Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing copolymers made from isobutene and at least one vinylaromatic component. Said method consists of polymerising isobutene or a hydrocarbon mixture containing isobutene with at least one vinylaromatic compound in the presence of a solvent-stable transistion metal complex comprising slightly co-ordinating anions as a polymerisation catalyst. The invention also relates to copolymers made of isobutene and at least one vinylaromatic compound, which can be obtained by means of said inventive method, in addition to specific functionalisation products therefrom.

Abstract: Preparation of highly reactive isobutene homo- or copolymers having Mn=from 500 to 45 000 by polymerizing isobutene in the liquid phase in the presence of a dissolved, dispersed or supported boron-containing catalyst complex, by using, as the catalyst complex, a protic acid compound I [H+]m+1[R1R2R3B—(-Am+—BR5R6—)n—R4](m+1)?.Lx ??(I) R1 to R6 each independently aliphatic, heterocyclic or aromatic, fluorinated hydrocarbon radicals having in each case from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or silyl groups comprising C1 to C18 hydrocarbon radicals, A nitrogen-containing bridging member which forms covalent bonds to the boron atoms via its nitrogen atoms, L neutral solvent molecules, n=0 or 1, m=0 or 1 and x is ?0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solvent-stable metal catalyst having slightly coordinating counter anions of formula I [M(L)a(Z)b]m+m(A?)(I), wherein M represents a transition metal of groups 3-12 of the periodic system, a lanthanide or a metal of groups 2 or 13 of the periodic system; L represents a solvent molecule; Z represents a mono or polycharged ligand; A? represents a slightly or non coordinated anion; a represents a whole number which is greater than or equal to 1; b represents a whole number which is greater than or equal to 1, whereby the total from a and b is between 4 and 8, and m represents a whole number from 1 6. The invention also relates to a method for polymerising olefinically unsaturated compounds in the presence of said catalyst and copolymers which are made of monomers comprising isobutene and at least one vinylaromatic compound which is obtained according to said inventive method.