Bridgestone Corporation

Michael L Kerns

David F Lawson

William L Hergenrother

John R Schreffler

Bruce J Christensen

A method for reducing the amount of aliphatic solvent needed for maintaining aminoalkyllithium initiators in solution comprising the step of combining at least one aminoalkyllithium compound with a second, dissimilar lithioamine.

Method of preparing a polymer using aliphatic solutions of

Aliphatic solutions of aminoalkyllithium compounds

A functionalized polymer comprising a polymer having at least one cyclic amine end group defined according to formula (I) ##STR1## where Z is an anionically-polymerized polymer; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and a bridging bond; each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and a bridging bond; each R.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; a is an integer from 4 to about 16; and b is an integer from 0 to about 12; and optionally including a bridge, formed by the selection of two of said bridging bonds, the bridge having 0 to about 6 carbon atoms between the bridging ring members.

Polymers, elastomeric compounds, and products thereof, terminated with

A compound comprising at least one cyclic amine, having an organolithium side-chain, defined according to formula (I) ##STR1## wherein Z is a lithium atom (Li); R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and a bridging bond; each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and a bridging bond; each R.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; a is an integer from 4 to about 16; and b is an integer from 0 to about 12; and optionally including a bridge, formed by the selection of two of said bridging bonds, the bridge having 0 to about 6 carbon atoms between the bridging ring members.

Tertiary amines containing side-chain organolithium structures and

Relatively pure tertiaryaminoalkyllithium initiators suitable for anionic polymerization reactions are prepared at low temperatures in an organic ether by reacting an equivalent excess of lithium metal with a tertiaryaminoalkylhalide. The lithium initiators are very stable at moderate temperatures when the ether is replaced by an aliphatic, a cycloaliphatic, or an aromatic solvent. Yields of the initiator in excess of 98% are readily achieved.

Tertiaryaminoalkyllithium initiators and the preparation thereof

A functionalized polymer comprising a polymeric segment, having at least one cyclic amine end group, defined according to formula (I) ##STR1## where Z is an anionically-polymerized polymer; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and a bridging bond; each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and a bridging bond; each R.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; a is an integer from 4 to about 16; and b is an integer from 0 to about 12; and optionally including a bridge, formed by the selection of two of said bridging bonds, the bridge having 0 to about 6 carbon atoms between the bridging ring members; said polymer having been crosslinked. Also provided are vulcanizable compositions of matter, vulcanizates, and tires of the functionalized polymers.

Polymers, elastomeric compounds and products thereof, derived from novel

A method of terminating a living polymer comprising the step of reacting with a living polymer a terminator defined according to formula (I) ##STR1## where Z is a halogen atom; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and a bridging bond; each R.sub.2 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and a bridging bond; each R.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and organic groups containing from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms; a is an integer from 4 to about 16; and b is an integer from 0 to about 12; and optionally including a bridge, formed by the selection of two of said bridging bonds, the bridge having 0 to about 6 carbon atoms between the bridging ring members. Also provided are a vulcanizable composition of matter, a vulcanizate and a tire comprising the functionalized polymers of the present invention.

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Elyria, OH, United States of America

Michael L Kerns