The present invention discloses a process for synthesizing a hydrogenated
polymer that comprises: (1) preparing a aqueous
polymerization medium which is comprised of (a) at least one
monomer, (b) a
polymerization control agent, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is prepared in-situ within the aqueous
polymerization medium; (2) initiating polymerization of said
monomer within the aqueous polymerization medium to produce a latex of an unsaturated
polymer; (3) treating the latex of the unsaturated
polymer with (a) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of
oxygen, air and hydroperoxides; (b) a
reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrates of hydrazine; and (c) a
metal ion activator to produce the hydrogenated polymer. The present invention further discloses a process for synthesizing a hydrogenated polymer that comprises: (1) preparing a
monomer solution which is comprised of (a) at least one monomer, (b) a
conjugate acid of a surfactant with a pKa of less than about 14, and (c) a controlled free
radical polymerization agent; (2) preparing an
aqueous medium which is comprised of (a) water, and (b) a conjugate base of a weak acid wherein the pKb of the base is less than about 14; and (3) mixing the monomer solution with the
aqueous medium under conditions that result in the in-situ formation of an emulsifier; (4) initiating free
radical polymerization to produce a latex of an unsaturated polymer; and (5) treating the latex of the unsaturated polymer with (a) an oxidant selected from the group consisting of
oxygen, air and hydroperoxides; (b) a
reducing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrazine and hydrates of hydrazine; and (c) a
metal ion activator to produce the hydrogenated polymer.