Polymerization of butadiene catalyzed by a cobalt-containing catalyst in aliphatic media

Abstract

The polymerization of butadiene catalyzed by the preformed Co(2-ethylhexanoate)2-Et3Al2Cl3-isoprene (a molar ratio of 1: 20: 20) catalytic system in toluene, cyclohexane, and hexane has been studied. In toluene, the catalyst demonstrates high activity and stereospecificity and yields a high-molecular-mass polymer. In cyclohexane and hexane, the catalyst has a high activity but affords polymers with lower contents of 1,4-cis-units and reduced intrinsic viscosities. The addition of EtAlCl2 and/or a decrease in the polymerization temperature make it possible to obtain polybutadiene containing more than 96% 1,4-cis-units and an acceptable intrinsic viscosity (2.0–2.8 dl/g) in the nonaromatic solvents as well.