AbstractThe study of rare earth coordination catalysts for polymerization of 1‐octene has been successfully carried out for the first time. Some features and kinetic behavior of polymerization of 1‐octene by Nd(naph)3–AIEt3catalyst system in tetrachloro‐methane are described. The overall polymerization activation energyEameasured was 74.5 kJ/mol and the rate equation could be expressed asRp=kp[Nd] [M](kp= 3.21 × 10−3L/mol s, at 50°C). The catalytic activity of various rare earth elements in Ln (naph)3and ligands in NdL3for the polymerization was compared. A 1‐octene oligomer with double bonds was obtained. It is either a white or pale yellow waxy semi‐solid. Its number‐average molecular weight is about 103and the molecular weight distributi