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Abstract

A class of metallocene compounds having two substituted cyclopentadienyl rings bridged by an alkylidene group wherein the cyclopentadienyl groups can be indenyl groups. The metallocene compounds have the following structures: ##STR1## The metallocenes are characterized by three principal features: (i) the cyclopentadienyl groups are substituted at the 3-position with a substituent other than hydrogen, while R.sup.2 in the 2-position bears a hydrogen (formula (I)) or is part of a condensed benzene ring (formula (II)); (ii) the bridge is a substituted-methylene bridge, i.e. a methylene group bearing at least one substituent other than hydrogen (R.sup.6 is always different from hydrogen); and (iii) the cyclopentadienyl groups are identically substituted (page 2, line 23). These metallocene compounds can be suitably used as catalyst components for the polymerization of olefins. In particular, by polymerizing propylene in the presence of a catalyst based on these metallocene compounds, polymers having very high isotactic indexes, high molecular weights, and narrow molecular weight distributions can be obtained in high yields. A process for preparing the metallocenes from the corresponding organic ligands is also disclosed.

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