R.sup.11 to R.sup.13 are hydrogen, a linear or branched hydrocarbyl, and n, m, p are respectively an integer from 1 to 500.

    2. The branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branched olefin polymer has the following characteristics: a number of methyl groups per 1,000 methylene groups of from 20 to 100, and a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 300,000 g/mol.

    3. The branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branched olefin polymer contains 20 to 100 alkyl branches per 1,000 methylene groups, and the branched olefin polymer contains 2 to 10 ethyl branches, 1 to 10 propyl branches, 1 to 10 butyl branches, 1 to 10 pentyl branches, and 1 to 20 hexyl or longer branches, relative to 50 methyl branches.

    4. A method for preparing a branched olefin polymer, characterized in that the branched olefin polymer is obtained by catalytic polymerization using a catalyst system comprising a metal complex having a structure represented by formula I: ##STR00016## wherein, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently a C1-C30 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent, and adjacent R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 groups are optionally joined to form a ring or ring system; each R.sub.11 is independently a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent; each Y is independently a Group VIA non-metal atom; each M is independently a Group VIII metal; and each X is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C10 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent and C1-C10 hydrocarbyloxy with or without a substituent.

    5. The method for preparing a branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal complex has a structure represented by formula II: ##STR00017## wherein, R.sup.1-R.sup.5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C10 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryl with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkyl with or without a substituent and C7-C15 alkaryl with or without a substituent; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, halogenated C1-C10 alkyl, and halogen, and more preferably from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, and halogen; each M is nickel; each Y is O; each X is independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine and bromine; and each R.sub.11 is independently a C1-C20 alkyl with or without a substituent, preferably a C1-C10 alkyl with or without a substituent, and more preferably a C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent; preferably, the substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy and halogenated C1-C6 alkoxy.

    6. The method for preparing a branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal complex has a structure represented by formula III: ##STR00018## wherein, R.sub.5-R.sub.7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent, and R.sub.5-R.sub.7 are optionally joined to form a ring or ring system; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.11, Y, M and X are as defined for Formula I; preferably, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula IV: ##STR00019## wherein, R.sup.1-R.sup.5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent, and C1-C6 alkoxy with or without a substituent; R.sub.8-R.sub.10 and R.sub.12-R.sub.14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, and C1-C6 alkoxy; each M is nickel; each Y is O; each X is independently a halogen; and each R.sub.11 is independently a C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent, further preferably, the metal complex is one or more selected from the group consisting of: the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein RR.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; and the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br.

    7. The method for preparing a branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal complex has a structure represented by formula V: ##STR00020## wherein, R.sub.15-R.sub.18 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent, and R.sub.15-R.sub.18 are optionally joined to form a ring or ring system; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.11, Y, M and X are as defined for Formula I; preferably, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula VI: ##STR00021## wherein, R.sup.1-R.sup.11 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C10 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryl with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkyl with or without a substituent, and C7-C15 alkaryl with or without a substituent; and R.sub.11, Y, M and X are as defined for Formula I; further preferably, the metal complex is one or more selected from the group consisting of: the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; and the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br.

    8. The method for preparing a branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 4, wherein the catalyst system further comprises a cocatalyst, which is selected from the group consisting of organoaluminum compounds and/or organoboron compounds, wherein the organoaluminum compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of alkylaluminoxanes, alkylaluminums and alkyl aluminum halides, and the organoboron compound is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbyl borons and/or borates; preferably, the organoaluminum compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, diethyl aluminum hydride, diisobutyl aluminum hydride, diethyl aluminum chloride, diisobutyl aluminum chloride, ethyl aluminum sesquichloride, methyl aluminum sesquichloride, ethyl aluminum dichloride, methylaluminoxanes, and modified methyl aluminoxanes; preferably, the organoboron compound is at least one selected from the group consisting of tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron, N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and triphenylcarbonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

    9. A branched olefin polymer obtained by the method as claimed in claim 4.

    10. A branched olefin polymer having units derived from at least one C4-C20 internal olefin monomer and optionally units derived from at least one C2-C20 terminal olefin monomer, the branched olefin polymer having the following characteristics: (a) a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 500,000 g/mol; (b) a molecular weight distribution of from 3.5 to 6.0, with GPC characterization showing a bimodal profile; (c) a melting point of from 0? C. to 110? C., and a glass transition temperature of from ?80? C. to ?50? C.; and (d) a number of methyl groups per 1000 methylene groups of from 20 to 200.

    11. (canceled)

    12. A polymer composition comprising the branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branched olefin polymer is used as a processing aid for resins or a plasticizer, and/or the polymer composition can be used as a hot-melt adhesive.

    13. A polymer composition comprising the branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the branched olefin polymer is used as a processing aid for resins or a plasticizer, and/or the polymer composition can be used as a hot-melt adhesive.

    14. A polymer composition comprising the branched olefin polymer as claimed in claim 10, wherein the branched olefin polymer is used as a processing aid for resins or a plasticizer, and/or the polymer composition can be used as a hot-melt adhesive.

