Abstract: This invention is concerned with a butadiene-based polymer having a high cis-1,4 bond content, a low vinyl bond content and a molecular weight distribution of a specified range, and more particularly a butadiene-based polymer having a 1,3-butadiene monomer unit, characterized in that a cis-1,4 bond content and a vinyl bond content in the 1,3-butadiene monomer unit as measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is not less than 98.0% and not more than 0.3%, respectively, and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) is 1.6-3.5.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, the polymer having greater than about 85 percent in the 1,4-cis microstructure and less than about 3 percent in the 1,2- or 3,4-microstructure, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one functionalizing agent defined by the formula (I) or (II): where Z is a substituent that will react or interact with organic or inorganic fillers; with the proviso that each group attached to the imino carbon is attached via a carbon atom and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R13, R14 and Z are substituents that will not protonate a pseudo-living polymer.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a modified conjugated diene based polymer which attains favorable interaction between a rubber component and carbon black and/or silica, thereby improving dispersibility of the fillers, and which exhibits excellent properties such as heat-buildup-suppressing performance, fracture characteristics, and wear resistance; a modified conjugated diene based polymer produced through the process; a rubber composition containing the diene polymer; and a tire produced from the rubber composition and exhibiting the above properties.

Abstract: A functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with a functionalizing agent defined by the formula (I) A-R1-Z??(I) where R1 is a divalent bond or divalent organic group comprising from 0 to about 20 carbon atoms, A is a substituent that will undergo an addition reaction with a pseudo-living polymer, and Z is a substituent that will react or interact with silica or carbon black reinforcing fillers, with the proviso that A, R1, and Z are substituents that will not protonate a pseudo-living polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modified conjugated diene polymer that is prepared by polymerization of a conjugated diene compound using a catalyst containing a lanthanoid rare earth element compound in an organic solvent and then modifying the resulting polymer having an active organic metal site with a modifier, wherein the modification efficiency is not less than 15% and the cis-1,4 bond content in the conjugated diene moiety measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy satisfies the relationship (I): cis-1,4 bond content?98.00(%)??(I), or the modification efficiency is not less than 75% and the cis-1,4 bond content in the conjugated diene moiety measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy satisfies the relationship (II): 94.00(%)?cis-1,4 bond content<98.00(%)??(II).

Abstract: A process for simply and inexpensively producing a conjugated diene polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high cis-bond content at a low cost is provided. The process comprises a polymerization step, wherein a conjugated diene polymer having a cis-1,4-bond content of 98.5 mass % or more and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) to the number average molecular weight (Mn) measured by gel permeation chromatography of 2.5 or less is obtained by carrying out a polymerization reaction in conjugated diene compounds using a catalyst composition containing a rare earth element-containing compound or a reaction product of the rare earth element-containing compound with a Lewis base, an aluminoxane and/or organoaluminum compound, and an iodine-containing compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having excellent mechanical properties by using a rubber composition containing a polybutadiene rubber having a high cis-1,4 bond content, a low vinyl bond content and proper number average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, and more particularly to a pneumatic tire characterized in that a rubber composition including a polybutadiene with a cis-1,4 bond content of not less than 99.0% and a vinyl bond content of not more than 0.3% as measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used in any one of tire members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, a kit, a method of treating cancer and/or a method of inhibiting angiogenesis comprising a sulfonamide compound in combination with a platinum complex, a DNA-topoisomerase I inhibitor, an antimetabolite, a microtubule inhibitor or an antibiotic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, a kit and a method for treating cancer, comprising a sulfonamide compound in combination with a substance having an EGF inhibitory activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, a kit and a method for treating cancer and/or a method for inhibiting angiogenesis, comprising a sulfonamide compound in combination with Bevacizumab.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition including a polyisoprene rubber having a very high cis-1,4-bond content and having an excellent balance between dynamic properties and processability, and more particularly to a rubber composition comprising as a rubber component (A) a synthetic polyisoprene rubber having a cis-1,4-bond content of not less than 99.0%, a 3,4-bond content of not more than 0.5% and a Mooney viscosity ML1+4 (100° C.) of 20-110 and (B) a natural rubber.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for producing functionalized cis-1,4-polydienes having a combination of a high cis-1,4-linkage content and a high functionality, the resulting polymers and the vulcanized products containing the polymers. The functionalized cis-1,4-polydienes of the present invention are produced by a method comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a reactive polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst 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 is the combination of or reaction product of (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a halogen-containing compound; and (2) contacting the reactive polymer with a functionalizing agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a modified conjugated diene based polymer which attains favorable interaction between a rubber component and carbon black and/or silica, thereby improving dispersibility of the fillers, and which exhibits excellent properties such as heat-buildup-suppressing performance, fracture characteristics, and wear resistance; a modified conjugated diene based polymer produced through the process; a rubber composition containing the diene polymer; and a tire produced from the rubber composition and exhibiting the above properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel polymerization initiator capable of introducing an active amino proton into a polymerization starting terminal without losing polymerization activity, and a novel modified conjugated diene polymer being excellent in the interaction with a filler and capable of improving a low heat buildup of a rubber composition, and more particularly to a polymerization initiator being a diamine compound in which one amino group is protected with a silylating agent and an active proton of the other amino group is replaced with an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and a modified conjugated diene polymer which can be produced by using such a polymerization initiator and is a homopolymer of a conjugated diene compound or a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and an aromatic vinyl compound and has a residue derived from a diamine compound at its polymerization starting terminal.

Abstract: A flower-like nano-particle composition including a poly (alkenylbenzene) core and a poly (conjugated diene) or a poly(alkylene) surface layer is provided. The nano-particles have a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm and are substantially free of chain ends. The nano-particles can be modified via, for example, hydrogenation. The nano-particles can advantageously be incorporated into rubbers, elastomers, and thermoplastics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic tire having excellent mechanical properties by using a rubber composition containing a polybutadiene rubber having a high cis-1,4 bond content, a low vinyl bond content and proper number average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution, and more particularly to a pneumatic tire characterized in that a rubber composition including a polybutadiene with a cis-1,4 bond content of not less than 99.0% and a vinyl bond content of not more than 0.3% as measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used in any one of tire members.

Abstract: A flower-like nano-particle composition including a poly (alkenylbenzene) core and a poly (conjugated diene) or a poly(alkylene) surface layer is provided. The nano-particles have a mean average diameter less than about 100 nm and are substantially free of chain ends. The nano-particles can be modified via, for example, hydrogenation. The nano-particles can advantageously be incorporated into rubbers, elastomers, and thermoplastics.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a butadiene-based polymer having a high cis-1,4 bond content, a low vinyl bond content and a molecular weight distribution of a specified range, and more particularly a butadiene-based polymer having a 1,3-butadiene monomer unit, characterized in that a cis-1,4 bond content and a vinyl bond content in the 1,3-butadiene monomer unit as measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is not less than 98.0% and not more than 0.3%, respectively, and a ratio (Mw/Mn) of weight average molecular weight (Mw) to number average molecular weight (Mn) is 1.6-3.5.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber composition having a high interaction between rubber component and carbon black, a good wear resistance and an excellent low heat buildup (low hysteresis loss), and more particularly to a rubber composition comprising (A) 100 parts by mass of a rubber component containing not less than 10% by mass of a conjugated diene polymer having a polymer chain with at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of particular substituted amino group and cyclic amino group, (B) not less than 20 parts by mass of carbon black and (C) not more than 1.0 part by mass of a polycyclic aromatic compound (PCA).

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.