Cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene (PD) initiated by trimethylsilyl chloride/aluminium chloride (TMSCl/AlCl3) was carried out in toluene at 30℃.The polymer yield was increased by the addition of TMSC1.However,introduction of TMSC1 gave rise to a drop of the polymer molecular weight.Kinetic results demonstrated that the polymerization initiated by TMSCl/AlCl3 was 2.8 times faster than that induced by AlCl3 alone.Various ethers and ketones were used to mediate the initiating system TMSCl/AlCl3.The polymer yield and molecular weight of the polymer were decreased in the presence of ether.Ketones and ethers had different effects on the polymerization,and the polymer yield and molecular weight were lower than those initiated by AlCl3 alone or TMSCl/AlCl3 Structural evidence revealed that the polymerization was indeed initiated by AlCl3 and HCl rcsulting from hydrolysis of TMSC1 by adventitious water.