Functionalized monomers for synthesis of rubbery polymers

摘要

This invention is based upon the unexpected finding that random copolymers of 1,3-butadiene monomer and 3-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene and/or 4-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene having a low vinyl content can be synthesized by anionic polymerization at normal polymerization temperatures without the need for a conventional polar modifier. The subject invention more specifically discloses a process for synthesizing a rubbery polymer that comprises copolymerizing at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one functionalized monomer in an organic solvent at a temperature which is within the range of 20° C. to about 100° C., wherein the polymerization is initiated with an anionic initiator, wherein the functionalized monomer is of the structural formula:wherein n represents an integer from 4 to about 10, and wherein the polymerization is conducted in the absence of conventional polar modifiers.