The reactions between the two components of the rare-earth coordination catalyst, NdCl3.3i-PrOH and AlEt3, were studied. It was found that the activated solid product was a mixture containing alkylated neodymium compounds, but no alkyl chloride was formed during the reaction. The alkyls bounded to neodymium or to the bridge between neodymium and aluminium atoms are thermally less stable than those bonded to the aluminium atom. Two possible structures of alkylated neodymium compounds were postulated. The catalytic activity in the isoprene polymerization increases with the increase of degree of alkylation and decreases in the presence of alkyl aluminium chloride.

Key words: CHLORIDE, ACTIVITY, NEODYMIUM COMPOUNDS, ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS, PRASEODYMIUM COMPLEX, TRIETHYL GROUP, ISOPROPANOL, ZIEGLER-NATTA CATALYST