Patent ID: 6376615
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: C08C,C08F

Abstract:
A method for functionalizing a polymer, the method comprising reacting the polymer with a free radical of formula A to yield a functionalized polymer having a thermodissociable bond between the polymer and the free radical,wherein formula A is wherein R1, R2, and R3 are the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of R; wherein M is a silicon or germanium atom; wherein â€ƒare the same or different radicals which are each independently selected from among aromatic cyclic hydrocarbons, wherein the aromatic cyclic hydrocarbons may contain one or more heteroatoms in ortho, meta, and/or para positions and/or may have one or more substituents at the ortho, meta, and/or para positions with the substituents being selected from the group consisting of halogens, â€”NO2, â€”OR, R, and â€”OH, and wherein when the phenyl moieties of the radicals â€ƒare directly linked to the same carbon atom, the radicals â€ƒmay form divalent diaryl groups selected from among: wherein R6 and R7 are the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of multivalent substituted C6-13 cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, non-substituted C6-13 cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, substituted C6-13 linear hydrocarbons, substituted C6-13 branched hydrocarbons, non-substituted C6-13 linear hydrocarbons, and non-substituted C6-13 branched hydrocarbons, wherein a is 0 or 1, and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of â€”Oâ€”, â€”Sâ€”, â€”CH2â€” and and wherein D is oxygen or wherein R4, R5, R8, R9, and R10 are the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogens, â€”NO2, â€”OR, R, and â€”OH; wherein R1, R2, and R3 are the same or different and are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, â€”OR, and R; and wherein each R is independently selected from the monovalent groups consisting of: C1-13 substituted linear hydrocarbons, C1-13 non-substituted linear hydrocarbons, C1-13 substituted branched hydrocarbons, C1-13 non-substituted branched hydrocarbons, C3-13 substituted cyclic hydrocarbons, C3-13 non-substituted cyclic hydrocarbons, C6-13 substituted cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, C6-13 non-substituted cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, C6-13 substituted cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms, and C6-13 non-substituted cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms; wherein the method for functionalizing a polymer yields the functionalized polymer in a reaction medium, and wherein the method further comprises separating the functionalized polymer from the reaction medium.