Use of sulfur containing initiators for anionic polymerization of monomers

A functional polymer that is defined by the following formula:

• where R is selected from C1 to C6 trialkyl-silyl groups, C1 to C20 alkyl groups, C4 to C20 cycloalkyl groups, C6 to C20 aryl groups, thienyl, furyl, and pyridyl groups;
• and R may optionally have attached thereto any of the following functional groups:
• C1 to C10 alkyl groups, C6 to C20 aryl groups, C2 to C10 alkenyl groups, C3 to C10 non-terminal alkynyl groups, ethers, tert-amines, oxazolines, thiazolines, phosphines, sulfides, silyls, and mixtures thereof;
• where R1 is selected from C2 to C8 alkylene groups, where X is NR, and where π is a polymer chain, where the polymer chain includes polybutadiene, SBR, or a copolymer thereof.

A functional polymer that is defined by the following formula:

• where R is selected from C1 to C6 trialkyl-silyl groups, C1 to C20 alkyl groups, C4 to C20 cycloalkyl groups, C6 to C20 aryl groups, thienyl, furyl, and pyridyl groups;
• and R may optionally have attached thereto any of the following functional groups:
• C1 to C10 alkyl groups, C6 to C20 aryl groups, C2 to C10 alkenyl groups, C3 to C10 non-terminal alkynyl groups, ethers, tert-amines, oxazolines, thiazolines, phosphines, sulfides, silyls, and mixtures thereof;
• where R1 is selected from C2 to C8 alkylene groups, where X is NR, and where π is a polymer chain, where the polymer chain derives from the anionic polymerization of monomer including conjugated C4-C12 dienes, C4-C18 monovinyl aromatic monomers or C6-C20 trienes.