The invention provides a process for preparing bromine-containing polymers, comprising a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of pentabromobenzyl halide with a polymer reactant which contains one or more six-membered aromatic ring(s) in its repeat unit, in the presence of at least one Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The so-formed bromine-containing polymers, having pendent CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 groups attached to at least a portion of the six-membered aromatic rings of the polymer, with a carbon ring atom of said six-membered aromatic ring being bonded to the aliphatic carbon of said CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 pendent group, are also provided. These bromine-containing polymers are useful as flame retarding agents.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to anion exchange membranes and, more particularly, to anion exchange membranes comprising a styrene block copolymer and methods for their manufacture. In one embodiment, the invention provides a polymer according to formula IV, wherein x and y are mo 1 %, QA is or each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is, independently, a linear alkyl chain or a cyclic alkyl chain, and Z is selected from a group consisting of: a linear alkyl chain, a cyclic alkyl chain, and an alkylene ether chain.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to anion exchange membranes and, more particularly, to anion exchange membranes comprising a styrene block copolymer and methods for their manufacture. In one embodiment, the invention provides a polymer according to formula IV, wherein x and y are mo 1 %, QA is or each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is, independently, a linear alkyl chain or a cyclic alkyl chain, and Z is selected from a group consisting of: a linear alkyl chain, a cyclic alkyl chain, and an alkylene ether chain.

The invention provides a process for preparing bromine-containing polymers, comprising a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of pentabromobenzyl halide with a polymer reactant which contains one or more six-membered aromatic ring(s) in its repeat unit, in the presence of at least one Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The so-formed bromine-containing polymers, having pendent CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 groups attached to at least a portion of the six-membered aromatic rings of the polymer, with a carbon ring atom of said six-membered aromatic ring being bonded to the aliphatic carbon of said CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 pendent group, are also provided. These bromine-containing polymers are useful as flame retarding agents.

The invention provides a process for preparing bromine-containing polymers, comprising a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of pentabromobenzyl halide with a polymer reactant which contains one or more six-membered aromatic ring(s) in its repeat unit, in the presence of at least one Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The so-formed bromine-containing polymers, having pendent CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 groups attached to at least a portion of the six-membered aromatic rings of the polymer, with a carbon ring atom of said six-membered aromatic ring being bonded to the aliphatic carbon of said CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 pendent group, are also provided. These bromine-containing polymers are useful as flame retarding agents.

The invention provides a process for preparing bromine-containing polymers, comprising a Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of pentabromobenzyl halide with a polymer reactant which contains one or more six-membered aromatic ring(s) in its repeat unit, in the presence of at least one Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The so-formed bromine-containing polymers, having pendent CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 groups attached to at least a portion of the six-membered aromatic rings of the polymer, with a carbon ring atom of said six-membered aromatic ring being bonded to the aliphatic carbon of said CH.sub.2C.sub.6Br.sub.5 pendent group, are also provided. These bromine-containing polymers are useful as flame retarding agents.

Polymers useful as catalysts in non-enzymatic saccharification processes are provided. Provided are also methods for hydrolyzing cellulosic materials into monosaccharides and/or oligosaccharides using these polymeric acid catalysts.

Polymers useful as catalysts in non-enzymatic saccharification processes are provided. Provided are also methods for hydrolyzing cellulosic materials into monosaccharides and/or oligosaccharides using these polymeric acid catalysts.

Polymers including acidic monomers and ionic monomers connected to form a polymeric backbone are disclosed. The polymers may also include, e.g., acidic-ionic monomers within the polymeric backbone. Each acidic monomer may independently include at least one Bronsted-Lowry acid, and each ionic monomer may independently include at least one nitrogen-containing cationic group or phosphorous-containing cationic group. The acidic monomers and ionic monomers may make up, e.g., at least about 30% of the monomers of the polymer, based on the ratio of the number of acidic monomers and ionic monomers to the total number of monomers present in the polymer. The total number of ionic monomers may, e.g., exceed the total number of acidic monomers in the polymer. The polymer may be substantially insoluble in water.

Polymers including acidic monomers and ionic monomers connected to form a polymeric backbone are disclosed. The polymers may also include, e.g., acidic-ionic monomers within the polymeric backbone. Each acidic monomer may independently include at least one Bronsted-Lowry acid, and each ionic monomer may independently include at least one nitrogen-containing cationic group or phosphorous-containing cationic group. The acidic monomers and ionic monomers may make up, e.g., at least about 30% of the monomers of the polymer, based on the ratio of the number of acidic monomers and ionic monomers to the total number of monomers present in the polymer. The total number of ionic monomers may, e.g., exceed the total number of acidic monomers in the polymer. The polymer may be substantially insoluble in water.