Polymerization initiating system and method to produce highly reactive olefin functional polymers
AssigneesInfineum International Limited, University of Massachusetts
InventorsRudolf Faust, Philip Dimitrov, Rajeev Kumar, Jacob Emert, Jun Hua
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Abstract
A method for producing highly reactive olefin polymers wherein at least 50 mol. % of the polymer chains have terminal double bonds, and a novel polymerization initiating system for accomplishing same.
Claims19
A process for the preparation of polybutene having an exo-olefin content of at least 50 mol. %, which process comprises contacting isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture, with a Lewis acid catalyst complexed with an oxygen and/or sulfur-containing Lewis base, in a substantially or completely apolar solvent, and initiating polymerization of said isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture with an initiator, wherein said Lewis acid catalyst is a Lewis acid of the formula MR″mYn, wherein M is a metal selected from Fe, Ga, Hf, Zr and W;
- R″ is a hydrocarbyl group;
- Y is halogen;
- m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 5;
- and n is an integer of 1 to 6, with the proviso that m+n is equal to the valency of metal M;
- and the initiator is a compound of the formula RX, wherein X is a halide;
- R is a hydrocarbyl group capable of forming a stable carbocation, and wherein the carbon linking group R to group X is tertiary, benzylic or allylic.
A catalyst-initiator system for catalyzing the polymerization of isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture in a substantially or completely apolar solvent to provide a polybutene product having an exo-olefin content of at least 50 mol. %, wherein said catalyst comprising a Lewis acid catalyst complexed with an oxygen and/or sulfur containing Lewis base, wherein said Lewis acid catalyst is a Lewis acid of the formula MR″mYn, wherein M is a metal selected from Fe, Ga, Hf, Zr and W;
- R″ is a hydrocarbyl group;
- Y is halogen;
- m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 5;
- and n is an integer of 1 to 6, with the proviso that m+n is equal to the valency of metal M;
- and the polymerization is initiated via an initiator of the formula RX, wherein X is a halide;
- R is a hydrocarbyl group capable of forming a stable carbocation, and wherein the carbon linking group R to group X is tertiary, benzylic or allylic
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.