Anion Exchange Block Copolymers, Their Manufacture And Their Use

A selectively halogenated block copolymer comprising:

• (a) at least two end blocks A, wherein each end block A is essentially non-halogenated, has a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 60,000, and has a high service temperature;
• and
• (b) at least one interior block D* having a number average weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000 and comprising on average at least one polymer unit of formula (II)
• wherein
• Y is halogen;
• R1 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl.

A precursor block copolymer comprising:

• (a) at least two end blocks A, wherein each end block A is substantially resistant to halogenation, has a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 60,000, and has a high service temperature;
• and
• (b) at least one interior block D∘ having a number average weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000 and comprising on average at least one polymer unit of formula (III)
• wherein
• R1 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl.

A method for preparing the amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymer comprising:

• (1) reacting, in the presence of an inert solvent, a halogenating agent with a precursor block copolymer with the formula:
• (a) at least two end blocks A, wherein each end block A is substantially resistant to halogenation, has a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 60,000, and has a high service temperature;
• and
• (b) at least one interior block D∘ having a number average weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000 and comprising on average at least one polymer unit of formula (III)
• wherein
• R1 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl;
• to produce a selectively halogenated block copolymer,
• (2) reacting the halogenated block copolymer with an amine or phosphine to produce an amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymer.

A method for preparing the amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymer comprising:

• reacting a halogenated block copolymer comprising:
• (a) at least two end blocks A, wherein each end block A is essentially non-halogenated, has a number average molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 60,000, and has a high service temperature;
• and
• (b) at least one interior block D* having a number average weight of from about 1,000 to about 100,000 and comprising on average at least one polymer unit of formula (II)
• wherein
• Y is halogen;
• R1 is hydrogen or alkyl;
• and
• R2 is hydrogen or is tertiary alkyl.
• with an amine or phosphine to produce an amino- or phosphino-functionalized block copolymer.