A metal complex of the formula (1) TCyLMZ.sub.p (1), wherein M is a group 4 metal, Z is an anionic ligand, p is the number 1 or 2, TCy is a thiophene-fused cyclopentadienyl-type ligand of the formula (2) ##STR00001##
is described. Methods of making and using the metal complex are also described.

A photocurable composition can comprise a polymerizable material, a fullerene or fullerene derivative in an amount of at least 0.2 wt % and not greater than 5.0 wt %, and a photoinitiator and may be adapted for AIP or NIL processing. A photo-cured layer made from the photocurable composition can have an improved thermal stability in comparison to a photo-cured layer made from the same photocurable composition except not containing a fullerene or fullerene derivative.

A polymer composition comprising a star-branched copolymer having a plurality of arms is disclosed. Each polymer arm has a molecular weight Mp of from 1 kg/mol to 50 kg/mol and comprises polymerized units (i) derived from a first vinyl aromatic monomer comprising a radical-reactive group, wherein from greater than 10 mol % to 100 mol % of the units (i) are unhydrogenated; and optionally, polymerized units (ii) comprising hydrogenated and unhydrogenated forms of polymerized units derived from a high Tg monomer, and hydrogenated form of polymerized units (i) or hydrogenated form of polymerized styrene units; and optionally, polymerized units (iii) comprising (a) hydrogenated form of polymerized units derived from one or more acyclic conjugated dienes, and (b) polymerized units derived from one or more of a second vinyl aromatic monomer; wherein less than 10 wt. % of units (a) are unhydrogenated.

Provided is a hydrogenated block copolymer, which is a hydrogenation product of a block copolymer including a polymer block (A) containing more than 70 mol % of a structural unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound and a polymer block (B) containing 30 mol % or more of a structural unit derived from at least one selected from the group consisting of a conjugated diene compound and isobutylene, the hydrogenated block copolymer being satisfied with the following requirements (1) and (2): Requirement (1): the content of the polymer block (A) in the block copolymer is 1 to 30% by mass; and Requirement (2): when the polymer block (B) is regarded as having a structure with a hydrogenation rate of 100 mol %, an average value of a methylene chain length of a main chain of the structural unit derived from at least one selected from the group consisting of a conjugated diene compound and isobutylene is 1.0 to 6.0.

An adhesive composition made from an elastomer and a tackifying resin. The tackifying resin includes a farnesene polymer or copolymer having the following properties: i) less than 10 weight percent of volatile organic compounds; ii) Mn between 300 Da and 1000 Da; iii) Mw between 400 Da and 3000 Da; iv) Mw/Mn between 1.00 and 3.00; v) Tg between −50° C. and 20° C.; and vi) viscosity between 400,000 cP and 1,000,000 cP at 25° C. A method of making the farnesene-based polymer or copolymer includes combining a farnesene monomer and a solvent and optionally adding one or more co-monomers selected from dienes, branched mono-olefins, and vinyl aromatics, to provide a monomer feed, and polymerizing the monomer feed by combining it with a Friedel-Crafts initiator in a vessel. The farnesene-based polymer or copolymer tackifier may be combined with one or more elastomers and one or more other tackifiers to form an adhesive composition.

An adhesive composition made from an elastomer and a tackifying resin. The tackifying resin includes a farnesene polymer or copolymer having the following properties: i) less than 10 weight percent of volatile organic compounds; ii) Mn between 300 Da and 1000 Da; iii) Mw between 400 Da and 3000 Da; iv) Mw/Mn between 1.00 and 3.00; v) Tg between −50° C. and 20° C.; and vi) viscosity between 400,000 cP and 1,000,000 cP at 25° C. A method of making the farnesene-based polymer or copolymer includes combining a farnesene monomer and a solvent and optionally adding one or more co-monomers selected from dienes, branched mono-olefins, and vinyl aromatics, to provide a monomer feed, and polymerizing the monomer feed by combining it with a Friedel-Crafts initiator in a vessel. The farnesene-based polymer or copolymer tackifier may be combined with one or more elastomers and one or more other tackifiers to form an adhesive composition.

Provided is a process of making a polyphenylene oxide prepolymer, comprising a step of reacting a reactive cycloolefin and a vinyl-containing polyphenylene oxide in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst. The reactive cycloolefin may be selected from dicyclopentadiene monomer, dicyclopentadiene oligomer, dicyclopentadiene polymer, norbornene monomer, norbornene oligomer, norbornene polymer, and a combination thereof; the vinyl-containing polyphenylene oxide may be selected from divinylbenzyl polyphenylene oxide resin, vinylbenzyl-modified polyphenylene oxide resin, methacrylic polyphenylene oxide resin, and a combination thereof; the ruthenium catalyst may be a Grubbs catalyst. Also provided are a polyphenylene oxide prepolymer made by the process, a resin composition containing the polyphenylene oxide prepolymer, and a product made from the resin composition.

Provided is a process of making a polyphenylene oxide prepolymer, comprising a step of reacting a reactive cycloolefin and a vinyl-containing polyphenylene oxide in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst. The reactive cycloolefin may be selected from dicyclopentadiene monomer, dicyclopentadiene oligomer, dicyclopentadiene polymer, norbornene monomer, norbornene oligomer, norbornene polymer, and a combination thereof; the vinyl-containing polyphenylene oxide may be selected from divinylbenzyl polyphenylene oxide resin, vinylbenzyl-modified polyphenylene oxide resin, methacrylic polyphenylene oxide resin, and a combination thereof; the ruthenium catalyst may be a Grubbs catalyst. Also provided are a polyphenylene oxide prepolymer made by the process, a resin composition containing the polyphenylene oxide prepolymer, and a product made from the resin composition.

Provided is a method for producing a hydrocarbon resin hydride, comprising: hydrogenating a hydrocarbon resin by bringing the hydrocarbon resin into contact with hydrogen in the presence of an antioxidative compound and a hydrogenation catalyst, the antioxidative compound being at least one selected from the group consisting of hindered phenolic antioxidants and antioxidants having a 2,2,6,6-tetraalkyl-4-piperidyl group.

Provided is a method for producing a hydrocarbon resin hydride, comprising: hydrogenating a hydrocarbon resin by bringing the hydrocarbon resin into contact with hydrogen in the presence of an antioxidative compound and a hydrogenation catalyst, the antioxidative compound being at least one selected from the group consisting of hindered phenolic antioxidants and antioxidants having a 2,2,6,6-tetraalkyl-4-piperidyl group.