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

A method for producing an elastomeric copolymer comprising subjecting

• one or more diene monomer(s),
• optionally one or more vinyl aromatic monomer(s) and
• one or more styrene derivative(s) of formula (I)
• wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent a member 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;
• g) —(CH2SiR2)n—, 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;
• h) —CH2—(CH2SiR2)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;
• i) —(OSiR2)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;
• and
• j) —CH2—(OSiR2)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 R3, R4, R5, and R6 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
• R7 and R8 can be the same or different, and each R7 and R8 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,
• preferably wherein the polymerization is batch-wise or continuous.

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 monomer(s);
• B) 0 wt. % to 60 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more vinyl aromatic monomer(s);
• and
• C) 0.05 wt. % to 50 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more styrene derivative(s) of formula (I)
• wherein R1 and R2 can be the same or different and represent a member 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;
• g) —(CH2SiR2)n—, 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;
• h) —CH2—(CH2SiR2)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;
• i) —(OSiR2)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;
• and
• j) —CH2—(OSiR2)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 R3, R4, R5, and R6 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
• R7 and R8 can be the same or different, and each R7 and R8 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.