EP2604635B1

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

Abstract

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Term

5.2 yearsleft in the term

Expires 20 December 2031.

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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. %, wherein the process comprises the steps of:i) 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 ii) initiating polymerization of said isobutene or 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 Lewis 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 Lewis acid and said Lewis base are complexed by dissolving the Lewis 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 comprises 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" 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 wherein the initiator is an initiator of 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.