    Description

    DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

    [0026] FIG. 1 is a structural unit diagram of the complex Ni.sub.1 in the inventive examples (for the sake of clarity, hydrogen atoms, dichloromethane solvent molecules and symmetrical atoms are not marked).

    [0027] FIG. 2 shows the GPC traces of the polymers of the inventive Example 6 and Comparative Example 4.

    [0028] FIG. 3 shows the GPC traces of the polymers of the inventive Example 17 and Comparative Example 6.

    [0029] FIG. 4 shows the nuclear magnetic spectrum of the polymer obtained in the inventive Example 6.

    DETAILED DESCRIPTION

    [0030] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present invention, but not to limit the present invention.

    [0031] According to the first aspect, the present invention provides a branched olefin polymer obtained by polymerizing at least one C4-C20 internal olefin monomer and optionally at least one C2-C20 terminal olefin monomer, the branched olefin polymer having the following characteristics: [0032] (a) a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 500,000 g/mol, and preferably from 20,000 to 500,000 g/mol; [0033] (b) a molecular weight distribution of from 3.5 to 6.0, with the GPC characterization showing a bimodal profile; [0034] (c) a melting point of from 0? C. to 110? C., and a glass transition temperature of from ?80? C. to ?50? C.; [0035] (d) a number of methyl groups per 1000 methylene groups of from 20 to 200; and [0036] the branched olefin polymer including a structure of R.sup.1R.sup.2CH(CH.sub.2).sub.nCHR.sup.3R.sup.4 or R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3C(CH.sub.2).sub.nCR.sup.4R.sup.5R.sup.6, wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 contain a segment structure of R.sup.7R.sup.8C(CH.sub.2).sub.mCR.sup.9R.sup.10, wherein R.sup.7 to R.sup.10 contain a segment structure of R.sup.11CH(CH.sub.2).sub.pCHR.sup.12 or R.sup.11CH(CH.sub.2).sub.pCR.sup.12R.sup.13, wherein R.sup.11 to R.sup.13 are hydrogen or a linear or branched hydrocarbyl, and n, m, p are respectively an integer from 1 to 500.

    [0037] Preferably, the branched olefin polymer has the following characteristics: a number of methyl groups per 1000 methylene groups of from 20 to 100, and a molecular weight of from 20,000 to 300,000 g/mol.

    [0038] Preferably, the branched olefin polymer contains 20 to 100 alkyl branches per 1000 methylene groups, and the branched olefin polymer contains 2 to 10 ethyl branches, 1 to 10 propyl branches, 1 to 10 butyl branches, 1 to 10 pentyl branches, and 1 to 20 hexyl or longer branches, relative to 50 methyl branches.

    [0039] According to the second aspect, the present invention provides a method for preparing the above-described branched olefin polymer, in which the branched olefin polymer is obtained by catalytic polymerization using a catalyst system comprising a metal complex having a structure represented by Formula I:

    ##STR00002##

    wherein, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are each independently a C1-C30 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent, and adjacent R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 groups are optionally joined to form a ring or ring system; each R.sub.11 is independently a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent; each Y is independently a Group VIA non-metal atom; each M is independently a Group VIII metal; and each X is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C10 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent and C1-C10 hydrocarbyloxy with or without a substituent.

    [0040] Preferably, in Formula I, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C20 alkyl with or without a substituent and C6-C20 aryl with or without a substituent.

    [0041] Further preferably, in Formula I, R.sub.1 and/or R.sub.2 are/is a group represented by formula P:

    ##STR00003##

    wherein, R.sup.1-R.sup.5 are the same or different, and are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C20 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C20 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkenyl with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkynyl with or without a substituent, C3-C20 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C20 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C20 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkenoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkynoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C20 cyclic alkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C20 aryl with or without a substituent, C7-C20 aralkyl with or without a substituent, and C7-C20 alkaryl with or without a substituent, and R.sup.1-R.sup.5 are optionally joined to form a ring.

    [0042] Preferably, in Formula P, R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are the same or different, and are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkenyl with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkynyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C10 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkenoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkynoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cyclic alkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryl with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkyl with or without a substituent, and C7-C15 alkaryl with or without a substituent.

    [0043] Preferably, in Formula I, each M is selected from nickel and palladium.

    [0044] Preferably, in Formula I, each Y is selected from O and S.

    [0045] Preferably, in Formula I, each X is selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C10 alkyl with or without a substituent and C1-C10 alkoxy with or without a substituent, preferably from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent and C1-C6 alkoxy with or without a substituent.

    [0046] Preferably, in Formula I, each R.sub.11 is a C1-C20 alkyl with or without a substituent, preferably a C1-C10 alkyl with or without a substituent, and more preferably a C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent.

