EP2604635A1

Polymerization initiating system and method to produce highly reactive olefin functional polymers

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.

Term

5.2 yearsto projected expiry

Projected expiry 20 December 2031, counted from filing; an application has no term until it is granted.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Published
  4. Today
  5. Projected expiry

10 claims: 6 independent, 4 dependent

  1. 1
    A process for the preparation of polybutene having an exo-olefin content of at least 50 mol. %, preferably at least 70 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" m Y n , wherein M is a metal selected from Fe, Ga, Hf, Zr and W, preferably Ga and Fe;R" is a hydrocarbyl group, preferably a C 1 to C 8 alkyl group;Y is halogen, preferably Cl or Br, more preferably Cl;m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 5, preferably 0 or 1, more preferably 0;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.
  2. 4
    The process of any of claims 1 through 3, wherein said isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer mixture is selected from pure isobutene;a C 4 refinery cut containing between about 5% and about 50% butene-1, between about 2% and about 40% butene-2, between about 2% and about 60% iso-butane, between about 2% and about 20% n-butane, and up to about 0.5% butadiene, wherein all percentages are by mass, based on the total mass of the C 4 refinery cut;and mixtures of pure isobutene and said C 4 refinery cut.
  3. 5
    The process of any of claims 1 through 4, wherein said complex is contacted with said isobutene or an isobutene-containing monomer at a concentration of millimoles of Lexis acid-Lewis base complex per liter of medium of from about 1 mM to about 200 mM.
  4. 6
    The process of any of claims 1 through 5, wherein said Lexis acid and said Lexis base are complexed by dissolving the Lexis acid in solvent to form a solution, and then adding said Lewis base to said solution.
  5. 7
    The process of any of claims 1 through 6, wherein the polymerization process is conducted continuously.
  6. 8
    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. %, preferably at least 70 mol. %, wherein said catalyst comprising a Lexis acid catalyst complexed with an oxygen and/or sulfur containing Lewis base, wherein said Lexis acid catalyst is a Lexis acid of the formula MR" m Y n , wherein M is a metal selected from Fe, Ga, Hf, Zr and W, preferably Ga and Fe;R" is a hydrocarbyl group, preferably a C 1 to C 8 alkyl group;Y is halogen, preferably Cl or Br;m is 0 or an integer of 1 to 5, preferably 0 or 1, more preferably 0;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