Diene polymers and copolymers terminated by reaction with N-alkyl and N-aryl imines

摘要

A process is provided for preparing a terminally functionalized polymer from a living polymer obtained by anionic polymerization of a diene monomer or mixture of a diene monomer and a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer which comprises reacting the living polymer with a compound having the formula: <IMAGE> wherein R1 and R2 are selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; wherein R3 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, dialkylaminoaryl, aralkyl, and aprotic O, N and S- containing alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl and aralkyl groups; with the proviso that at least one of the R1, R2 and R3 groups must be a dialkylaminoaryl group and that not all of the R1, R2 and R3 groups can be aryl groups. The resultant terminally functionalized polymer has reduced hysteresis properties and may be utilized to prepare elastomer compositions and tire treads having reduced rolling resistance.