Methods for preparation of novel graft copolymers

1. A method of functionalizing a copolymer comprising repeating units derived from at least one C4-C8 isoolefin and repeating units derived from at least one C4-C16 conjugated diolefin, the method comprising:

converting one or more C—C double bonds of the repeating units derived from the isoolefins into one or more allylic hydroxyl sites; and

reacting the one or more allylic hydroxyl sites with an activating reagent having the formula:

R—C(O)—R′

to convert one or more hydroxyl groups of the allylic hydroxyl sites into —OC(O)—R functional groups represented by:

wherein R and R′ are each independently:

wherein X is halogen, and R1 to R5 are each independently H, NO 2 , halogen, or C1-C6 alkyl.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of converting the one or more C—C double bonds into the one or more allylic sites comprises:

epoxidizing the one or more C—C double bonds to produce an epoxidized copolymer having epoxidized C—C double bonds, and

reacting the resulting epoxidized copolymer with a protic acid to convert the one or more epoxidized C—C double bonds into the one or more allylic hydroxyl sites.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the protic acid is HCl, HBr, HF, H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 or CF 3 COOH.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 250,000 to about 1,500,000 g/mol.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the copolymer comprises from about as to about 20 mol % of the units derived from conjugated diolefin and about 80 to 995 mol % of the units derived from isoolefin.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the C—C double bond is part of an isoprene unit represented by the formula:

wherein one or more of the isoprene units are converted into allylic hydroxide containing isoprene units containing the one or more allylic hydroxyl sites, represented by the formula:

wherein one or more of the allylic hydroxide containing isoprene units are converted into one or more functionalized isoprene units represented by the formula:

wherein R is as defined above.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the isoolefin comprises isobutylene.

8. A functionalized copolymer comprising:

repeating units derived from at least one C4-C8 isoolefin; and

repeating units derived from at least one C4-C16 conjugated diolefin, wherein one or more of the units derived from the at least one conjugated diolefin are functionalized with a group —OC(O)—R represented by the formula;

wherein R is a leaving group which is:

wherein X is halogen, and R1 to R5 are each independently H, NO 2 , halogen, or C1-C6 alkyl.

9. The functionalized copolymer of claim 8 , wherein the conjugated diolefin is isoprene.

10. The functionalized copolymer of claim 8 or 9 , wherein the functionalized copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 300,000 to about 1,500,000 g/mol.

11. The functionalized copolymer of claim 8 or 9 , wherein the functionalized copolymer comprises from about 0.5 to about 20 mol % of the units derived from the conjugated diolefin and about 80 to 99.5 mol % of the units derived from the isoolefin.

12. The functionalized copolymer of claim 8 or 9 , wherein the isoolefin comprises isobutylene.

13. The functionalized copolymer of claim 9 , wherein 3 to 100% of the isoprene units are functionalized isoprene units.

14. The functionalized copolymer of claim 8 or 9 , wherein the repeating units derived from at least one C4-C8 isoolefin comprise units (a), and the repeating units derived from at least one C4-C16 conjugated diolefin comprise units (b) and the functionalized copolymer comprises randomly repeating units a and b and is represented by the formula:

wherein the combination of a+b represents the empirical formula of substantially random graft copolymer, wherein the ratio of a:b is [about 13 to about 2000]: [about to about 200], and R is the leaving group.

15. A process for preparing a graft copolymer, the process comprising:

contacting a functionalized copolymer comprising:

repeating units derived from at least one C4-C8 isoolefin, and

repeating units derived from at least one C4-C16 conjugated diolefin, wherein one or more of the units derived from the at least one conjugated diolefin are functionalized with a group —OC(O)—R represented by:

wherein A is a leaving group which is:

wherein X is halogen, and R1 to R5 are each independently H, NO 2 , halogen, or C1-C6 alkyl,

with a polymeric nucleophile comprising a polymeric substrate having a nucleophilic group capable of donating electrons to a carbonyl group, for nucleophilic substitution of the leaving group of the functionalized copolymer with the polymeric substrate to displace the leaving group and graft the polymeric substrate onto the functionalized copolymer.

16. The process according claim 15 , wherein the nucleophilic group is OH, SH, or NH 2 .

17. The process according to claim 15 or 16 , wherein the polymeric nucleophile is polyalkylene oxide.

18. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the polymeric nucleophile is represented by the formula:

wherein W is O, S or NH, Y is C1-C6 alkyl, and n is an integer from 10 to 120.

19. The process according claim 15 , wherein the polymeric nucleophile is PEO-OH, PEO-SH, or PEO-NH 2 , where PEO represents polyethylene oxide).

20. The process according to claim 15 , wherein the conjugated diolefin is isoprene, and the one or more of the functionalized diolefin units are represented by the formula:

wherein R is the leaving group.

21. The process according claim 15 or 20 , wherein the isoolefin comprises isobutylene.

22. The process according to claim 15 or 20 wherein the polymeric nucleophile has a molecular weight of at least 750 g/mol.

23. The process according to claim 15 or 20 , wherein the polymeric nucleophile has a molecular weight from about 750 to about 5000 g/mol.

24. The process according to claim 23 , wherein the functionalized copolymer has an average molecular weight is of about 300,000 to 1,500,000 g/mol.

25. The process according of claim 15 , wherein the copolymer comprises from about 1 to about 20 mol % of the units derived from the conjugated diolefin and about 80 to 99.5 mol % of the units derived from the isoolefin.