In various embodiments, the present invention is directed to a centrally-functionalizable living cationic polymer or copolymer having a centrally-substituted tetraene group having the formula ##STR00001##
wherein each R is selected from the group consisting of a polymer or a copolymer, such as a polyisobutylene polymer or a poly(isobutylene-b-styrene) copolymer.

The present invention relates to a polymer of formula (I), wherein R.sub.a-R.sub.d, R.sub.a0-R.sub.d0, R.sub.a1-R.sub.d1, R.sub.a2-R.sub.d2, n, n.sub.0, n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 are as defined in the specification. When used as a film-forming resin for a photoresist, the polymer has such advantages as good ultraviolet light transmittance, high viscosity to form a thick film, fast photospeed, and high resolution. The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a polymer of formula (I), a use of a polymer of formula (I) as a film-forming resin in a photoresist, and a photoresist comprising a polymer of formula (I) as a film-forming resin.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a polymer of formula (I), wherein R.sub.a-R.sub.d, R.sub.a0-R.sub.d0, R.sub.a1-R.sub.d1, R.sub.a2-R.sub.d2, n, n.sub.0, n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 are as defined in the specification. When used as a film-forming resin for a photoresist, the polymer has such advantages as good ultraviolet light transmittance, high viscosity to form a thick film, fast photospeed, and high resolution. The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation of a polymer of formula (I), a use of a polymer of formula (I) as a film-forming resin in a photoresist, and a photoresist comprising a polymer of formula (I) as a film-forming resin.

##STR00001##

A method of producing a powder mass for a lithium battery, the method comprising: (a) providing a solution containing a sulfonated elastomer dissolved in a solvent or a precursor in a liquid form or dissolved in a solvent; (b) dispersing a plurality of particles of a cathode active material in the solution to form a slurry; and (c) dispensing the slurry and removing the solvent and/or polymerizing/curing the precursor to form the powder mass, wherein the powder mass comprises multiple particulates and at least a particulate comprises one or a plurality of particles of a cathode active material being encapsulated by a thin layer of sulfonated elastomer having a thickness from 1 nm to 10 m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 800%, and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.7 S/cm to 510.sup.2 S/cm at room temperature.

A method of producing a powder mass for a lithium battery, the method comprising: (a) providing a solution containing a sulfonated elastomer dissolved in a solvent or a precursor in a liquid form or dissolved in a solvent; (b) dispersing a plurality of particles of a cathode active material in the solution to form a slurry; and (c) dispensing the slurry and removing the solvent and/or polymerizing/curing the precursor to form the powder mass, wherein the powder mass comprises multiple particulates and at least a particulate comprises one or a plurality of particles of a cathode active material being encapsulated by a thin layer of sulfonated elastomer having a thickness from 1 nm to 10 m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 800%, and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.7 S/cm to 510.sup.2 S/cm at room temperature.

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polar-functionalized resin composition comprising the steps of (A) contacting a polymer backbone with a reactive moiety to produce a polar-functionalized resin composition wherein the polymer backbone is derived from a feed comprising less than or equal to about 35 wt % components derived from piperylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from amylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from isoprene; less than or equal to about 55 wt % unreactive paraffins; and C9 homopolymer or copolymer resins, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts or Lewis acid catalyst; and (B) recovering a polar-functionalized resin composition.

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a polar-functionalized resin composition comprising the steps of (A) contacting a polymer backbone with a reactive moiety to produce a polar-functionalized resin composition wherein the polymer backbone is derived from a feed comprising less than or equal to about 35 wt % components derived from piperylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from amylene; less than or equal to about 10 wt % components derived from isoprene; less than or equal to about 55 wt % unreactive paraffins; and C9 homopolymer or copolymer resins, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts or Lewis acid catalyst; and (B) recovering a polar-functionalized resin composition.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing polycarbonate comprising copolymerizing an epoxy compound and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in the presence of a catalytic system comprising: at least one catalyst selected from complexes of a transition metal; at least one co-catalyst selected from ionic compounds, as well as to a catalytic system comprising: at least one catalyst selected from complexes of a transition metal; at least one co-catalyst selected from ionic compounds.

Stable star-structured functional polyolefins and methods of making them, the functional polyolefins comprising a polyolefin bound at any position along its chain length to at least one nucleophile-containing silane of the following formula: ##STR00001##
wherein Y is a di- or trivalent linker group selected from heteroatoms, C1 to C10 alkylenes, and other groups disclosed herein; Nu is a nucleophilic atom or unsaturation group; R5 is selected from hydrogen, and C1 to C10 alkyls, and other groups as disclosed herein; X is a divalent group selected from linear and branched alkylenes and heteroatom-alkylenes, and other groups as disclosed herein; and PO is a polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight of at least 400 g/mole; with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is selected from the same or different functional polyolefin moieties. Star-structured functional polyolefins are useful as filler dispersive additives in tire formulations and processing aids.

Stable star-structured functional polyolefins and methods of making them, the functional polyolefins comprising a polyolefin bound at any position along its chain length to at least one nucleophile-containing silane of the following formula: ##STR00001##
wherein Y is a di- or trivalent linker group selected from heteroatoms, C1 to C10 alkylenes, and other groups disclosed herein; Nu is a nucleophilic atom or unsaturation group; R5 is selected from hydrogen, and C1 to C10 alkyls, and other groups as disclosed herein; X is a divalent group selected from linear and branched alkylenes and heteroatom-alkylenes, and other groups as disclosed herein; and PO is a polyolefin having a weight average molecular weight of at least 400 g/mole; with the proviso that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is selected from the same or different functional polyolefin moieties. Star-structured functional polyolefins are useful as filler dispersive additives in tire formulations and processing aids.