Metathesis polymerization of cycloolefins

Claim 1

A cycloolefin methathesis polymerization process comprising contacting at least one unsaturated alicyclic compound selected from the group consisting of (1) unsaturated alicyclic compounds containing five carbon atoms in the ring and containing one double bond in the ring, (2) non-conjugated unsaturated alicyclic compounds containing at least seven carbon atoms in the ring and at least one double bond in the ring, and (3) polycyclic olefins and diolefins, by subjecting said alicyclic compounds or mixtures thereof to a catalyst system comprising (A) at least one transition metal salt selected from the group consisting of tungsten halides and tungsten oxyhalides, (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of dialkylaluminum halides, alkylaluminum sesquihalides and alkylaluminum dihalides, and (C) at least one compound of the formula RO Si R' 3 wherein R is CH 3 -- or Y-CH 2 CH 2 --, wherein Y is hydrogen, halogen, nitrile, alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkoxy containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and where R' is a methyl or ethyl radical and where the molar ratios of A/B/C is within the range of 1/0.5-10/0.5-3.