Processes for functionalization and polymerization of polyaromatic feedstock

A process for oligomerizing or polymerizing a feedstock, comprising:

• mixing a feedstock comprising polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polyheterocyclic compounds, or a combination thereof, with chloroform and potassium t-butoxide at a temperature between about 60° C. and 100° C. for forming carbenes to form a mixture;
• exposing the mixture to conditions for forming carbenes to form a functionalized feedstock comprising functionalized polyaromatic hydrocarbons, functionalized polyheterocyclic compounds, or a combination thereof, that are functionalized by addition of two or more cyclopropane rings;
• and
• treating the functionalized feedstock under conditions effective to oligomerize, polymerize, or a combination thereof at least a portion of the functionalized polyaromatic hydrocarbons, functionalized polyheterocyclic compounds, or a combination thereof, to form an oligomerized product, polymerized product, or a combination thereof,
• wherein the oligomerization, polymerization, or a combination thereof is effected via cyclopropane rings added during the exposing,
• wherein the feedstock comprises vacuum residue, fluidic catalytic cracking (FCC′) bottoms, steam cracker tar, asphaltenes, C3-C7 rock, bitumen, K-pot bottoms, lube extracts, or a combination thereof,
• wherein the polyaromatic hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons having at least two rings, at least one of which is aromatic, and
• wherein the polyheterocyclic compounds are compounds having at least two rings, at least one of which is aromatic, and having at least one aromatic ring that contains one or more heteroatoms selected from sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or a combination thereof.