    [0047] Preferably, in Formula I, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C20 alkyl with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkenyl with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkynyl with or without a substituent, C1-C20 alkoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkenoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C20 alkynoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C20 aryl with or without a substituent, C6-C20 aryloxy with or without a substituent, C7-C20 aralkyl with or without a substituent, C7-C20 aralkoxy with or without a substituent, C7-C20 alkaryl with or without a substituent and C7-C20 alkaryloxy with or without a substituent. More preferably, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C10 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkenyl with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkynyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C10 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C1-C10 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkenoxy with or without a substituent, C2-C10 alkynoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryl with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryloxy with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkyl with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkoxy with or without a substituent, C7-C15 alkaryl with or without a substituent and C7-C15 alkaryloxy with or without a substituent. More preferably, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, halogenated C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, halogenated C1-C10 alkoxy and halogen, and more preferably from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, halogenated C1-C6 alkoxy and halogen.

    [0048] Preferably, for the formula I, said substituent is selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 alkyl, halogenated C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy and halogenated C1-C10 alkoxy, preferably from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy and halogenated C1-C6 alkoxy. Preferably, the C1-C6 alkyl is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, n-hexyl, isohexyl and 3,3-dimethylbutyl. Preferably, the C1-C6 alkoxy is selected from the group consisting of methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, n-pentoxy, iso-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, iso-hexoxy and 3,3-dimethylbutoxy. Preferably, the halogen is selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

    [0049] According to an embodiment of the invention, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula II:

    ##STR00004##

    wherein, R.sup.1-R.sup.5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C.sub.1-C.sub.10 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryl with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkyl with or without a substituent and C7-C15 alkaryl with or without a substituent; [0050] R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, halogenated C1-C10 alkyl, and halogen, and more preferably from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, and halogen; [0051] each M is nickel; [0052] each Y is O; [0053] each X is independently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine and bromine; and [0054] each R.sub.11 is independently a C1-C20 alkyl with or without a substituent, preferably a C1-C10 alkyl with or without a substituent, and more preferably a C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent; [0055] preferably, the substituent is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, halogenated C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy and halogenated C1-C6 alkoxy.

    [0056] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula III:

    ##STR00005##

    wherein, R.sub.5-R.sub.7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent, and R.sub.5-R.sub.7 are optionally joined to form a ring or ring system; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.11, Y, M and X are as defined above for Formula I.

    [0057] Preferably, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula IV:

    ##STR00006##

    wherein, R.sup.1-R.sup.5 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent, and C1-C6 alkoxy with or without a substituent; R.sub.8-R.sub.10 and R.sub.12-R.sub.14 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, and C1-C6 alkoxy; each M is nickel; each Y is O; each X is independently a halogen; and each R.sub.11 is independently a C1-C6 alkyl with or without a substituent.

    [0058] Further preferably, the metal complex is one or more selected from the group consisting of: [0059] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0060] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.1-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0061] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0062] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0063] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0064] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0065] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0066] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0067] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0068] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0069] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0070] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0071] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0072] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0073] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0074] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0075] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0076] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0077] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0078] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0079] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.8-R.sub.10=R.sub.12-R.sub.14=H, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0080] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0081] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0082] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein RR.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0083] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0084] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0085] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; and [0086] the complex represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4=R.sup.5=R.sub.12=R.sub.13=R.sub.9=R.sub.10=H, R.sub.14=R.sub.8=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br.

    [0087] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula V:

    ##STR00007##

    wherein, R.sub.15 to R.sub.18 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, and C1-C20 hydrocarbyl with or without a substituent, and R.sub.15 to R.sub.18 are optionally joined to form a ring or ring system; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.11, Y, M, X are as defined above for Formula I.

    [0088] Preferably, the metal complex has a structure represented by formula VI:

    ##STR00008##

    wherein, R.sup.1 to R.sup.11 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-C10 linear alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkyl with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkyl with or without a substituent, C1-C10 linear alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 branched alkoxy with or without a substituent, C3-C10 cycloalkoxy with or without a substituent, C6-C15 aryl with or without a substituent, C7-C15 aralkyl with or without a substituent, and C7-C15 alkaryl with or without a substituent; and R.sub.11, Y, M, X are as defined above for Formula I.

    [0089] Further preferably, the metal complex is one or more selected from the group consisting of: [0090] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0091] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0092] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0093] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0094] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0095] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0096] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=R.sub.11=methyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0097] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0098] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0099] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0100] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0101] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0102] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0103] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0104] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0105] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0106] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0107] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0108] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sub.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0109] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0110] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=R.sup.11=methyl, R.sub.11=isobutyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0111] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0112] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=ethyl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0113] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1-R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0114] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=methyl, R.sup.2=Br, R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0115] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=F, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; [0116] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Cl, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br; and [0117] the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1=R.sup.3=Br, R.sup.2=R.sup.4-R.sup.7=R.sup.10=H, R.sup.8=R.sup.9=methyl, R.sup.11=bromomethyl, R.sub.11=ethyl, M=Ni, Y=O, X=Br.

    [0118] According to the invention, the metal complex can be prepared by a method comprising: reacting a diimine compound represented by Formula VII with MX.sub.n and R.sub.11YH to form the diimine-metal complex represented by Formula I,

    ##STR00009## [0119] wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 in Formula VII have the same definitions as in Formula I; [0120] M and X in the MX.sub.n have the same definitions as in Formula I, n is the number of X satisfying the valence state of M; [0121] Y and R.sub.11 in the R.sub.11YH have the same definitions as in Formula I.

