Electrochemical preparation of addition polymerization catalysts

Claim 1

A composition having utility as an addition polymerization catalyst comprising the reaction product formed by electrolyzing at least one initial complex corresponding to the formula: Cp.sub.a Z.sub.b M(III)X.sub.c or (1a) Cp.sub.a Z.sub.b M(IV)X.sub.c+1, (1b) wherein: Cp independently each occurrence is a cyclopentadienyl group n-bound to M; a hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, halo, cyano, or halohydrocarbyl substituted derivative of said cyclopentadienyl group; or such a substituted cyclopentadienyl group wherein two such substituents (other than halo or cyano) together form a multiple ring structure, said Cp containing up to 50 nonhydrogen atoms, and when more than one Cp is present, different Cp moieties may be joined by a linking group; Z is a divalent moiety bound to both Cp and M(IV) comprising boron, or a member of Group 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and optionally nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur or oxygen, said moiety having up to 30 non-hydrogen atoms, and optionally Cp and Z together form a fused ring system; M(IV) is a Group 4 metal in the +4 oxidation state; M(III) is a Group 4 metal in the +3 oxidation state; X independently each occurrence is hydride; halide; or a covalently bonded ligand group selected from hydrocarbyl, silyl, germyl, and combinations thereof, said X having up to 50 carbon, silicon or germanium atoms, and oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur containing derivatives thereof; a is 1 or 2; if a is 1, b is 0 or 1, if a is 2, b is 0; c is 1 or 2; and the sum of a+b+c equals 3 said electrolysis being conducted conditions such that by products that render the composition catalytically inactive are not formed.