Novel and simple synthesis of carboxyl-terminated polyisobutylenes

The new, simple and effective synthetic methods for the preparation of carboxyl-terminated polyisobutylenes were discussed. It was found that such polymers can serve as valuable starting materials for a number of polymer analog reactions as well as building blocks for the synthesis of block copolymers and networks. Carboxyl derivatives such as anhydrides, nitriles and acid halides are easy to prepare and are more reactive than the carboxyl group. Detailed NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOF MS) investigations showed the complete conversion of the starting aldehyde termini into the corresponding carboxyl derivative.