Synthesis of stereoregular polymyrcenes using neodymium-, iron- and copper-based catalysts

beta-Myrcene was polymerized with catalysts based on pyridyl-imino complexes of neodymium, iron and copper. Highly stereoregular polymers were obtained: in particular, the neodymium-based catalyst gave highly cis-1,4 polymers (>= 97%), while iron and copper catalysts gave a quite unusual structure in the field of stereospecific polymerization, that is, a predominantly alternating cis-1,4-alt-3,4 polymer containing cis-1,4 unit (five units) sequences within the polymer chain. Structural, thermal and mechanical characterization of the obtained polymers was carried out. beta-Myrcene was polymerized with catalysts based on pyridyl-imino complexes of neodymium, iron and copper to highly stereoregular polymers.