The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Functionalized initiator, method of making initiator and functionalized elastomer

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a functionalized polymerization initiator, comprising the reaction product of an alkyl lithium compound and a compound of formula 1 ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1=alkyl (C1-C8), aryl, substituted aryl, or --SiR.sub.3 where R.sub.3 are independently C1-C8 alkyl, preferably --SiMe.sub.3 where Me is methyl, or --Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2C(CH.sub.3).sub.3; R.sub.2=C1-C8 alkyl, aryl, or substituted aryl, or --SiR.sub.3, preferably --CH.sub.3; and n=0-3. The invention is further directed to a method of making the functionalized inititiator, and a method of making a functionalized elastomer using the inititator.