Syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene latex

Claim 1

A catalyst emulsion composition which is useful in the emulsion polymerization of 1,3-butadiene monomer into syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene, which is prepared by dissolving in an inert organic solvent containing at least one polyene (a) at least one cobalt compound selected from the group consisting of (i) β-ketone complexes of cobalt, (ii) β-keto acid ester complexes of cobalt, (iii) cobalt salts of organic carboxylic acids having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, and (iv) complexes of halogenated cobalt compounds of the formula CoX n , wherein X represents a halogen atom and n represents 2 or 3, with an organic compound selected from the group consisting of tertiary amine alcohols, tertiary phosphines, ketones and N,N-dialkylamides, and (b) at least one organoaluminum compound of the formula AlR 3 wherein R represents a hydrocarbon radical of 1 to 6 carbon atoms to produce microencapsulated catalyst component solution, and microfluidizing the catalyst component solution with (i) an oil selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons containing from about 12 to about 28 carbon atoms and long chain alcohols containing from about 12 to about 28 carbon atoms, (ii) a surfactant, and (iii) water to an average particle size which is within the range of about 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers.