Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated, particularly acrylic, monomers are polymerised using a catalyst system including a manganese carbonyl initiator, an organic halogen reactive substrate and an allylic halide chain termination agent. Desirably the manganese carbonyl initiator is a dimanganese compound, particularly dimanganese decacarbonyl (Mn2(CO)10). The catalysis mechanism appears to involve initiator homolysis, abstraction of halogen from the reactive substrate forming an organic free radical which acts as a chain initiator for polymerisation and eventual reaction of the propagating chain radical with the chain terminating agent. The speed or extent of reaction may be modified by the inclusion of Lewis acids in the reaction mixture. The resulting polymers are telechelic and may have different end groups. The polymers can be reacted further to functionalise them and/or to form block copolymers.

Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated, particularly acrylic, monomers are polymerized using a catalyst system including a manganese carbonyl initiator, an organic halogen reactive substrate and an allylic halide chain termination agent. Desirably the manganese carbonyl initiator is a dimanganese compound, particularly dimanganese decacarbonyl (Mn2(CO)10). The catalysis mechanism appears to involve initiator homolysis, abstraction of halogen from the reactive substrate forming an organic free radical which acts as a chain initiator for polymerization and eventual reaction of the propagating chain radical with the chain terminating agent. The speed or extent of reaction may be modified by the inclusion of Lewis acids in the reaction mixture. The resulting polymers are telechelic and may have different end groups. The polymers can be reacted further to functionalize them and/or to form block copolymers.

Abstract: A novel ashless polymeric dispersant is claimed which is suitable for use in an automotive lubricant composition. The ashless polymeric dispersant has a number average molecular weight of between 200 and 15,000 and derived from the reaction of a polar head group, which comprises a polar moiety having more than one amine, alcohol, acid or halogen functionality with two or more polar tail groups where each polar tail group comprises a polymeric backbone of 2 to 30 monomeric repeat units, each repeat unit comprising a hydrocarbon chain functionalised by the presence of at least one electronegative element or moiety. The dispersant has good dispersancy properties, when used as a sole dispersant or in combination with other dispersants. It provides enhanced seal resistance and has good oxidative stability in automotive applications as compared to current commercial products.

Abstract: Copolymers, desirably having a molecular weight of from 500 to 20000, of aminoesters or aminoamides of (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylamides at a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 60:1, particularly from 12:1 to 50:1 and especially about 20:1, can act as gas hydrate inhibitors in water containing hydrocarbon gas streams. Desirably the aminoesters or aminoamides are N-alkyl-amino(esters or amides) in particular of the formula (I): H2C?CR1 C(O)XR2NR3R4 (I) where R1, R2, R3, R4 and X have defined meanings and the (meth)acrylamides are of the formula (II): H2C?CR6C(O)NR7R8 (II) where R6, R7 and R8 have defined meanings. Methods of treating gas water mixtures using the copolymers to inhibit gas hydrate formation are described.