Abstract: Low molecular weight, high Tg resins, with applications including tire additives and adhesives. An oligomer is obtained by ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of a sterically encumbered cyclic monomer with an olefinic chain transfer agent. The sterically encumbered cyclic monomer and the olefinic chain transfer agent are present in the polymerization at a molar ratio of from 2:1 to about 40:1. Also, methods for making the oligomer by ROMP.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a sulfonated reaction product or a salt thereof may be prepared from a cyclohexylbenzene compound that has been alkylated with an olefin of formula R1R2CCH2, wherein R1 is a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is H or a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group. Methods for sulfonating an alkylated cyclohexylbenzene compound prepared from a cyclohexylbenzene compound that has been alkylated with an olefin of formula R1R2CCH2, wherein R1 is a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is H or a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group may comprise contacting the alkylated cyclohexylbenzene compound with a sulfonating reagent; forming a sulfonated reaction product; and converting the sulfonated reaction product into a sulfonate salt.

Abstract: Compositions comprising a sulfonated reaction product or a salt thereof may be prepared from a biphenyl compound that has been alkylated with an olefin of formula R1R2CCH2, wherein R1 is a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is H or a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group. Methods for sulfonating an alkylated biphenyl compound prepared from a biphenyl compound that has been alkylated with an olefin of formula R1R2CCH2, wherein R1 is a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is H or a C6-C24 hydrocarbyl group may comprise contacting the alkylated biphenyl compound with a sulfonating reagent; forming a sulfonated reaction product; and converting the sulfonated reaction product into a sulfonate salt.

Abstract: Highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The highly crosslinked polymer particulate includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. The crosslinked polymer granules include a highly crosslinked polymeric material. A characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule of the plurality of crosslinked polymer granules is at least 10 micrometers and at most 5 millimeters.

Abstract: Highly crosslinked polymer particulate and methods of manufacturing highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The highly crosslinked polymer particulate includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. Each crosslinked polymer granule includes a highly crosslinked polymeric material and a property-modifying filler. The highly crosslinked polymeric material includes a plurality of polyethylene polymer chains and a plurality of chemical crosslinks. The plurality of chemical crosslinks includes chemical crosslinks that covalently bond a given polyethylene polymer chain of the plurality of polyethylene polymer chains to another polyethylene polymer chain of the plurality of polyethylene polymer chains. The property-modifying filler is configured to modify at least one property of the plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. A characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule of the plurality of crosslinked polymer granules is at least 10 micrometers and at most 5 millimeters.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as a proppant, methods of forming the hydrocarbon wells, and methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore and defines a tubular conduit. The hydrocarbon wells also include a plurality of perforations formed within the downhole tubular and a plurality of fractures formed within the subsurface region. The hydrocarbon wells further include the proppant positioned within the plurality of fractures. The proppant includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and each crosslinked polymer granule has a characteristic dimension of at least 100 micrometers and at most 2 millimeters.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as lost circulation material and methods of drilling the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region, a drilling rig, a drilling mud supply system, a lost circulation detection structure, and a lost circulation material supply system that includes a lost circulation material. The lost circulation material includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and a characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule is at least 20 micrometers and at most 1 millimeter. Each crosslinked polymer granule contains a highly crosslinked polymeric material that includes a plurality of polyethylene polymer chains. The methods include rotating a drill string to extend a length of a wellbore and, during the rotating, flowing a drilling mud stream. The methods also include detecting a lost circulation event and, responsive to the detecting, providing a lost circulation material to the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The methods include positioning a granular polymeric material within a crosslinking apparatus and crosslinking the granular polymeric material with the crosslinking apparatus to form a highly crosslinked polymeric material. The methods also include forming a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules from the highly crosslinked polymeric material.

Abstract: A 5,5?-Di-(protected)-2,2?-bifuran: wherein each R1 is independently an unsubstituted or substituted 5- or 6-member 1,3-dioxo-2-yl ring radical. Processes for making the bifuran include coupling 2-(protected)-furfural. Processes for using the bifuran include deprotection, functionalization, and/or polymerization to form a polyester.

Abstract: A process for producing phenylstyrene comprises contacting benzene with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation product comprising cyclohexylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylbenzene is then contacted with ethylbenzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a transalkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene and/or with ethylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce an alkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylethylbenzene is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation product comprising phenylstyrene.

