It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-conjugated
cyclic diene and a non-conjugated cyclic diene composition which enable
the production of a polymer based on non-conjugated cyclic diene which
makes it possible to produce a (co)polymer at a high degree of
polymerization activity, and a method of producing a polymer based on
non-conjugated cyclic diene which makes it possible to produce a
(co)polymer at a high degree of polymerization activity. A non-conjugated
cyclic diene is used which meets at least one of the following
requirements: (1) it contains a compound having a seven-membered cyclic
triene hydrocarbon structure in a specific amount or less and (2) it
contains a conjugated polyene compound having an eight-membered bicyclic
hydrocarbon structure in a specific amount. Also, in a method of
producing a non-conjugated cyclic diene polymer, the aforementioned
non-conjugated cyclic diene is supplied to the polymerization or
copolymerization using an olefin polymerization catalyst containing an
organic aluminum oxy compound and/or an ionizing ionic compound. Also, in
another method of producing a non-conjugated cyclic diene polymer, a
non-conjugated cyclic diene which is obtained by bringing a crude
non-conjugated cyclic diene into contact with an alkali and then removing
at least a part of a low-boiling point fraction and at least a part of a
high-boiling point fraction is used for the polymerization.