Continuous telomerization process and its liquid products

Abstract

Continuous process and apparatus for the preparation of normally liquid telomers derived from the reaction of a liquid telogen, such as toluene, with a polymerizable monomeric taxogen in gaseous form, such as 1,3-butadiene monomer, in the presence of an organometal telomerization initiator, such as a mixture or complex of n-butyllithium and potassium t-butoxide, wherein a controlled stream of the gaseous taxogen is continuously passed through fine apertures, as in a screen, into the liquid telogen containing said initiator disposed in a reaction zone in a reaction chamber, whereby to produce the normally liquid telomer, and, thereafter said telomer is continuously passed through a conduit into an additional reaction zone or zones and reacted in similar manner with additional gaseous taxogen until the desired concentration of liquid telomer is produced. The process is most desirably carried out in a controlled manner to prevent any undesirable excess of the taxogen from accumulating during the chain transfer step of the telomerization process. The process also results in the production of novel liquid telomers or liquid telomers having novel and advantageous properties in relation to otherwise generally similar liquid telomers heretofore known to the art.