Patent ID: 7354977

Claim:
A process for preparing a dihydroxyl-functionalized material by hydroxyalkylating a dicarboxylic acid-functionalized material, said process comprising the step of: reacting as reactants: (a) a dicarboxylic acid-functionalized material selected from the group consisting of dicarboxylic acid-functionalized polymers of: polybutadiene, poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile), poly(acrylonitrile) and combinations thereof; and (b) a hydroxyalkylating reagent selected from the group consisting of: a carbocyclic carbonate, a carbocyclic sulfite and combinations thereof; in the presence of: (c) a phase transfer catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a dihydroxyl-functionalized material; wherein said dihydroxyl-functionalized material has a molecular weight that is substantially unchanged relative to the molecular weight of said dicarboxylic acid-functionalized starting material.