Polymerization of dienes with organometallic compounds prepared by oxidative addition of hydrocarbons to lanthanides

It was found that organolanthanide compounds prepared by the reaction of aromatic hydrocarbons, cyclohexene, and cyclohexadienes with metallic lanthanides conducted using mechanical activation are effective catalysts for cis-polymerization of butadiene. High activity of europium-containing catalyst is demonstrated for the first time. On the basis of experimental data it is suggested that diorganolanthanides are the active centers in the catalytic systems under investigation.