Synthesis of functional hydrocarbon polymers with well-defined molecular structures

The paper describes the preparation of well-defined functional polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions and functional groups homogeneously distributed along the polymer chains. The chemistry involves the hydroboration of polydienes. Since both thermodynamics and kinetics are favorable for this reaction, a completely homogeneous modification is obtained. The hydroborated polymers are valuable intermediates that can be converted to a variety of functional polymers. Polyalcohol is one of the examples that will be discussed in detail in this paper. To retain the narrow molecular weight distribution, several experimental methods, including vacuum techniques, low reaction temperatures, and boric acid removal, were employed during the reaction. The resulting functional polymers have molecular weight distributions of 1.07. In the paper, we also compare the hydroboration reactivities of various unsaturated polymers. The steric effect in the hydroboration of polymers is quite similar to that of simple organic compounds.