    [0122] The reaction in the above method is carried out in an organic solvent, and the organic solvent is preferably a halogenated alkane, and more preferably the organic solvent is one or more selected from dichloromethane, trichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane. The reaction is carried out at a temperature of 15 to 40? C.

    [0123] In the present invention, examples of the MX.sub.n include nickel halides, such as nickel bromide and nickel chloride, 1,2-dimethoxyethane nickel halides, such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane nickel bromide and 1,2-dimethoxyethane nickel chloride.

    [0124] According to the invention, the catalyst system further comprises a cocatalyst, which is a reagent that can promote the catalysis olefin polymerization, and which can be selected from the group consisting of organoaluminum compounds and/or organoboron compounds.

    [0125] In the invention, the organoaluminum compounds are at least one selected from the group consisting of alkylaluminoxanes, alkylaluminums and alkyl aluminum halides. The alkylaluminums and the alkyl aluminum halides may be represented by a general formula of AlR.sub.nX.sup.1.sub.3-n, in which R is H, a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl or a C1-C20 hydrocarbyloxy, preferably a C1-C20 alkyl, a C1-C20 alkoxy, a C7-C20 aralkyl or a C6-C20 aryl; X.sup.1 is a halogen, preferably chlorine or bromine; and 0<n?3.

    [0126] According to the invention, specific examples of the organoaluminum compound include, but are not limited to, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, diethyl aluminum hydride, diisobutyl aluminum hydride, diethyl aluminum chloride, diisobutyl aluminum chloride, ethyl aluminum sesquichloride, methyl aluminum sesquichloride, ethyl aluminum dichloride, methylaluminoxane (MAO), and modified methyl aluminoxane (MMAO).

    [0127] According to the invention, the organoboron compound is selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbyl boron compounds and/or borates. The aromatic hydrocarbyl boron compounds are preferably substituted or unsubstituted phenyl boron, and more preferably tris(pentafluorophenyl)boron. The borates are preferably N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and/or triphenylcarbonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

    [0128] According to the invention, when the cocatalyst is an organoaluminum compound, the molar ratio of aluminum in the co-catalyst to M in the main catalyst is (10-107):1, for example, 10:1, 20:1, 50:1, 100:1, 200:1, 300:1, 500:1, 700:1, 800:1, 1,000:1, 2,000:1, 3,000:1, 5,000:1, 10,000:1, 100,000:1, 1,000,000:1, 10,000,000:1, and any value therebetween, preferably (10-100,000):1, and more preferably (100-10,000):1.

    [0129] When the cocatalyst is an organoboron compound and an organoaluminum compound, the molar ratio of boron in the cocatalyst to M in the main catalyst is (0.1-1,000):1, for example, 0.1:1, 0.2:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 5:1, 8:1, 10:1, 20:1, 50:1, 100:1, 200:1, 300:1, 500:1, 700:1, 800:1, 1,000:1, and any value therebetween, preferably (0.1-500):1, and the molar ratio of the organoaluminum to M in the main catalyst is (10-10.sup.5):1, for example, 10:1, 20:1, 50:1, 100:1, 200:1, 300:1, 400:1, 500:1, 600:1, 700:1, 800:1, 1,000:1, 2,000:1, 3,000:1, 5,000:1, 10,000:1, 100,000:1, and any value therebetween, preferably (10-5,000):1, and more preferably (10-1,000):1.

    [0130] The symbols used in different general formulae or structural formulae in the present application, such as R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.11, R.sub.12, X, M, Y, etc., are used in the same meaning in the individual general formulae or structural formulae unless otherwise specified.

    [0131] In the invention, C1-C20 alkyl refers to C1-C20 linear alkyl or C3-C20 branched alkyl, including but not limited to: methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, tert-amyl, neopentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl and n-decyl.

    [0132] Examples of C3-C20 cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, 4-ethylcyclohexyl, 4-n-propylcyclohexyl, and 4-n-butylcyclohexyl.

    [0133] Examples of C6-C20 aryl include, but are not limited to, phenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, dimethylphenyl, and vinylphenyl.

    [0134] C2-C20 alkenyl refers to C2-C20 linear alkenyl or C3-C20 branched alkenyl, including but not limited to, vinyl, allyl, and butenyl.

    [0135] Examples of C7-C20 aralkyl include, but are not limited to, phenylmethyl, phenylethyl, phenyl-n-propyl, phenylisopropyl, phenyl-n-butyl, and phenyl-tert-butyl.

    [0136] Examples of C7-C20 alkaryl include, but are not limited to, tolyl, ethylphenyl, n-propylphenyl, isopropylphenyl, n-butylphenyl, and t-butylphenyl.

    [0137] In the invention, when the olefin is polymerized, the olefin, the diamine-metal complex and the cocatalyst can react with each other in an inert solvent, or a bulk polymerization can be carried out directly in the olefin. The reaction time may be from 0.5 to 72 hours, and the reaction temperature may be from ?50 to 200? C., preferably from 30 to 100? C.

