Patent ID: 6433100
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
A process for the preparation of a polymer of the formula wherein:In represents a polymerization initiator fragment of a polymerization initiator capable of initiating polymerization of monomers or oligopolymers containing ethylene groups; p represents a numeral greater than zero and defines the number of initiator fragments; A represents an oligopolymer or polymer fragment consisting of repeating units of polymerizable monomers or oligopolymers containing ethylene groups; x represents a numeral greater than one and defines the number of repeating units in A; B represents a monomer, oligopolymer or polymer fragment copolymerized with A; y represents zero or a numeral greater than zero and defines the number of monomer, oligopolymer or polymer repeating units in B; q represents a numeral greater than zero; one of R1 and R2 represents C1-C7-alkyl and the other represents C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkyl substituted by C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl or C1-C4-alkoxy; or R1 and R2 together with the adjacent carbon atom both represent C3-C7-cycloalkyl; R3 and R4 are as defined as R1 and R2; Ra represents C1-C4-alkyl, cyano, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C4-alkanoyloxy, C1-C4-alkanoyloxy-C1-C4-alkyl, carbamoyl, mono- or di-C1-C4-alkylcarbamoyl, mono- or di-2-hydroxyethylcarbamoyl, amidino, 2-imidazolyl, 1-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-2-propylcarbamoyl, or 1,1-dihydroxymethyl-2-hydroxycarbamoyl; and Rb is as defined as Ra; or Ra and Rb together represent a divalent group and form a 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered aliphatic or aromatic heterocyclic group, which may contain 1-3 additional heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur; with the proviso that compounds of the formula I, wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 represents methyl and Ra and Rb represents 1,3-propylene is excluded; which comprisespolymerizing by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) an aliphatic monomer or oligomer containing ethylene groups in the presence of a polymerization initiator of the formula: [In&Brketclosest;pXqâ€ƒâ€ƒ(II), wherein p and q are as defined above, In represents a radically transferable atom or group capable of initiating polymerization of monomers or oligopolymers containing ethylene groups and â€”X represents a leaving group; and replacing â€”X in a polymerisate of the formula (In&Parenclosest;p&Brketopenst;Axâ€”By&Brketclosest;Xqâ€ƒâ€ƒ(III), wherein In, X, A, B, x, y, and p and q are as defined above, with a Nâ†’O compound of the formula wherein R1-R4 and Ra and Rb are as defined above, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an oxidizable transition metal complex catalyst.