The rare earth metals catalysts are very efficient in stereospecific polymerization of dienes, especially those of neodymium. This paper reports on the polymerization of 2-methyl, 1,3-butadiene with catalysts of neodymium, used commercially in polymerization of 1,3-butadiene. Effects were studied from the temperature, type of alkylaluminum, and from the concentration of catalyst. The reactions were carried out in a stainless steel reactor under an inert atmosphere, using hexane as the solvent and a concentration of 12% of 2-methyl, 1,3-butadiene. Polymers were obtained with molecular weight from 1.0 to 1.5 × 105, with ca. 97% of cis repeating units.
Poly-1; 4-cis-isoprene; isoprene; neodymium; ziegler-natta catalyst