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.

A process for forming a flame retardant polymer, as well as the flame retardant polymer, are disclosed. A flame retardant polymer is a polymer that can be resistant to thermal degradation and/or thermal oxidation. A flame retardant polymer can be mixed or otherwise incorporated into a standard polymer to give flame retardancy to the standard polymer. The flame retardant polymers can include polycaprolactone functionalized with flame retardant substituents. The flame retardant substituents can include halides, substituted phosphoryl, and substituted phosphonyl.

A process for forming a flame retardant polymer, as well as the flame retardant polymer, are disclosed. A flame retardant polymer is a polymer that can be resistant to thermal degradation and/or thermal oxidation. A flame retardant polymer can be mixed or otherwise incorporated into a standard polymer to give flame retardancy to the standard polymer. The flame retardant polymers can include polycaprolactone functionalized with flame retardant substituents. The flame retardant substituents can include halides, substituted phosphoryl, and substituted phosphonyl.

A method of making functional polyisobutylene (PIB)-containing oligomers and polymers. By the disclosed method, the synthesis of functional PIB-containing polymers can be achieved directly under cationic polymerization conditions and does not include any post-polymerization reactions. The desired functionality is introduced by direct Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS) reaction using substituted phenyl ring carrying desirable functionalities that do not react with Lewis acid but have weak association with Lewis acid, which still allow living polymerization and EAS reaction under living cationic polymerization conditions. In the disclosed method functional polyisobutylene or isobutylene containing oligomers and polymers can be prepared using stoichiometric or near stoichiometric ratios of the capping or functionalization reagent to polymer end-chain.

A method of making functional polyisobutylene (PIB)-containing oligomers and polymers. By the disclosed method, the synthesis of functional PIB-containing polymers can be achieved directly under cationic polymerization conditions and does not include any post-polymerization reactions. The desired functionality is introduced by direct Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution (EAS) reaction using substituted phenyl ring carrying desirable functionalities that do not react with Lewis acid but have weak association with Lewis acid, which still allow living polymerization and EAS reaction under living cationic polymerization conditions. In the disclosed method functional polyisobutylene or isobutylene containing oligomers and polymers can be prepared using stoichiometric or near stoichiometric ratios of the capping or functionalization reagent to polymer end-chain.

The present invention provides a solid organomagnesium precursor having formula {Mg(OR)X}.a{MgX.sub.2}.b{Mg(OR).sub.2}.c{ROH}, wherein R is selected from a hydrocarbon group, X is selected from a halide group, and a:b:c is in range of 0.01-0.5:0.01-0.5:0.01-5 and process for preparing the same, said process comprising contacting a magnesium source with a solvating agent, an organohalide and an alcohol to obtain the solid organomagnesium precursor. The present invention also provides a process for preparing a catalyst system using the organomagnesium precursor and its use thereof for polymerization of olefins.

The present invention provides a solid organomagnesium precursor having formula {Mg(OR)X}.a{MgX.sub.2}.b{Mg(OR).sub.2}.c{ROH}, wherein R is selected from a hydrocarbon group, X is selected from a halide group, and a:b:c is in range of 0.01-0.5:0.01-0.5:0.01-5 and process for preparing the same, said process comprising contacting a magnesium source with a solvating agent, an organohalide and an alcohol to obtain the solid organomagnesium precursor. The present invention also provides a process for preparing a catalyst system using the organomagnesium precursor and its use thereof for polymerization of olefins.

A method for producing a (meth)acryloyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer includes a step 1 of polymerizing an isobutylene monomer under the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst to prepare a halogen-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (B), a step 2 of reacting the halogen-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (B) with a compound (C) having a halogen group and a phenoxy group under the presence a Lewis acid catalyst to prepare a halogenated phenoxyalkyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (D), and a step 3 of reacting the halogenated phenoxyalkyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (D) with an acrylic acid compound (E) to prepare the (meth)acryloyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (A).

A method for producing a (meth)acryloyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer includes a step 1 of polymerizing an isobutylene monomer under the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst to prepare a halogen-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (B), a step 2 of reacting the halogen-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (B) with a compound (C) having a halogen group and a phenoxy group under the presence a Lewis acid catalyst to prepare a halogenated phenoxyalkyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (D), and a step 3 of reacting the halogenated phenoxyalkyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (D) with an acrylic acid compound (E) to prepare the (meth)acryloyl-terminated polyisobutylene polymer (A).

This patent mentioned the synthesis of new metal-organic framework based on hexameric titanium-oxo cluster. The novel material, termed MOF-902, was successfully synthesized and its crystal structure uncovered the 2-Dimensional (2D) layer structure generated by the link of trigonal prism Ti.sub.6O.sub.6(OMe)(COO).sub.6 clusters and imine linear linking units. The permanent porosity of MOF-902 is 400 m.sup.2 g.sup.1. The band gap energy of this material was found to be 2.5 eV which is suitable to catalyze the polymerization reaction of methacrylate monomers under visible irradiation.