Functionalized elastomer

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a stereoregular functionalized elastomer represented by poly(M1 co M2), wherein the functionalized elastomer comprises a microstructure selected from the group consisting of microstructures having at least 90 percent by weight of monomer residues in trans 1,4-configuration, and microstructures having at least 80 percent by weight of monomer residues in cis 1,4-configuration; wherein M1 is selected from the group consisting of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene; and M2 is of formula 4 wherein Ris a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Ris hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; Xis selected from formulas 5 and 6 wherein Rand Rare independently trialkylsilyl, phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or one of Rand Ris hydrogen and the other is phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or Rand Rtaken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; and Xis a sulfur atom or a structure of formula 7 or 8 wherein when Xis of formula 8, the S atom of formula 8 is adjacent to the phenyl ring of formula 6 and the N atom of formula 8 is adjacent to R.