Synthesis of novel hydrocarbon polymers containing 6-membered rings in themain chain: Living anionic polymerization of 1,3-cyclohexadiene

The n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) / N,N,N'N'-tetrametylethylenediamine (TMEDA) sy stem (the molar ratio of TMEDA to n-BuLi higher than 4/4) has been found to polymerize 1,3-cyclohexadiene (1,3-CHD) to produce "living" polymer having narrow molecular weight distribution with well-controlled polymer chain le ngth. Binary and ternary block copolymers with narrow molecular weight dist ribution could be synthesized from 1,3-cyclohexadiene, styrene, and butadie ne with very high efficiency. These polymers and their hydrogenated derivat ives have excellent thermal, mechanical, chemical, and optical properties f or the new industrial materials.