Chromium complexes with N,N,N‐tridentate ligands, LCrCl3 (L = 2,6‐bis{(4S)‐(−)‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazolin‐2‐yl}pyridine (1), 2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine (2), and 4,4′,4″‐tri‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine (3)), were prepared. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X‐ray crystallography. Upon activation with modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), 1 catalyzed the polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene, while 2 and 3 was inactive. The obtained poly(1,3‐butadiene) obtained with 1‐MMAO was found to have completely trans‐1,4 structure. The 1‐MMAO system also showed catalytic activity for the polymerization of isoprene to give polyisoprene with trans‐1,4 (68%) and cis‐1,4 (32%) structure. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry