Patent ID: 6486263
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: C08F

Abstract:
A method for producing a substantially saturated polymer, the method comprising the steps of:(A) generating an unsaturated polymer by polymerising a substrate using ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) in the presence of a catalyst comprising a carbene group, the catalyst being of the formula I: â€ƒwherein each L represents independently a neutral two electron donor ligand, each X represents independently a co-ordinating anion, and any two or more of X and L may be connected via a bridging moiety, and R represents hydrogen or an organic radical, to form an unsaturated polymer; (B) hydrogenating the unsaturated polymer to produce the substantially saturated polymer, wherein the hydrogenation is catalysed by a hydrogenation catalyst generated by modification of the polymerisation catalyst of formula I by replacement of the carbene group with at least one hydrogen, and the hydrogenation reaction is accelerated by a catalysis enhancing non-inert solvent; and (C) adding a Lewis or BrÃ¶nsted acid or base at any time prior to step (B), as required.