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Abstract

Stable liquid hydrocarbon-soluble novel magnesium dialkoxide compositions, and complexes thereof with, for example, n-alkyllithiums, organomagnesiums, and the like, useful as or in the preparation of polymerization catalysts and initiators for the polymerization of alpha-olefins and diolefins, which are prepared, for instance, by reacting certain organomagnesium compounds in liquid hydrocarbon solvents with (a) aliphatic 2-alkyl-substituted C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 monohydric primary alcohols, or (b) mixtures of (a) with 2-alkyl-substituted C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 aliphatic secondary or tertiary alcohols, or (c) mixtures of (a) with C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 aliphatic primary linear alcohols. Such dialkoxides and complexes thereof are commonly advantageously prepared in the presence of minor amounts of organoaluminum, organolithium or organopotassium compounds, e.g., trialkylaluminums, alkyllithiums or potassium dialkoxides. An illustrative example of the novel magnesium dialkoxides is 2-methyl-1-pentyloxide. Illustrative complexes of the said magnesium dialkoxides are those made by mixing n-butyllithium in heptane solution with magnesium 2-methylpentyloxide in heptane solution. Alternatively, 2-alkoxyalkanols, ROCH.sub.2 CHR'OH, may be used in place of the (a) alcohols, in which case addition of the minor amount of organoaluminum, organolithium or organopotassium compound is not required.

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