Abstract: Coordination polymerization of n-octyl isocyanate catalyzed by rare earth phosphonate catalyst Nd(P₂₀₄)₃ using Al(i-Bu)₃ as cocatalyst was carried out at -10 ℃ to obtain poly(n-octyl isocyanate) with a high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. Under the optimal polymerization conditions: n(Al)/n(Nd)=10 aging at 50 ℃ for 5 h, n(n-OctNCO)/n(Nd)=100, polymerized at -10 ℃ for 10 h in bulk, producing a polymer with 88.3% yield, M_n=38.9×10⁴, and MWD=3.53. The kinetics and mechanism of the polymerization were investigated.

Key words: Rare earth phosphonate, n-Octyl isocyanate, Coordination polymerization