A polymerization process is provided for producing a terminally functional polymer which comprises introducing a monomer charge, a Lewis acid and an organic peroxy compound into a suitable reaction vessel and polymerizing the monomer charge at a temperature of from about 0.degree. to about -80.degree. C. to form the terminally functional polymer, wherein the monomer charge comprises isobutylene and the organic peroxy compound is charged in an amount of from about 10.sup.-4 to about 10.sup.-1 moles per mole of the isobutylene. In a preferred embodiment, the monomer charge additionally comprises vinylidene aromatic or diolefin monomers. In another preferred embodiment the monomer charge comprises the sequential addition of isobutylene and vinylidene aromatic or diolefin monomers. In a further preferred embodiment said reaction vessel is additionally charged with an electron door having an electron door number of from about 22 to about 50 the amount of said electron door being from about 10.sup.-4 to about 10.sup.-1 moles of said isobutylene. The invention also provides a novel catalyst system comprising an organic peroxy compund and a Lewis acid for the polymerization of isobutylene or monomer mixtures containing isobutylene.
A halogenated butyl rubber is prepared by a process wherein a monomer charge comprising isobutylene, and a conjugated diolefin having the formula
wherein Ri, R2 and R3 which may be the same or different are a methyl group or a hydrogen atom and X is bromine or chlorine together with a initiator having the formula
wherein each R4 is an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, Y is preferably an alkoxy, hydroxy, peroxy ester or halide, and n is a positive whole number are introduced into a suitable reaction vessel in a specified ratio at a temperature of from about -90 to -10°C, a solution of a Lewis acid is added and the monomers are copolymerized at said temperature to form said halogenated butyl rubber, and the halogenated rubber is recovered from solution.