Functionalized hydrogenated polymers

A hydrogenated functionalized polymer comprising:

• a functionalized polydiene being selectively hydrogenated to a predetermined level of saturation along at least a polydiene portion of the functionalized polydiene, wherein the functionalized polydiene is a reaction product of a living anionic elastomeric polymer terminated with a polymerization terminator of formula III:
• wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, and iodine atoms;
• wherein m is an integer from 0 to 2, and n is an integer from 1 to 3, with the proviso that n+m=3;
• wherein R1 and R2 are independently alkyl groups or aryl groups containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or
• wherein R1, R2 are independently -SiR4 groups, wherein R4 is independently selected from alkyl groups, aryl groups, alkoxy groups, or disubstituted amino groups, or
• wherein R1 and R2 taken together with a common nitrogen atom and optionally a sulfur or oxygen heteroatom form a five to eight membered ring;
• and
• wherein R3 is hydrogen, or C1 to C18 alkyl, aryl, or a combination thereof, or R3 is selected from —R5 and —R6, where R5 is alkanediyl containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R6 is selected from the following structures —S—Z, —N(R7)(R8), —O(Y), and Si(OR9)3, wherein R7 and R8 are independently selected from alkyl groups and aryl groups containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, Y and Z are independently selected from the group consisting of methoxymethyl groups, tetrahydropyranyl groups, tetrahydrothiopyranyl groups, tetrahydrofuranyl groups, tert-butyl groups, allyl groups, 1-ethoxyethyl groups, benzyl groups, triphenylmethyl groups, triethylsilyl groups, triisopropylsilyl groups, trimethylsilyl groups, tert-butyl dimethyl silyl groups, tert-butyl diphenyl silyl groups, and isopropyldimethylsilyl groups, and wherein R9 is represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms.