BATCH PROCESS FOR SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS COMPRISING PENDANT CYCLOALKENE GROUPS

摘要

Herein is disclosed a method for the batch transesterification of a polymer, comprising: (i) providing the polymer as a melt feed or in solution; (ii) reacting the polymer in a batch reactor with a first alcohol in the presence of a catalyst under conditions wherein transesterification occurs, to form the transesterified polymer and a second alcohol; (iii) removing the second alcohol from the transesterified polymer; (iv) stripping residual first alcohol and byproducts from the transesterified polymer, to yield purified transesterified polymer; and (v) pelletizing the purified transesterified polymer. This method is operable at a low temperature and with low levels of catalyst. It also is capable of relatively high conversion of acrylic units in the polymer.