Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene, whose IUPAC name is 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and molecular formula is C5H8.
The polymerization reaction involves the 1,4-addition of isoprene monomers: \[ n\,CH_2=C(CH_3)-CH=CH_2 \longrightarrow [-CH_2-C(CH_3)=CH-CH_2-]_n \]
The product formed is cis-1,4-polyisoprene, which is the main constituent of natural rubber.
It is obtained naturally from the latex of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)
