Patent ID: 7579410

Claim:
A process for the preparation of an, optionally hydrogenated, nitrile rubber comprising the steps of a) reacting a nitrile rubber in the presence at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds of the general formula I, wherein: M 1 is Os or Ru; R is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 20 alkenyl, C 2 -C 20 alkynyl, C 1 -C 20 alkyl, aryl, C 1 -C 20 carboxylate, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 2 -C 20 alkenyloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C 2 -C 20 alkoxycarbonyl, C 1 -C 20 alkylthio, C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfonyl and C 1 -C 20 alkylsulfinyl; X is selected from any anionic ligand; and L 1 is a neutral π-bonded ligand, preferably but not limited to arene, substituted arene, heteroarene, independent of whether they are mono- or polycyclic; L is a ligand selected from the group consisting of phosphines, sulfonated phosphines, fluorinated phosphines, functionalized phosphines bearing up to three aminoalkyl-, ammoniumalkyl-, alkoxyalkyl-, alkoxylcarbonylalkyl-, hydrocycarbonylalkyl-, hydroxyalkyl- or ketoalkyl-groups, phosphites, phosphinites, phosphonites, phosphinamines, arsines, stibenes, ethers, amines, amides, imines, sulfoxides, thioethers and pyridines; Y − is a non-coordinating anion; and optionally further in the presence of at least one co-olefin and for the hydrogenated nitrile polymer b) hydrogenating the product of step a).