Method of hydrogenating conjugated diene polymer, hydrogenation catalyst system, and composition of basic conjugated diene polymer

Abstract

A process for hydrogenating a conjugated diene polymer wherein a conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising a platinum group metal or its compound, and a basic compound. More specifically, (1) hydrogenation is conducted in a reaction system prepared by incorporating the catalyst and the basic compound in a solution or latex of the conjugated diene polymer; (2) hydrogenation is conducted in a reaction system prepared by incorporating a catalyst system comprising a combination of the catalyst with the basic compound, in a solution or latex of the conjugated diene polymer; or (3) hydrogenation is conducted in a reaction system prepared by incorporating the catalyst in a solution of a composition comprising the conjugated diene polymer and the basic compound. Thus, a hydrogenated conjugated diene polymer can be efficiently and industrially advantageously produced using a small amount of a catalyst.

1 . A process for hydrogenating a conjugated diene polymer characterized in that a conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising a platinum group metal or its compound, and a basic compound.  
     
     
         2 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 1 , wherein the conjugated diene polymer is a copolymer comprising conjugated diene units and α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile units.  
     
     
         3 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 1  wherein the conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in a state of solution in a solvent.  
     
     
         4 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 1  wherein the conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in a state of latex.  
     
     
         5 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 1  wherein the conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in a reaction system prepared by incorporating the catalyst and the basic compound in a solution or latex of the conjugated diene polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 1  wherein the conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in a reaction system prepared by incorporating the catalyst in a solution of a composition comprising the conjugated diene polymer and the basic compound.  
     
     
         7 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 6  wherein the composition comprising the conjugated diene polymer and the basic compound is prepared by contacting a crumb obtained by coagulating a conjugated diene polymer as produced in a polymerization step, with an aqueous solution of the basic compound.  
     
     
         8 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 1  wherein the conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in a reaction system prepared by incorporating a catalyst system comprising a combination of the catalyst with the basic compound, in a solution or latex of the conjugated diene polymer.  
     
     
         9 . the hydrogenation process according to  claim 8  wherein the catalyst comprises a compound of platinum group metal in a non-reduced state.  
     
     
         10 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 8  wherein the catalyst system comprises the catalyst and the basic compound, both of which are supported on a carrier.  
     
     
         11 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 8  wherein the catalyst system comprises the catalyst supported on a carrier comprised of the basic compound.  
     
     
         12 . The hydrogenation process according to  claim 8  wherein the catalyst is a non-supported catalyst.  
     
     
         13 . A catalyst system for hydrogenation of a conjugated diene polymer characterized by comprising a combination of platinum group metal or its compound, with a basic compound.  
     
     
         14 . The hydrogenation catalyst system according to  claim 13  wherein the catalyst comprises a compound of platinum group metal in a non-reduced state.  
     
     
         15 . The hydrogenation catalyst system according to  claim 13  which comprises the catalyst and the basic compound, both of which are supported on a carrier.  
     
     
         16 . The hydrogenation catalyst system according to  claim 13  which comprises the catalyst supported on a carrier comprised of the basic compound.  
     
     
         17 . The hydrogenation catalyst system according to  claim 13  wherein the catalyst is a non-supported catalyst.  
     
     
         18 . A conjugated diene polymer composition comprising a conjugated diene polymer and a basic compound, characterized in that a solution of the composition in tetrahydrofuran has a pH value of larger than 7.0.  
     
     
         19 . The conjugated diene polymer composition according to  claim 18  which is prepared by contacting a crumb obtained by coagulating a conjugated diene polymer as produced in a polymerization step, with an aqueous solution of the basic compound.  
     
     
         20 . The conjugated diene polymer composition according to  claim 18  wherein the conjugated diene polymer is a copolymer comprising conjugated diene units and α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile units.