    [0138] The inert solvent can be an alkane, an aromatic hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon. The alkanes are preferably C5-C20 saturated hydrocarbons, such as hexane and heptane; the halogenated hydrocarbons can be dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane; and the aromatic hydrocarbons can be toluene and xylene.

    [0139] As used herein, the term internal olefin refers to an olefin whose double bond is not at a terminal position. The internal olefin feedstock useful in the present invention may be a mixture of isomers having the same carbon number or a single internal olefin. For example, the internal butene can be cis-2-C4 olefin or trans-2-C4 olefin, or a mixture of cis-2-C4 olefin and trans-2-C4 olefin. The internal olefin feedstock useful in the present invention may also be a mixture of internal olefins having different carbon numbers.

    [0140] As used herein, the term terminal olefin (also referred to as alpha-olefin) refers to an olefin whose double bond is at a terminal position, such as 1-butene.

    [0141] According to the third aspect, the present invention provides use of the above-described branched olefin polymer or the branched olefin polymer obtained by the above-described preparation method, including use: [0142] (1) as a processing aid for resins; [0143] (2) as a plasticizer; and [0144] (3) in a hot-melt adhesive.

    [0145] A notable feature of the branched olefin polymer of the present invention is that the molecular weight distribution of the bimodal polymer is narrow, ranging from 3.5 to 6.0, but it can be seen from the GPC trace that the obtained polymer is a bimodal branched polyolefin. This feature makes the branched olefin polymer of the present invention microscopically different from ordinary linear polymers, and more suitable for use as a processing aid for resins, as a plasticizer or in a hot-melt adhesive, or directly as a plastomer materials.

    EXAMPLES

    [0146] The present invention will be further illustrated below with reference to examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

    [0147] The analytical characterization instruments used in the following examples and comparative examples are as follows: [0148] 1. Nuclear magnetic resonance instrument: Bruker DMX 300 (300 MHz), with tetramethyl silicon (TMS) as the internal standard. [0149] 2. Molecular weight and molecular weight distribution PDI (PDI=Mw/Mn) of polymer: measured by PL-GPC220 chromatograph, with trichlorobenzene as solvent, at 150? C. (standard sample: PS; flow rate: 1.0 mL/min; Columns: 3?PLgel 10 um M1?ED-B 300?7.5 nm). [0150] 3. Structure analysis of complex: single crystal test analysis, using Rigaku RAXIS Rapid IP diffractometer. [0151] 4. Activity measurement method: polymer weight (g)/nickel (mol)?2. [0152] 5. Chain structure analysis of polymer: measured through .sup.1H NMR and .sup.13C NMR spectra recorded on a 400 MHz Bruker Avance 400 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, using a 10 mm PASEX 13 probe, with the polymer sample being dissolved in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at 150? C. [0153] 6. The melting point of the polymer was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC): 10 mg of the sample was placed in a crucible and measured on a Pekin Elmer DSC 8500 Differential Scanning Calorimeter. Under nitrogen atmosphere, the temperature was increased from ?100? C. to 180? C. at a heating rate of 10? C./min, held for 1 min, lowered to ?100? C. at a rate of 10? C./min, held for 3 min, and then raised to 180? C. at a heating rate of 10? C./min. The second heating scan data were recorded.

    ##STR00010##

    Example 1

    [0154] Preparation of Complex Ni.sub.1 (represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are ethyl; R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl; R.sub.11 is ethyl; M is nickel; Y is O; and X is Br):

    [0155] Preparation of Ligand L.sub.1 (represented by Formula O, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are ethyl, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen, and R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl): Under nitrogen atmosphere, 2,6-diethylaniline (2.0 ml, 12 mmol) was dissolved in 20 ml of toluene, and 12 ml of trimethylaluminum (1.0M, 12 mmol) was added dropwise at normal temperature. The reaction was refluxed for 2 hours, and the system was then cooled to room temperature. Camphorquinone (0.831 g, 5 mmol) was added thereto, and the system was refluxed for 6 h. The reaction product was neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, extracted with dichloromethane, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and then subjected to a column chromatography to afford yellow ligand L.sub.1. Yield: 69.2%. .sup.1H-NMR (CDCl.sub.3): ?6.94-6.92 (m, 6H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 2.56-2.51 (m, 4H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 2.36-2.31 (m, 4H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.82-1.78 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.54 (m, 1H), 1.24-1.18 (m, 12H), 1.09 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 0.94 (m, 6H, CH.sub.3).

    [0156] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 (wherein DME represents ethylene glycol dimethyl ether) in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.258 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.1 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.1 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 78.2%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.64H.sub.90Br.sub.6N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 47.96; H, 5.66; N, 3.50; experimental value (%): C, 47.48; H, 6.00; N, 3.26.

    [0157] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 400 mL of hexane and 100 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 5.0 mL of methylaluminoxane (MAO) (1.53 mol/1 solution in toluene) was added, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.1. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 2

    [0158] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 440 mL of hexane and 80 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.1. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 3

    [0159] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane and 120 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.1. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 4

    [0160] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 320 mL of hexane, 130 mL of 2-octene and 130 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.1. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the polymer contained 64.8 methyl branches, 4.4 ethyl branches, 2.6 propyl branches, 2.2 butyl branches, 1.6 pentyl branches, 13.8 branches having 6 or more carbon atoms, per 1000 carbon atoms.

