Production of terminally functional polymer by cationic polymerization

Abstract

A polymerization process is provided for producing a terminally functional polymer which comprises introducing a monomer charge, a Lewis acid and an organic peroxy compound into a suitable reaction vessel and polymerizing the monomer charge at a temperature of from about 0.degree. to about -80.degree. C. to form the terminally functional polymer, wherein the monomer charge comprises isobutylene and the organic peroxy compound is charge in an amount of from about 10.sup.-4 to about 10.sup.-1 moles per mole of the isobutylene. In a preferred embodiment, the monomer charge additionally comprises vinylidene aromatic or diolefin monomers. The invention also provides a novel catalyst system comprising an organic peroxy compound and a Lewis acid for the polymerization of isobutylene or monomer mixtures containing isobutylene.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.