Method for manufacturing polyalkoxylated polymers

A process for the manufacture of an alkoxylated derivative of a hydrogenated or (per)halogenated polymer comprising at least one —OH group [polymer (PALK-OH)], said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) contacting at least one pre-catalyst C complying with formula (1)
• E(Q)t (1)
• wherein
• E is an element selected from IV-group metals, post-transition metals and silicon,
• Q is chlorine, bromine, iodine or an optionally fluorinated alkoxy or aryloxy group, and
• t is an integer corresponding to the valence of E;
• with
• (a-i) at least one polymer (POH), wherein polymer (POH) is a hydrogenated or (per)halogenated polymer comprising at least one —OH group, thus providing a mixture (Ma-1) comprising said polymer POH and a product (C—POH) obtained by the reaction between said pre-catalyst C and said polymer (POH), or
• (a-ii) at least one compound (I), wherein compound (I) is a source of iodine thus providing a mixture (Ma-2) comprising said pre-catalyst C and said compound (I);
• (b) contacting said mixture (Ma-1) with at least one compound (I), wherein compound (I) is a source of iodine or contacting said mixture (Ma-2) with at least one polymer (POH), thus obtaining mixture (Mb) comprising said polymer (POH), said product (C—POH) and said compound (I);
• (c) contacting said mixture (Mb) with at least one alkylene oxide, thus obtaining polymer (PALK-OH), optionally in admixture [mixture (Mc)] with said polymer (POH), said product (C—POH) and/or said compound (I).