Process for hydrogenation on conjugataed diene polymers and catalyst composition suitable for use therein

摘要

The invention provides a catalyst composition suitable for hydrogenation of polymers containing ethylenic unsaturation, which comprise: (a) a titanium compound of the formula, <IMAGE> wherein A1 and A2 are the same or different and each represents a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl or indenyl group, wherein X1 and X2 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen, halogen, a lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, optionally substituted phenyl or phenoxy, or aralkyl having from 7 to 10 carbon atoms, or phenylalkoxy having from 7 to 10 carbon atoms, carboxyl, carbonyl, a -CH2P(Phenyl)2, -CH2 Si(lower alkyl)3, or -P(phenyl)2 group. (b) an alkalimetal hydride, added as such or prepared in situ in the polymer solution from the alkalimetal terminated living polymer and/or from additionally added alkalimetal alkyl and hydrogen, the molar ratio of the alkalimetal:titanium in the polymer solution during hydrogenation being at least 2:1; (c) a borium compound B(R1)(R2)(R3) wherein the symbols R1, R2 and R3 may be the same or different and each may represent hydrogen, halogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, or phenyl optionally substituted by up to five substituents selected from halogen and lower alkyl, or benzyl having an optionally substituted phenyl ring as specified hereinbefore or wherein two of the symbols R may form together a monocyclic or bicyclic system which on its own may carry one or more substituents. A process for hydrogenation of polymers containing ehylenic unsaturation using these catalyst compositions is also described.