Patent ID: 7737234
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
1. A method for polymerizing a polymer precursor to form a polymer, comprising: contacting a polymer precursor with a lithium borane or heteroborane salt catalyst and an initiator and an optional reaction solvent under polymerizing conditions, wherein the polymer precursor is an unactivated terminal alkene or alkyne and the polymer precursor is an alkene or alkyne other than a lithium, borane or heteroborane which contains a terminal alkene or alkyne and wherein the borane anion of the lithium borane salt catalyst has the formula: wherein r is an integer from 6 to 14 and z is an integer from 2 to r and each R, independent of each other R, is a linear or branched alkyl or a halogenated-linear or branched alkyl, the formula: B where R is selected from a hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the R's are the same or different, or the formula: B where R is selected from a hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and the R's are the same or different; or wherein the heteroborane anion of the lithium heteroborane salt catalyst has the formula: wherein p is an integer from 5 to 13 and y is an integer from 2 to p+1, and wherein each R, independent of each other R, is a linear or branched alkyl or a halogenated-linear or branched alkyl; and whereby the polymer formed by the contacting step is a polymer other than a polymer having two or more covalently attached lithium borane or heteroborane salts.