Process for Brominating Butadiene Polymers

• Main Authors: GORMAN DAVID B, KING BRUCE A, HULL, JR. JOHN W
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.03.2013
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVINGCARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TREATMENT OR CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF RUBBERS

Butadiene polymers are brominated using tetraethylammonium tribromide as the brominating agent. The bromination is performed in a solvent for the starting polymer and for the tetraethylammonium bromide that is formed as a reaction byproduct. The process proceeds easily under mild conditions. In some cases, a solution of the brominated polymer and the tetraethylammonium monobromide is produced; this solution separates into a layer that contains the brominated polymer and another layer that contains most or all of the tetraethylammonium monobromide salt. In other cases, the brominated polymer precipitates from the reaction mixture and is separated from the tetraethylammonium monobromide salt in that manner. This process therefore permits the tetraethylammonium monobromide reaction by-product to be separated easily from the brominated product, and allows aqueous washing steps to be reduced or eliminated.