Abstract: Oligomers of vinyl esters, preferably of vinyl acetate, are provided in which the molecules contain a single terminal sulfonate group, thereby making these products useful as surface-active agents. These oligomers can be converted by hydrolysis to sulfonate-terminated vinyl alcohol oligomer which is also a surface-active agent. The number average molecular weight of the vinyl ester oligomer is not over 17,000 and not over 7,500 for the vinyl alcohol oligomer. These products are made by polymerizing the vinyl ester in the presence of a bisulfite chain transfer agent in water, preferably with a cosolvent such as methanol. The vinyl ester is delay fed to the polymerization, molecular weight is controlled with the bisulfite, and the system is maintained in a virtual single phase with any organic phase present swollen with water or water and cosolvent.

Abstract: Amine functional polymers are prepared by polymerization of vinylamides with vinyl ester monomers. The resultant polymers are hydrolyzed under acid conditions and subsequently at least partially basified to the free-base amine. Byproduct salts are removed by precipitation or by extraction into an immiscible phase. The polymers made by this method are crosslinkable through reaction of the amine groups and are useful in high performance coatings, adhesives, binders and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions of matter corresponding to the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 through R.sub.4, inclusive, are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having from 2 to about 8 carbon atoms, amino, cyano or R.sub.1 and R.sub.1, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 or R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 may together form part of a cyclohydrocarbyl ring. The subject 9,9-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)fluorene dianhydrides demonstrate utility as reactants in the preparation of polyimides used in the fabrication of membranes for separating gaseous mixtures into their respective components.