Recent advances in the neodymium catalysed polymerisation of 1,3-dienes

The benefits of using a homogeneous neodymium-based catalyst for the industrial “high cis” polymerisation of 1,3-butadiene are underlined. Preformed homogeneous catalysts for the “high cis” polymerisation of 1,3-butadiene based on Nd(carboxylate)₃/diisobutylaluminium hydride/^tbutyl chloride have been examined. The effects of changing (a) the order of catalyst component addition, (b) the carboxylate component and (c) the halogen component, on catalyst homogeneity, activity and polymer characteristics have been examined.