| abstract |
Isoprene oligomers are selectively produced in high yields by causing isoprene to undergo oligomerization in contact with a catalyst essentially comprising, in combination, a zirconium compound Zr (OR)nX4 n (e.g., zirconium tributoxy chloride), a phosphorous compound PR3'' ,POR3'' or PO(OR'')3 (e.g., triphenylphosphine), and an aluminum compound A1R2''''X'' (e.g., diethylaluminum chloride), in which R, R'', and R'''' are the same group or different groups selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, X and X'' are the same or different halogens, and n is 3 or 2. |