Preparation of functionalized anionic polymerization initiators

An anionic polymerization initiator defined according to the formula I:

• where each R1 is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, R2 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, R3 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, each R4 is independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R5 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group, where at least one of R3 or R5 is hydrocarbyl, R6 is a covalent bond or a hydrocarbylene group, and A is a functional group selected from the group consisting of amine groups, phosphines groups, ether groups, thio ether groups, seleno groups, silyl groups, alkyl tin groups, and short-chain thermoplastic polymer segments.

A polymer prepared by a process of comprising the steps of:

• polymerizing monomer with an initiator that is prepared by combining a functionalized styryl compound and an organolithium compound, where the functionalized styryl compound is defined by the formula X
• where each R1 is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, R2 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, R3 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group, each R4 is independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group, R6 is a covalent bond or a hydrocarbylene group, and A is a functional group.

A process for preparing a functionalized anionic polymerization initiator, the process comprising:

• combining a functionalized styryl compound and an organolithium compound, where the functionalized styryl compound is N-(cinnamyl):
• -pyrrolidine, -3-methylpyrrolidine, -3,4-dimethylpyrrolidiene, -3,3-dimethylpyrrolidine, -piperidine, -4-methylpiperidine, -3-methylpiperidine, -morpholine, -4-methylpiperazine, -4-ethyl-piperazine, -4-propylpiperazine, -hexamethyleneimine, -trimethylperhydroazepine, -azacyclotridecane, -azacyclohexadecane, -azacycloheptadecene, -trimethylazabicycloöctane, -perhydroisoquinoline, or -perhydroindole.