Elastomeric copolymers based on [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)aminosilyl]-functionalized styrene and their use in the preparation of rubbers

A process for the preparation of a copolymer component comprising coupled copolymer and terminally modified copolymer, the process comprising the following steps:

• (1) providing an initiator component comprising one or more alkali metal salt derivatives of a styrene derivative of formula (I)
• wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of:
• a) a single bond;
• b) —(CH2)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12;
• c) —(CH2CH2Y)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and Y can independently be oxygen or sulfur;
• d) —CH2—(CH2CH2Y)n—CH2—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and Y can independently be oxygen or sulfur;
• e) —(CH2CH2NR)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and R can independently represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• f) —CH2—(CH2CH2NR)n—CH2—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and R can independently represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R2 and R3 can be the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• and
• R4 and R5 can be the same or different, and each R4 and R5 independently represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• (2) contacting a monomer component comprising
• iii) one or more conjugated diene monomers with the initiator component, to initiate anionic copolymerization;
• (3) continuing copolymerization, to result in a copolymer;
• (5) coupling a part of the copolymer of step (3) with one or more coupling agents, to result in coupled copolymer;
• and
• (6) terminally modifying a part of the copolymer of step (3) with one or more terminal modifying agents, to result in terminally modified copolymer.

A process for producing an elastomeric copolymer comprising subjecting

• one or more diene monomers, and
• one or more styrene derivatives of formula (I)
• wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of:
• a) a single bond;
• b) —(CH2)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12;
• c) —(CH2CH2Y)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and Y can independently be oxygen or sulfur;
• d) —CH2—(CH2CH2Y)n—CH2—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and Y can independently be oxygen or sulfur;
• e) —(CH2CH2NR)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and R can independently represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• f) —CH2—(CH2CH2NR)n—CH2—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and R can independently represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R2 and R3 can be the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• and
• R4 and R5 can be the same or different, and each R4 and R5 independently represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms,
• to anionic polymerization conditions.

An elastomeric copolymer comprising repeat units that are derived from

• A) 20 wt. % to 99.95 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more diene monomers;
• B) 0 wt. % to 60 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers;
• and
• C) 0.05 wt. % to 50 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more styrene derivatives of formula (I)
• wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of:
• a) a single bond;
• b) —(CH2)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12;
• c) —(CH2CH2Y)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and Y can independently be oxygen or sulfur;
• d) —CH2—(CH2CH2Y)n—CH2—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and Y can independently be oxygen or sulfur;
• e) —(CH2CH2NR)n—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and R can independently represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• f) —CH2—(CH2CH2NR)n—CH2—, wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12, and R can independently represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R2 and R3 can be the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• and
• R4 and R5 can be the same or different, and each R4 and R5 independently represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms.