S,S′-bis-(α, α′-Disubstituted-α″-Acetic acid)—trithiocarbonates and derivatives as initiator—chain transfer agent—terminator for controlled radical polymerizations and the process for making the same

A composition comprising:

• a polymer having the formula:
• where R1 and R2, independently, represent an alkyl having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, a substituted C1 to about C6 alkyl having one or more substituents, one or more aryls, and a substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 substituents on the aryl ring;
• wherein said one or more substituents, independently, represent an alkyl having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl, a halogen which can be the same or different, a cyano, an ether having a total of from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, a nitro, and combinations thereof;
• or
• wherein R1 and R2 are part of a cyclic ring having from about 5 to about 12 total carbon atoms;
• and
• wherein said repeat group is polymerized from said at least one conjugated diene monomer having a total of from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein said at least one vinyl monomer is represented the repeat unit:
• wherein R3 represents hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, and substituted C1-C4 alkyl wherein said substituents, independently, represent one or more hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy(OR5), carboxy, acyloxy, aroyloxy(O2CR5), alkoxy-carbonyl(CO2R5), and aryloxy-carbonyl;
• wherein R4 represents hydrogen, R5, CO2H, CO2R5, COR5, CN, CONH2, CONHR5, O2CR5, OR5 and halogen;
• and
• wherein, R5 represents C1-C18 alkyl, substituted C1-C18 alkyl, C2-C18 alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, and alkaryl, and wherein said substituents, independently, represents one or more epoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, carboxy (and salts), sulfonic acid (and salts), alkoxy- or aryloxy-carbonyl, isocyanato, cyano, silyl, halo and dialkylamino, and
• wherein m and n, independently, are from about 1 to about 10,000, and
• wherein E is XR′, where R′, independently, represents H, C1-C18 alkyl, a substituted C1-C18 Alkyl;
• wherein said substituent is selected from halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, C1-C18 hydroxyalkyl, and a C1-C18 aminoalkyl, and X represents oxygen, sulfur, NH, and NR′;
• or
• wherein E is
• wherein R6 through R9, independently, represent H, C1-C18 alkyl, aryl, a substituted aryl having from 1 to 6 substituents on the ring, wherein said substituent is selected from halogen, hydroxyl, or alkoxy, C1-C18 hydroxy alkyl, C1-C18 amino alkyl, and C1-C18 mercapto alkyl, and wherein Y represents oxygen, sulfur, NH, and NR6;
• or
• wherein E is OR10 where R10 represents an alkyl having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and a substituted alkyl having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein said substituent is selected from halogen, hydroxyl, alkoxy, a hydroxy alkyl having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an amino alkyl having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and combinations thereof;
• or combinations thereof.