Amide-functionalized polymerization initiators and their use in the manufacture of ophthalmic lenses

A compound of formula I:

• wherein R1 at each occurrence is independently H or methyl;
• R2 and R3 at each occurrence are independently H or —X′—N(R6)(R7), provided that at least one R2 or R3 is —X′—N(R6)(R7), wherein X′ at each occurrence is independently a bond or —(CO)—, R6 at each occurrence is independently H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C6 alkylcarbonyl and R7 at each occurrence is independently H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C1-C6 alkylcarbonyl, or R6 and R7 at any occurrence, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a heterocycloalkyl ring in which a ring carbon atom is optionally replaced with a heteroatom selected from nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, wherein each alkyl and alkylcarbonyl is independently optionally substituted with hydroxy, amino, amido, oxo, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, carbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, or benzyl, and each heterocycloalkyl is independently optionally substituted with alkyl, hydroxy, amino, amido, oxo, carboxy, alkyl carboxy, carbonyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxy, amido, carbamate, carbonate, halo, phenyl, or benzyl;
• R4 and R5, when present, are independently at each occurrence alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, or halo;
• T is a chain termination group;
• n is from 10 to 4000;
• and
• p and q are independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.