Method for producing trimethylcyclododecatriene

A process for preparing trimethylcyclododecatriene, comprising:

• first charging a solvent comprising 15-1000 ppm of a polar component to a reactor;
• charging a catalyst system and at least one organometallic compound to the reactor charged with a solvent comprising 15-1000 ppm of a polar compound;
• heating the charged reactor to a reaction temperature;
• admitting isoprene to the heated charged reactor;
• and
• reacting the isoprene in the presence of the solvent, catalyst system and at least one organometallic compound to obtain a product mixture comprising
• trimethylcyclododecatriene,
• wherein
• a yield of the trimethylcyclododecatriene is greater than 65% of a theoretical yield calculated on a mass of isoprene admitted to the reactor,
• the product mixture comprises linear C15 oligomers and a ratio of trimethylcyclododecatriene to the linear C15 oligomers is greater than or equal to 10:1,
• the catalyst system comprises nickel, titanium or a mixture thereof,
• a compound containing at least one element of main group 5 of the Periodic Table of the Elements is added to the catalyst system,
• the polar component is represented by formula (I)
• HO—R (I)
• wherein
• R is selected from the group consisting of branched and
• unbranched C1-C18-alkyl, C1-C18-cycloalkyl, C1-C18-aryl, C1-C18-aralkyl and H, and
• the reaction temperature, in the case of a nickel-containing catalyst system, is less than or equal to 140° C. and, in the case of a titanium-containing catalyst system, is less than or equal to 80° C.