The present invention relates to a method for separation of a polymer from a polymer solution or dispersion, wherein (i) a solution or dispersion of a polymer in an organic solvent is atomized by being brought into contact with water vapor in an atomizer container; (ii) the mixture obtained in the atomizer container is routed into a polymer degasification container and flows through same, wherein the organic solvent present in the polymer particles is driven at least partially out of the polymer particles due to the thermal contact between the polymer particles and the water vapor and transitions into the gas phase (iii) the mixture exiting from the polymer degasification container is routed into a phase separator (1) and the organic solvent present in the gas phase is separated from the polymer particles and the condensed water vapor; and (iv) the polymer particles and the condensed water vapor are routed into a phase separator (2) in order to separate the polymer particles from the condensed water vapor.

The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer and a polymerization terminator of formula I ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 is C1 to C4 linear alkyl, or C1 to C4 branched alkanediyl; X.sup.1, X.sup.2, X.sup.3 are independently O, S, or a group of formula (II) or (III) ##STR00002##
where R.sup.2 is C1 to C18 linear or branched alkyl; Z is R.sup.3, OR.sup.4, or R.sup.5X.sup.4; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 are independently C1 to C18 linear or branched alkyl; R.sup.5 is C1 to C18 alkanediyl or dialkyl ether diyl; X.sup.4 is halogen or a group of structure IV, V, VI, VII or VIII ##STR00003##
wherein R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, and R.sup.10 are independently H or C1 to C8 alkyl; R.sup.11 is C2 to C8 alkanediyl; R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 are independently H, aryl or C1 to C8 alkyl; Q is N or a group of structure IX ##STR00004##
wherein R.sup.14 is C1 to C8 alkyl.

A bis-imine pyridine complex of lanthanides having general formula (I):

##STR00001## Said bis-imine pyridine complex of lanthanides having general formula (I) can be advantageously used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

A bis-imine pyridine complex of lanthanides having general formula (I):

##STR00001## Said bis-imine pyridine complex of lanthanides having general formula (I) can be advantageously used in a catalytic system for the (co)polymerization of conjugated dienes.

Process for the preparation of (co) polymers of conjugated dienes which comprises polymerizing at least one conjugated diene in the presence of a catalytic system comprising at least one bis-imine complex of cobalt having general formula (I) wherein: n is 0 or 1; Y represents a group CRR wherein R and R, equal to or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom; or a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl group; or a divalent aromatic group optionally substituted; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, equal to or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom; or they are selected from a linear or branched Ci-C2o/preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl group optionally halogenated, cycloalkyl groups optionally substituted; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 can be optionally bound to each other to form, together with the other atoms to which they are bound, a cycle containing from 4 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally substituted with linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, said cycle optionally containing heteroatoms such as, for example, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, silicon, phosphorous, selenium; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, equal to or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom; or they are selected from a linear or branched Ci-C20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups optionally halogenated, cycloalkyl groups optionally substituted, aryl groups optionally substituted; or R2 and R4 can be optionally bound to each other to form, together with the other atoms to which they are bound, a cycle containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally substituted with linear or branched Ci-C2o, preferably C1-C15 alkyl groups, said cycle optionally containing other heteroatoms such as, for example, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, silicon, phosphorous, selenium; or R.sub.1 and R.sub.3 can be optionally bound to each other to form, together with the other atoms to which they are bound, a cycle containing from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, saturated, unsaturated, or aromatic, optionally substituted with linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, said cycle optionally containing other heteroatoms such as, for example, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, silicon, phosphorous, selenium; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, equal to or different from each other, represent a halogen atom such as, for example, chlorine, bromine, iodine; or they are selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20 preferably C.sub.1-C.sub.15, alkyl groups, OCOR.sub.5 groups or OR.sub.3 groups wherein R.sub.5 is selected from linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20, preferably C.s

The invention describes a composition that inhibits the polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers, including at least 98% by weight of 4-tert-butylcatechol (4-TBC), 0.03% to 0.2% by weight of catechol (PC), and at least one impurity selected among 3-tert-butylcatechol, tert-butylhydroquinone, 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and mixture thereof, the total quantity of said impurities and of the PC being 0.1% to 0.8% by weight of said composition. The invention also describes a method for removing said polymerization-inhibiting composition present in a mixture including at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer.

The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of Y and Z, wherein Y is a copolymer of a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and styrene; and the second monomer is selected from the group consisting of formula 1 and 2 ##STR00001##
wherein B is boron; O is oxygen; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R.sup.4 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group; and Z is a compound of formula 3 ##STR00002##
where R.sup.5 is phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and Q is hydrogen, bromine, or a functional group comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur.

The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the steps of: forming a copolymer Y by copolymerizing a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and styrene; the second monomer is selected from the group consisting of formula 1 or 2 ##STR00001##
wherein B is boron; O is oxygen; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R.sup.4 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group; and reacting the copolymer Y with a compound Z to form the functionalized elastomer, wherein Z is a compound of formula 3 ##STR00002##
where R.sup.5 is phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and Q is hydrogen, bromine, or a functional group comprising at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, and sulfur.

A method for preparing a coupled polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing monomer to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with an imide compound containing an oxiranyl group.