Patent ID: 8173267

Claim:
A method for modifying a polymer having dithiocarbamate moieties, the method comprising a step of reacting a polymer with an acid whereby a modified polymer is obtained, wherein the polymer prior to modification is represented by the structural formula (I) wherein: Ar is arylene or heteroarylene, wherein Ar is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkyl, C 1-20 alkoxy, C 1-20 alkylsulfate, aryl and aryl-C 1-4 alkyl; R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from the group consisting of C 1-20 alkyl, C 3-10 cycloalkyl, aryl, aryl-C 1-20 alkyl and heterocyclyl; R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting hydrogen, C 1-20 alkyl, C 3-10 cycloalkyl, aryl, aryl-C 1-4 alkyl and heterocyclyl; and n is such that a number average molecular weight of the polymer is from 5000 to 1000000 Dalton.