The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of highly
purified tetracyclododecenes, which can be a raw material of cycloolefin
(co)polymers possessing excellent characters concerning their optical
property, high transparency, heat resistance, and oil absorbency, from an
inexpensive raw material of crude DCPD in a stable, continuous, and
longstanding process. In the continuous preparation of tetracyclododecenes
described in the present invention, it is possible to employ crude
dicyclopentadiene, that is, dicyclopentadiene having low purity, as a raw
material. It is also possible to produce highly purified
tetracyclododecenes by maintaining the ratios of one, two, or three
compounds selected from the group comprising isoprene, piperylene, and
1-methyl-2-norbornenes shown by the general formula (4) against the sum of
dicyclopentadiene and cyclopentadiene within the specified ranges, wherein
all these substances are contained in the raw material that are fed into a
reactor.