CYCLOOLEFIN POLYMER REDUCED IN CATALYST RESIDUE CONTENT, USE THEREOF, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

摘要

A cycloolefin polymer reduced in the content of catalyst residues; and use thereof as an optical material. The catalyst used in polymerization and/or hydrogenation for producing a cycloolefin polymer is efficiently decomposed by adding at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alpha -hydroxy acids and beta -hydroxy acids each having one hydroxyl group and one carboxyl group in the molecule and their derivatives in each of which the hydroxyl group has been replaced with an alkoxyl group. The decomposition products are insolubilized in the reaction solvent used in the polymerization and/or hydrogenation and are thus efficiently precipitated and removed.