Solubilized anionic polymerization initiator and preparation thereof

A method of preparing an anionic polymerization initiator comprising the steps of:

• reacting an organolithium compound with a functionalizing agent to form a reaction product;
• said functionalizing agent being selected from the group consisting of alkyl, dialkyl and cycloalkyl amines having the general formula ##STR22## and cyclic amines having the general formula ##STR23## where R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyls, cycloalkyls or aralkyls having from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene, oxy- or amino-alkylene group having from about 3 to about 7 methylene groups;
• and,
• reacting said reaction product with a solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of dienyl and vinyl aromatic polymers and copolymers having from 3 to about 300 polymerization units.

An anionic polymerization initiator soluble in acyclic alkane solvents, comprising:

• a solubilized lithio amine having the general formula
• (A)Li(SOL).sub.y
• where y is from about 1 to about 3;
• SOL is a solubilizing component selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, ethers, amines and mixtures thereof;
• and, A is selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine;
• piperidine;
• perhydroazepine;
• and 1-azacyclooctane.

A method of preparing an anionic polymerization initiator comprising the steps of:

• reacting an organolithium compound with a functionalizing agent to form a reaction product;
• said functionalizing agent being selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidine, piperidine, perhydroazepine, and 1-azacyclooctane;
• and,
• reacting said reaction product with a solubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, ethers, amines and mixtures thereof.