Abstract: A supported catalyst system is based on a transition metal carbene including the moiety M1=CR*)2, wherein M1 is the transition metal and R* is hydrogen or a C1-C8 hydrocarbyl. The catalyst system can be supported on a metal oxide support such as silica or the catalyst can be self-supporting. Methods of making the catalyst system can involve precursors based on and/or reacted with aluminum alkyls, halides, and/or alkoxides. Methods of polymerizing cyclic olefins with the catalyst system can obtain polyalkenamers, cyclic olefin polymers, cyclic olefin copolymers, and other metathesis reaction products. The supported catalyst and/or monomer can be recovered and recycled to the polymerization reactor.

Abstract: A process to form a cyclic olefin polymerization catalyst which includes contacting a metal alkoxide with a transition metal halide to form a transition metal precatalyst, and contacting the transition metal precatalyst with a metal alkyl activator to form the activated catalyst comprising a transition metal carbene moiety. A cyclic olefin polymerization process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article comprising polymers and copolymers selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylbiphenyl), poly(vinylcyclohexylstyrene), substituted versions thereof, and blends thereof, the polymer or copolymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 100 kg/mole and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 100° C. The polymers are desirably processed in the melted state at a temperature of at least 150° C. to impart orientation and extensional strain hardening.

Abstract: A process for producing naphthalene or methylnaphthalenes from an alkane-containing stream. In an embodiment, the produce includes providing an alkane-containing feed stream to a reactor, and contacting the ethane-containing stream with an aromatization catalyst within the reactor. The aromatization catalyst comprises molecular sieve, and a dehydrogenation component. In addition, the process includes producing a reactor effluent stream from the reactor, and separating a product stream from the reactor effluent stream. The product stream comprises at least one or both of naphthalene and methylnaphthalene.

Abstract: Strain-induced articles such as foamed, blow molded, or thermoformed articles comprising styrenic copolymers such as poly(vinylbiphenyl-co-styrene) having improved strain hardening and extensional viscosity for foaming and other applications, having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 100 kg/mole, comprising within the range from 5 to 80 wt % styrene derived units, and a process to form such styrenic copolymers, the process comprising combining styrene, a second aryl-containing monomer such as 4-vinylbiphenyl, and an initiator.

Abstract: A process for producing phenylstyrene comprises contacting benzene with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation product comprising cyclohexylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylbenzene is then contacted with ethylbenzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a transalkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene and/or with ethylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce an alkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylethylbenzene is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation product comprising phenylstyrene.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article comprising polymers and copolymers selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylbiphenyl), poly(vinylcyclohexylstyrene), substituted versions thereof, and blends thereof, the polymer or copolymer having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least 100 kg/mole and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least 100° C. The polymers are desirably processed in the melted state at a temperature of at least 150° C. to impart orientation and extensional strain hardening.

Abstract: In a process for producing 3,4? and/or 4,4? dimethyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising toluene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of dimethyl-substituted biphenyl isomers. The dehydrogenation reaction product is then separated into at least a first stream containing at least 50% of 3,4? and 4,4? dimethylbiphenyl isomers by weight of the first stream and at least one second stream comprising one or more 2,x? (where x? is 2?, 3?, or 4?) and 3,3? dimethylbiphenyl isomers.

Abstract: In a process for producing 3,4? and/or 4,4? dimethyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising toluene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of dimethyl-substituted biphenyl isomers. The dehydrogenation reaction product is then separated into at least a first stream containing at least 50% of 3,4? and 4,4? dimethylbiphenyl isomers by weight of the first stream and at least one second stream comprising one or more 2,x? (where x? is 2?, 3?, or 4?) and 3,3? dimethylbiphenyl isomers.

Abstract: In a process for producing 3,4? and/or 4,4? dimethyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising toluene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of dimethyl-substituted biphenyl isomers. The dehydrogenation reaction product is then separated into at least a first stream containing at least 50% of 3,4? and 4,4? dimethylbiphenyl isomers by weight of the first stream and at least one second stream comprising one or more 2,x? (where x? is 2?, 3?, or 4?) and 3,3? dimethylbiphenyl isomers.