Polymerization of buta-1,3-diene in the presence of catalytic systems based on bis-π-methallyl cobalt chloride

Polymerization of buta-1,3-diene was studied for the first time in the presence of bis-π-methallyl cobalt chloride synthesized by a new method; this compound is stable at room temperature in combination with AlEtCl2 or with Al(O-iso-C4H9)Cl2. The complex formed is assumed to give reactive centres at an equilibrium; the rate as well as the polymerization efficiency as functions of the concentrations of catalyst components were formulated for a system in which AlEtCl2 participates. These functions were found to agree with the experimental results. The reactive centres produced on these catalysts differ from those giving rise to cis-1,4-polybutadiene on other soluble cobalt catalysts and this is due to differences in structure and stability.