Copolymer containing functional group of sulfonic acid or its salt, and process for producing said copolymer

Abstract

A copolymer comprising (i) an olefin unit selected from the group consisting of an ethylene unit and an α-olefin unit having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and (ii) a unit of a compound represented by the formula, CH2═CH—(R1)m—SO3X; and a process for producing said copolymer comprising the step of contacting (i) the above-mentioned olefin, and (ii) the above-mentioned compound with a polymerization catalyst, wherein m is a number of 0 or 1, R1 is an aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and X is a mono-valent cationic species.

Description

Claims

1. A copolymer comprising (i) one or more kinds of olefin units selected from the group consisting of an ethylene unit and an α-olefin unit having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and (ii) one or more kinds of units of a compound represented by the following formula (1),

2. The copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the olefin unit is contained in the copolymer in an amount of 1 to 99.9% by mole, and the unit of the compound represented by the formula (1) is contained in the copolymer in an amount of 0.1 to 99% by mole, the total amount of both units being 100% by mole.

3. The copolymer according to claim 1, wherein the olefin unit is an ethylene unit.

4. The copolymer according to claim 1, wherein R1 is a linear aliphatic hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

5. A process for producing a copolymer containing an olefin unit and a unit of a compound represented by the following formula (1), which comprises the step of contacting (i) one or more kinds of olefins selected from the group consisting of ethylene and an α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and (ii) one or more kinds of compounds represented by the following formula (1) with a polymerization catalyst,

6. The process for producing a copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the olefin unit is contained in the copolymer in an amount of 1 to 99.9% by mole, and the unit of the compound represented by the formula (1) is contained in the copolymer in an amount of 0.1 to 99% by mole, the total amount of both units being 100% by mole.

7. The process for producing a copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the polymerization catalyst is a transition metal compound represented by the following formula (2), (3) or (4):

8. The process for producing a copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the polymerization catalyst is a transition metal compound represented by the following formula (5):

9. The process for producing a copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the polymerization catalyst is a transition metal compound represented by the following formula (6):

10. The process for producing a copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the contacting step is carried out in water, a highly polar organic solvent, or a mixed solvent of water with a highly polar organic solvent.

11. The process for producing a copolymer according to claim 5, wherein the compound represented by the formula (1) is a solution or slurry thereof dissolved or suspended in water, a highly polar organic solvent, or a mixed solvent of water with a highly polar organic solvent.