PROCESS FOR OXIDATIVE FUNCTIONALIZATION OF POLYMERS CONTAINING ALKYLSTYRENE

摘要

PURPOSE: A method which is simple, direct and economical and does not need polar solvent is required, by which the polymer containing alkylstyrene, particularly isobutylene-alkylstyrene (IB-AS) is oxidatively functionalized only at the primary benzylic carbon site of the styrenic monomer. CONSTITUTION: The method comprises preparing a solution of precursor polymer containing IB-AS in nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent; and adding catalytic amount of hydrocarbon-soluble chromium compound and organic hydroperoxide to the solution to obtain polymer containing carbonyl groups. Preferably the precursor polymer is copolymers of C1-C8 alkylstyrene and C1-C7 isoolefin. Preferably the organic hydroperoxide is R-OOH or HOO-R*-OOH (wherein R represents an alkyl group of C4-C12 and R* represents an alkelene group of C3-C12). Preferably the chromium compound is CrO3, Cr(CO)6, Cr(CO)4X or Cr(VI) anhydrous compound represented by the below formula (wherein R' represents an alkyl group).