PARA-ALKYLSTYRENE/ISOOLEFIN COPOLYMERS

摘要

Copolymers which are the direct reaction product of isoolefin having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms and para-alkylstyrene and which have substantially homogeneous compositional distillation are disclosed. These copolymers are preferably copolymers of isobutylene and para-methylstyrene, and preferably at least about 95 wt. % of the copolymer has a para alkylstyrene content within about 10 wt. % of the average para-alkylstyrene content for the overall composition, and even more preferably the normalized differential refractive index and ultraviolet curves obtained by gel permeation chromatography for these copolymers are essentially superimposeable. These copolymers can also be halogenated, and in a particularly preferred aspect of the invention selectively brominated polymers are provided, with almost exclusive substitution taking place on the para-alkyl group, so as to yield a highly desirable benzylic halogen, and preferably bromine, functionality. Methods for producing these copolymers and halogenated copolymers are also disclosed.