Stable star-structured functional polyolefins

Star-structured functional polyolefins comprising:

• a polyolefin bound at any position along its chain length to at least one nucleophile-containing silane of the following formula:
• wherein:
• Y is a di- or trivalent linker group selected from heteroatoms, C1 to C10 alkylenes, heteroatom substituted C1 to C10 alkylenes, C6 to C20 arylenes, and heteroatom substituted C6 to C20 arylenes;
• R4 is selected from hydrogen, heteroatoms, and C1 to C10 alkyls;
• Nu is a nucleophilic atom;
• R5 is selected from hydrogen, and C1 to C10 alkyls, C1 to C10 aminoalkyls, C6 to C20 aryls, C7 to C22 alkylaryls, C7 to C22 aminoaryls, and C7 to C22 arylalkyls;
• X is at least a divalent group selected from the group consisting of C4 to C20 linear alkylenes, C4 to C22 divalent ethers, and C4 to C22 branched alkylene;
• the silane group comprises a silicon atom bonded to each of an R1, an R2, and an R3, wherein each R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxide, C1 to C10 alkoxys, C6 to C30 aryloxys, C7 to C30 arylalkyloxys, and C1 to C10 alkylamines, wherein any 2- or more groups can form an aliphatic or aromatic cyclic structure that includes the silicon atom;
• and
• PO is a polyolefin having a Mw of at least 400 g/mole;
• and
• “n” is an integer within the range from 1 to 30;
• with the proviso that at least two of R1, R2, and R3 is selected from functional polyolefin moieties having the following structure:
• wherein the functional polyolefin moiety is covalently bonded to the silane group via any one or more of R1′, R2′, or R3′;
• and where any other one or more of R1′, R2′, or R3′ is independently selected from hydroxide, C1 to C10 alkoxys, C6 to C30 aryloxys, C7 to C30 arylalkyloxys, and C1 to C10 alkylamines, wherein any 2- or more groups can form an aliphatic or aromatic cyclic structure that includes the silicon atom functional polyolefin moieties;
• wherein the star-structured functional polyolefins have a branching number within the range of 3 to 30.