Abstract: A polymer includes directly bonded aromatic pendent groups and at least one moiety defined by one of the following formulas >N—N?CR1R2 or —N?N—CR1R2— where R1 and R2 (a) are independently H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, or (b) together form a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkylene, cycloalkenylene, or arylene group. The moiety can be attached to the polymer through one or both of the two open bonds and, where it is attached through only one bond, the other bond attaches to a hydrogen atom, i.e., the moiety is at a terminus of the polymer. Such polymers can be used to provide compositions that also include particulate fillers.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a hydrobenzamide compound.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a hydrobenzamide compound.

Abstract: Blends of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and rubbery elastomers are prepared by a process that comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene within a rubber cement of an elastomeric terpolymer by using a chromium-based, molybdenum-based, or iron-based catalyst composition. Polymer composition comprising the blend with improved properties is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with an azine compound.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) a nickel-containing compound, (b) an alkylating agent, (c) a fluorine-containing compound, and (d) a chlorine-containing compound.

Abstract: A method of producing cis-1,4-polydienes, the method comprising the step of contacting conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst system in the presence of less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of monomer, organic solvent, and resulting polymer, where the lanthanide-based catalyst system is the combination of or reaction product of (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an organoaluminum hydride, (c) a trihydrocarbylaluminum, and (d) a halogen-containing compound.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an organoaluminum hydride, and (c) a tin halide compound.

Abstract: A method of producing cis-1,4-polydienes, the method comprising the step of contacting conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst system in the presence of less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of monomer, organic solvent, and resulting polymer, where the lanthanide-based catalyst system is the combination of or reaction product of (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an organoaluminum hydride, (c) a trihydrocarbylaluminum, and (d) a halogen-containing compound.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing conjugated diene polymers comprising the steps of contacting, within an hydrocarbon solvent and within a continuous reactor, conjugated diene monomer and a catalyst composition prepared by combining: (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen-containing compound, and maintaining a non-ideal flow pattern within the continuous reactor so that 10% of the reagents entering the reactor at a reference time t0 are still present within the continuous reactor at a time t0+xtrt, where trt is the residence time corresponding to ideal flow within the continuous reactor and x is a numeral greater than 1.5.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an organoaluminum hydride, and (c) a tin halide compound.

Abstract: Blends of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and rubbery elastomers are prepared by a process that comprises polymerizing 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene within a rubber cement of an elastomeric terpolymer by using a chromium-based, molybdenum-based, or iron-based catalyst composition. Polymer composition comprising the blend with improved properties is also provided.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing conjugated diene polymers comprising the steps of contacting, within an hydrocarbon solvent and within a continuous reactor, conjugated diene monomer and a catalyst composition prepared by combining: (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a halogen-containing compound, and maintaining a non-ideal flow pattern within the continuous reactor so that 10% of the reagents entering the reactor at a reference time t0 are still present within the continuous reactor at a time t0+xtrt, where trt is the residence time corresponding to ideal flow within the continuous reactor and x is a numeral greater than 1.5.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, the process comprising the steps of (1) polymerizing monomer consisting essentially of 1,3-butadeine monomer within an organic solvent that includes at least 50% by weight of aliphatic solvent by using an iron-based catalyst composition, where said step of polymerizing occurs at a temperature above about 65° C., thereby forming a supersaturated solution of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, (2) maintaining the supersaturated solution of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene at a temperature above about 65° C. until isolation of the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene is desired, and (3) isolating the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene from the supersaturated solution.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, (c) a nickel-containing compound, and optionally (d) a halogen-containing compound, with the proviso that the halogen-containing compound must be present where none of the lanthanide compound, the alkylating agent, and the nickel-containing compound contain a labile halogen atom.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) a silyl phosphonate, and (c) an organoaluminum compound.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, (c) a nickel-containing compound, and optionally (d) a halogen-containing compound, with the proviso that the halogen-containing compound must be present where none of the lanthanide compound, the alkylating agent, and the nickel-containing compound contain a labile halogen atom.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) a dihydrocarbyl hydrogen phosphite, and (c) an organoaluminum compound is disclosed for polymerizing 1,3-butadiene into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. The use of the catalyst composition of this disclosure avoids the use of environmentally detrimental components such as carbon disulfide and halogenated solvents. The melting temperature of the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be varied from about 100 to about 200° C. by variations in the catalyst components and the component ratios. The ability to vary the melting temperature over such a broad range with a single catalyst composition is very desirable. The syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene can be used as a plastic or as an additive for rubber compositions wherein it can crosslink with conventional rubbers using conventional crosslinking agents.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing syndiotactic 1,2-polybutaidene, the process comprising the steps of (1) polymerizing monomer consisting essentially of 1,3-butadeine monomer within an organic solvent that includes at least 50% by weight of aliphatic solvent by using an iron-based catalyst composition, where said step of polymerizing occurs at a temperature above about 65° C., thereby forming a supersaturated solution of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutaidene, (2) maintaining the supersaturated solution of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutaidene at a temperature above about 65° C. until isolation of the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene is desired, and (3) isolating the syndiotactic 1,2-polybutaidene from the supersaturated solution.

Abstract: A catalyst composition that is the combination of or the reaction product of ingredients comprising (a) an iron-containing compound, (b) an &agr;-acylphosphonate diester, and (c) an organoaluminum compound.