    Comparative Example 1

    [0161] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 500 mL of hexane was charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 ?mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.1. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Comparative Example 2

    [0162] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 320 mL of hexane and 180 mL of 1-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.1. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 5

    [0163] Preparation of Complex Ni.sub.2 (represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are fluorine; R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl; R.sub.11 is ethyl; M is nickel; Y is O; and X is Br): Preparation of Ligand L.sub.2 (represented by Formula O, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are fluorine; R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; and R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl): Under nitrogen atmosphere, 2,6-difluoro-aniline (1.3 ml, 12 mmol) was dissolved in 20 ml of toluene, and 12 ml of trimethylaluminum (1.0M, 12 mmol) was added dropwise at normal temperature. The reaction was refluxed for 2 hours, and the system was then cooled to room temperature. Camphorquinone (0.831 g, 5 mmol) was added thereto, and the system was refluxed for 6 h. The reaction product was neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, extracted with dichloromethane, and dried, and then subjected to a column chromatography to afford yellow ligand L.sub.2. Yield: 50.3%. .sup.1HNMR (CDCl.sub.3): ? [with an isomer ratio of 1.2:1]: major isomer: 6.83-6.74 (m, 6H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.93-1.90 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.55 (m, 1Hl), 1.26 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 1.06 (s, 6H, CH.sub.3); minor isomer: 6.91-6.84 (m, 6H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.96-1.94 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.55 (m, 1H), 1.26 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 1.02 (s, 6H, CH.sub.3).

    [0164] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.233 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.2 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.2 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 74.3%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.48H.sub.50Br.sub.6F.sub.8N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 37.87; H, 3.31; N, 3.68; experimental value (%): C, 37.78; H, 3.62; N, 3.28.

    [0165] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 400 mL of hexane and 100 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 5.0 mL of methylaluminoxane (MAO) (1.53 mol/1 solution in toluene) was added, followed by the addition of 3.8 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.2. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 6

    [0166] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.3 (represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 are methyl; R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl; R.sub.11 is ethyl; M is nickel; Y is O; and X is Br): Preparation of ligand L.sub.3 (represented by Formula O, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 are methyl; R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; and R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl): Under nitrogen atmosphere, 2,4,6-trimethyl-aniline (1.7 ml, 12 mmol) was dissolved in 20 ml of toluene, and 12 ml of trimethylaluminum (1.0M, 12 mmol) was added dropwise at normal temperature. The reaction was refluxed for 2 hours, and the system was then cooled to room temperature. Camphorquinone (0.831 g, 5 mmol) was added thereto, and the system was refluxed for 6 h. The reaction product was neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, extracted with dichloromethane, and dried, and then subjected to a column chromatography to afford yellow ligand L.sub.3. Yield: 62.5%. .sup.1HNMR (300 MHz, CDCl.sub.3), ? (ppm) [with an isomer ratio of 1.2:1]: major isomer: 6.72 (s, 4H, ArH), 2.26-2.13 (m, 12H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.87 (s, 6H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.79 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.42 (m, 1H), 1.26 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 1.07 (s, 6H, CH.sub.3); minor isomer: 6.67 (s, 4H, ArH), 2.09-2.01 (m, 12H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.85 (s, 6H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.79 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.40 (m, 1H), 1.26 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 0.94 (s, 6H, CH.sub.3).

    [0167] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.240 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.3 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.3 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 78.6%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.60H.sub.82Br.sub.6N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 46.59; H, 5.34; N, 3.62; experimental value (%): C, 46.24; H, 5.67; N, 3.21.

    [0168] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 440 mL of hexane and 60 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the obtained polymer had a glass transition temperature of ?65.8? C. It was known from the .sup.13CNMR spectrum of the obtained polymer that the polymer contained 60 methyl branches, 4.8 ethyl branches, 3.0 propyl branches, 2.9 butyl branches, 3.5 pentyl branches, 7.9 branches having 6 or more carbon atoms, per 1000 carbon atoms.

    Example 7

    [0169] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 440 mL of hexane, 30 mL of 2-octene and 30 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 8

    [0170] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the polymer contained 54.3 methyl branches, 5.4 ethyl branches, 3.8 propyl branches, 3.5 butyl branches, 3.2 pentyl branches, 11.2 branches having 6 or more carbon atoms, per 1000 carbon atoms.

    Example 9

    [0171] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 320 mL of hexane, 90 mL of 2-octene and 90 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 10

    [0172] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 320 mL of hexane, 90 mL of 2-octene and 90 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 80? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the obtained polymer had a melting point of 0.28? C. and a glass transition temperature of ?55.63? C.

