Non-random isobutylene copolymer includes repeat units derived from isobutylene and one or more comonomers selected from isoprene, butadiene, cyclopentadiene, dicyclopentadiene, limonene, substituted styrenes, and C4 to C10 dienes other than isoprene, butadiene, limonene, cyclopentadiene, or dicyclopentadiene, wherein the molar ratio of isobutylene derived repeat units to the comonomer derived repeat units is from 75:1 to 1.5:1. The non-random copolymers have a molecular weight, Mn, of from 200 to 20,000 Daltons and typically have a high double bond content and a high vinylidene double bond content when diene monomers are utilized.

Methods of making polyisobutylene and catalyst systems are described. Polyisobutylene compositions and catalyst system compositions are also described. In some embodiments, a method of making a catalyst system includes: providing a support material comprising one or more ion exchange resins; dehydrating the support material; and forming a catalyst system by adding to the support material (a) a mixture comprising BF.sub.3, (b) a mixture comprising BF.sub.3 and a complexing agent, or (c) both. In some embodiments, a method of making a polymer composition includes providing a catalyst system comprising: (a) a support material comprising one or more ion exchange resins, and (b) BF.sub.3; providing a feedstock comprising isobutylene; forming a reaction mixture comprising the feedstock and the catalyst system; contacting the isobutylene with the catalyst system; and obtaining a polymer composition.

Methods of making polyisobutylene and catalyst systems are described. Polyisobutylene compositions and catalyst system compositions are also described. In some embodiments, a method of making a catalyst system includes: providing a support material comprising one or more ion exchange resins; dehydrating the support material; and forming a catalyst system by adding to the support material (a) a mixture comprising BF.sub.3, (b) a mixture comprising BF.sub.3 and a complexing agent, or (c) both. In some embodiments, a method of making a polymer composition includes providing a catalyst system comprising: (a) a support material comprising one or more ion exchange resins, and (b) BF.sub.3; providing a feedstock comprising isobutylene; forming a reaction mixture comprising the feedstock and the catalyst system; contacting the isobutylene with the catalyst system; and obtaining a polymer composition.

Continuous preparation of polyisobutylene having a content of terminal double bonds of more than 50% by polymerizing isobutene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst customary therefor, by combining a technical 1-butene-, 2-butene- and isobutene-containing C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream together with a stream of pure isobutene and feeding them into the reaction zone in such a way that the steady-state concentration of the isobutene in the combined stream at the feed point of the combined stream into the reaction zone has an average value of at least 40% by weight, and a polymerization plant therefor.

Continuous preparation of polyisobutylene having a content of terminal double bonds of more than 50% by polymerizing isobutene in the presence of a polymerization catalyst customary therefor, by combining a technical 1-butene-, 2-butene- and isobutene-containing C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream together with a stream of pure isobutene and feeding them into the reaction zone in such a way that the steady-state concentration of the isobutene in the combined stream at the feed point of the combined stream into the reaction zone has an average value of at least 40% by weight, and a polymerization plant therefor.

The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing high-reactivity isobutene homo- or copolymers with a content of terminal vinylidene double bonds per polyisobutene chain end of at least 80 mol %. The present invention further relates to novel isobutene polymers.

The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing high-reactivity isobutene homo- or copolymers with a content of terminal vinylidene double bonds per polyisobutene chain end of at least 80 mol %. The present invention further relates to novel isobutene polymers.

The present invention provides a method for producing highly reactive polyisobutylene by liquid phase polymerization of isobutylene or isobutylene containing feed stock, wherein at least 70 mole % of polymer chains in the polyisobutylene have exo olefin end groups. Further, the present invention provides a catalyst composition for polymerization, comprising of a Lewis acid complexed with at least two Lewis bases selected from sterically hindered ether and linear dialkyl ether; or a Lewis base complexed with at least two Lewis acids selected from aluminium halides mixture. The present invention additionally provides that Lewis acid with Lewis bases mixture or Lewis base with Lewis acids mixture constituting the catalyst show synergistic effect resulting in high isobutylene conversion and production of polyisobutylene having high exo olefin content, while maintaining desired molecular weight range of 250-10000 Dalton.

The present invention provides a method for producing highly reactive polyisobutylene by liquid phase polymerization of isobutylene or isobutylene containing feed stock, wherein at least 70 mole % of polymer chains in the polyisobutylene have exo olefin end groups. Further, the present invention provides a catalyst composition for polymerization, comprising of a Lewis acid complexed with at least two Lewis bases selected from sterically hindered ether and linear dialkyl ether; or a Lewis base complexed with at least two Lewis acids selected from aluminium halides mixture. The present invention additionally provides that Lewis acid with Lewis bases mixture or Lewis base with Lewis acids mixture constituting the catalyst show synergistic effect resulting in high isobutylene conversion and production of polyisobutylene having high exo olefin content, while maintaining desired molecular weight range of 250-10000 Dalton.

Process for preparing a random butadiene-isoprene copolymer having a high content of cis-1,4 units comprising copolymerizing butadiene and isoprene, in the presence of at least one organic solvent, and a catalytic system prepared in situ comprising: (a.sub.1) at least one neodymium carboxylate soluble in said organic solvent, containing a variable amount of water, the H2O/Nd molar ratio being between 0.001/1 and 0.50/1; (a.sub.2) at least one aluminum alkyl compound; (a.sub.3) at least one aluminum alkyl compound containing at least one halogen atom. The random butadiene-isoprene copolymer having a high content of cis-1,4 units obtained from the abovementioned process may be advantageously used in a number of applications ranging from the modification of plastics [for example, obtainment of high impact polystyrene (HIPS)], to the production of tires, in particular the production of tire treads and/or of tire sidewalls.