Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>The organolithium polymerization of isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) has been studied in some detail. Hsieh and Tobolsky have reported that the polymer prepared in benzene or heptane had more than 90% cis-1,4-structure. Polyisoprenes prepared in ethers showed a change in stereochemistry to 3,4-, 1,2-, and trans-1,4-microstructures. Other research further studied the sensitivity of polymer stereochemistry to solvent and the specific organometallic initiator. Although it was observed long ago that organolithium compounds cause the polymerization of butadiene, the stereochemistry of the polymer has been reported much less completely. The patent literature contains references in this area, and Russian researchers have studied the butyllithium-initiated polymerization of butadiene in the presence of ethers, oxygen, alcohols, and thio ethers. This communication describes the polymerization of butadiene by butyllithium in n-heptane; it discusses the stereochemistry of the polymer obtained and the effect of catalyst and monomer concentration, polymerization temperature, and the presence of ethers on the details of polymer structure. The results obtained are compared with the reported data for the alkyllithium-initiated polymerization of isoprene.</jats:p>