| abstract |
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, where said pseudo-living polymer is characterized by having greater than about 85 percent of the polymer in the cis microstructure and less than about 3 percent of the polymer is in the 1,2- or 3,4-microstructure, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one functionalizing agent defined by the formula (I) or (II) n n nwhere Z is a substituent that will react or interact with organic or inorganic fillers; R 1 is a single bond or a divalent organic group; R 2 is a monovalent organic group or a divalent organic group that forms a cyclic organic group with R 13 or R 14 ; R 3 is a single bond, a divalent organic group, or a trivalent organic group that forms a cyclic organic group with R 4 or R 5 ; R 13 is a single bond, a divalent organic group, or a trivalent organic group that forms a cyclic organic group with R 2 or R 14 ; R 4 is a monovalent organic group or a divalent organic group that forms a cyclic organic group with R 3 or R 5 ; R 14 is a monovalent organic group or a divalent organic group that forms a cyclic organic group with R 2 or R 13 ; and R 5 is a monovalent organic group or a divalent organic group that forms a cyclic organic group with R 3 or R 4 ; with the proviso that each group attached to the imino carbon is attached via a carbon atom and R 1 , R 2 R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 13 , R 14 and Z are substituents that will not protonate a pseudo-living polymer. |