    Comparative Example 3

    [0173] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 500 mL of hexane was charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 ?mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Comparative Example 4

    [0174] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 320 mL of hexane and 180 mL of 1-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 3.9 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.3. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 11

    [0175] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.4 (represented by Formula VI, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are methyl; R.sup.2 is Br; R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl; R.sub.11 is ethyl; M is nickel; Y is O; and X is Br): Preparation of ligand L.sub.4 (represented by Formula O, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are methyl; R.sup.2 is Br; R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.10 are hydrogen; and R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.11 are methyl): Under nitrogen atmosphere, 2,6-dimethyl-4-bromo-aniline (2.45 g, 12 mmol) was dissolved in 20 ml of toluene, and 12 ml of trimethylaluminum (1.0M, 12 mmol) was added dropwise at normal temperature. The reaction was refluxed for 2 hours, and the system was then cooled to room temperature. Camphorquinone (0.831 g, 5 mmol) was added thereto, and the system was refluxed for 6 h. The reaction product was neutralized with aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, extracted with dichloromethane, and dried, and then subjected to a column chromatography to afford yellow ligand L.sub.4. Yield: 60.7%. .sup.1HNMR (300 MHz, CDCl.sub.3), ? (ppm) [with an isomer ratio of 1.1:1]: major isomer: 7.05 (s, 4H, ArH), 2.18 (m, 12H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.85 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.37 (m, 1H), 1.26 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 1.06 (s, 6H, CH.sub.3); minor isomer: 7.02 (s, 4H, ArH), 2.04 (m, 12H, C.sub.ArCH.sub.3), 1.85 (m, 4H, CH.sub.2), 1.37 (m, 1H), 1.26 (s, 3H, CH.sub.3), 0.96 (s, 6H, CH.sub.3).

    [0176] A solution of 0.278 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.477 g (0.9 mmol) of ligand L.sub.4 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.4 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 74.1%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.56H.sub.70Br.sub.10N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 37.24; H, 3.91; N, 3.10; experimental value (%): C, 37.38; H, 4.30; N, 3.03.

    [0177] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 400 mL of hexane, 50 mL of 2-octene and 50 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.5 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.4. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 5 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 12

    [0178] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.5 (represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 are methyl; R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sub.8-R.sub.10, R.sub.12-R.sub.14 are hydrogen; R.sub.11 is ethyl; M is nickel; Y is O; and X is Br):

    ##STR00011##

    [0179] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.249 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.5 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.5 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 84.3%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.64H.sub.66Br.sub.6N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 48.69; H, 4.21; N, 3.55; experimental value (%): C, 48.54; H, 4.47; N, 3.21.

    [0180] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 420 mL of hexane and 80 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 13

    [0181] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane and 120 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the polymer contained 71.8 methyl branches, 6.4 ethyl branches, 4.2 propyl branches, 3.3 butyl branches, 2.7 pentyl branches, 9.0 branches having 6 or more carbon atoms, per 1000 carbon atoms.

    Example 14

    [0182] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 420 mL of hexane, 40 mL of 2-octene and 40 mL of 1-decene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 15

    [0183] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-decene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 16

    [0184] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 420 mL of hexane, 40 mL of 2-octene and 40 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the obtained polymer had a melting point of 94.9? C.

    Example 17

    [0185] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below. It was found that the obtained polymer had a melting point of 89.7? C.

    Comparative Example 5

    [0186] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 500 mL of hexane were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 ?mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Comparative Example 6

    [0187] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane and 120 mL of 1-octene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.0 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 18

    [0188] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.6 (represented by Formula IV, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are methyl; R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sub.8-R.sub.10, R.sub.12-R.sub.14 are hydrogen; R.sub.11 is ethyl; M is nickel; Y is O; and X is Br):

    ##STR00012##

    [0189] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.233 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.6 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.6 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 78.2%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.60H.sub.58Br.sub.6N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 47.33; H, 3.84; N, 3.68; experimental value (%): C, 47.38; H, 4.00; N, 3.46.

    [0190] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 6 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization system, then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, and 3.8 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.2 was added simultaneously. The reaction was stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 19

    [0191] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.7 (represented by Formula III, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are Br, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sub.8-R.sub.10, R.sub.12-R.sub.14 are hydrogen, R.sub.11 is ethyl, M is nickel, Y is O, and X is Br):

    ##STR00013##

    [0192] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.389 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.7 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.7 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 74.1%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.52H.sub.34Br.sub.14N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 30.59; H, 1.68; N, 2.74; experimental value (%): C, 30.72; H, 1.97; N, 2.48.

    [0193] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization system, then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, and 5.1 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.7 was added simultaneously. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 20

    [0194] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.5 (represented by Formula II, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 are methyl, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 are hydrogen, R.sub.11 is ethyl, M is nickel, Y is O, and X is Br):

    ##STR00014##

    [0195] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.175 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.8 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.5 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 70.2%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.44H.sub.58Br.sub.6N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 39.72; H, 4.39; N, 4.21; experimental value (%): C, 39.38; H, 4.60; N, 3.96.

