Patent ID: 7304113

Claim:
A method for partially and selectively hydrogenating a polymer made of at least a conjugated diene monomer having a vinyl content, based on the content of polymerized conjugated diene, of from 20 to 65%, wherein the content of 1,4 double bonds is from 35 to 80% (together being 100%), comprising a hydrogenation step on a solution of the polymer, characterized in that the hydrogenation step is performed in the presence of an iron-containing catalyst whereby a hydrogenated polymer is obtained wherein the vinyl content is reduced to 5% or less, whereas the content of 1,4-double bonds is maintained at a level of at least 30%, and wherein the solution that is subjected to the hydrogenation step contains amounts of lithium alkoxide and iron-containing catalyst of which the molar ratio [lithium alkoxide]/[iron-containing catalyst] is less than 20.