    [0196] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane and 120 mL of 2-octene were charged into the polymerization system, then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, and 3.3 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5 was added simultaneously. The reaction was stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 21

    [0197] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-decene were charged into the polymerization system, then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, and 3.3 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5 was added simultaneously. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 22

    [0198] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization system, then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, and 3.3 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5 was added simultaneously. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Comparative Example 7

    [0199] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane and 120 mL of 1-octene were charged into the polymerization system, then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, and 3.3 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.5 was added simultaneously. The reaction was vigorously stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    Example 23

    [0200] Preparation of complex Ni.sub.9 (represented by Formula II, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.3 are methyl, R.sup.2, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 are hydrogen, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 are p-fluorophenyl, R.sub.11 is ethyl, M is nickel, Y is O, and X is Br):

    ##STR00015##

    [0201] A solution of 0.277 g (0.9 mmol) of (DME)NiBr.sub.2 in ethanol (10 mL) was added slowly dropwise to a solution of 0.272 g (0.6 mmol) of ligand L.sub.9 in dichloromethane (10 mL). The color of the solution immediately changed to deep red, and a large quantity of precipitants was formed. The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 6 h, and then anhydrous diethyl ether was added to perform precipitation. A filtration was performed to afford a filter cake, and the filter cake was washed with anhydrous diethyl ether and dried in vacuum to afford Ni.sub.9 as brownish-red powdery solids. Yield: 74.1%. Elemental analysis (calculated for C.sub.64H.sub.62Br.sub.6F.sub.4N.sub.4Ni.sub.3O.sub.2): C, 46.57; H, 3.79; N, 3.39; experimental value (%): C, 46.72; H, 3.97; N, 3.48.

    [0202] After having been continuously dried at 130? C. for 2 hrs, a 1 L stainless steel polymerization autoclave equipped with mechanical stirring was evacuated while hot and then filled with N.sub.2 gas 3 times. 380 mL of hexane, 60 mL of 2-octene and 60 mL of 1-hexadecene were charged into the polymerization autoclave, and then 1.0 mL of trimethylaluminum (1.0 mol/L solution in heptane), 12.8 mg (25.0 ?mol) of tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 20.0 mg (25.0 ?mol) of N,N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate were added thereto, followed by the addition of 4.1 mg (2.5 ?mol) of complex Ni.sub.9. The reaction was stirred at 60? C. for 30 minutes, with ethylene pressure being maintained at 10 atm. The reaction mixture was neutralized with an ethanol solution acidified with 10 wt % hydrochloric acid to obtain a polymer. The results are shown in Table 1 below.

    TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Activity No. Complex (10.sup.6 g .Math. mol.sup.?1(Ni) .Math. h.sup.?1) M.sub.w ? 10.sup.?4 M.sub.w/M.sub.n Example 1 Ni.sub.1 10.23 9.46 3.82 Example 2 Ni.sub.1 10.78 12.24 4.14 Example 3 Ni.sub.1 9.10 10.33 4.28 Example 4 Ni.sub.1 8.24 8.33 5.14 Comp. Ex. 1 Ni.sub.1 11.04 8.38 2.25 Comp. Ex. 2 Ni.sub.1 11.23 6.52 2.22 Example 5 Ni.sub.2 7.25 8.63 4.33 Example 6 Ni.sub.3 13.32 3.56 5.41 Example 7 Ni.sub.3 12.69 5.67 4.21 Example 8 Ni.sub.3 12.13 5.37 4.37 Example 9 Ni.sub.3 11.24 5.03 4.51 Example 10 Ni.sub.3 9.37 2.07 3.97 Comp. Ex. 3 Ni.sub.3 13.07 4.33 2.85 Comp. Ex. 4 Ni.sub.3 13.34 3.48 2.31 Example 11 Ni.sub.4 8.42 7.24 4.18 Example 12 Ni.sub.5 14.32 4.34 3.67 Example 13 Ni.sub.5 10.44 5.23 3.98 Example 14 Ni.sub.5 13.13 5.37 4.42 Example 15 Ni.sub.5 11.42 3.27 4.28 Example 16 Ni.sub.5 12.82 5.33 3.80 Example 17 Ni.sub.5 11.07 7.83 3.74 Comp. Ex. 5 Ni.sub.5 13.62 3.45 2.39 Comp. Ex. 6 Ni.sub.5 13.21 4.07 2.73 Example 18 Ni.sub.6 13.67 8.22 5.21 Example 19 Ni.sub.7 10.47 10.80 4.72 Example 20 Ni.sub.8 3.83 16.5 5.22 Example 21 Ni.sub.8 3.74 17.1 4.83 Example 22 Ni.sub.8 3.71 18.8 4.97 Comp. Ex. 7 Ni.sub.8 4.52 15.4 2.10 Example 23 Ni.sub.9 1.47 5.60 4.47

    [0203] It can be seen from the data in Table 1 that, compared with the comparative examples catalyzing homopolymerization of ethylene and the comparative examples catalyzing copolymerization of ?-olefins, the catalyst systems for preparing the polymer of the present invention have higher copolymerization activities even when catalyzing polymerization of mixed olefins comprising internal olefin monomers. GPC test results show that the molecular weight distribution of the polymer obtained by the present invention is a bimodal distribution.

    [0204] Various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, and the foregoing descriptions are exemplary, not exhaustive, and not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.