ES2645665T3 - Polymers functionalized with heterocyclic nitrile compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

A functionalized polymer defined by at least one of the formulas: ** Formula ** where π is a polydiene polymer chain having a cis-1,4 bond content greater than 60%, θ is a heterocyclic group, and R is a divalent organic group, where the polymer is prepared by polymerizing diene monomer conjugated with a lanthanide-based catalyst system.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

PoKers Functionalized with Heterodyl Nitrile Compounds Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to functionalized polymers and manufacturing methods thereof.

Background of the invention

In the tire manufacturing technique, it is desirable to employ rubber vulcanization products that have a reduced hysteresis, that is, less loss of heat mechanic energy. For example, rubber vulcanization products are advantageously used in pneumatic components, for example on the side walls and treads, which have a reduced hysteresis to obtain tires that desirably offer low rolling resistance. The hysteresis of a rubber vulcanizate is often attributed to the free ends of the polymer chain within the network of crosslinked rubber, as well as to the dissociation of the charge agglomerates. Functionalized polymers have been used to reduce the hysteresis of rubber vulcanizates. The functional group of the functionalized polymer can reduce the number of free ends of the polymer chain by interacting with the charge particles. On the other hand, the functional group can reduce the agglomeration of the load. However, it often cannot be predicted if a particular functional group conferred on a polymer can reduce hysteresis.

Functionalized polymers can be prepared by post-polymerization treatment of reactive polymers with certain functionalizing agents. However, it cannot be predicted if a reactive polymer can be functionalized by treatment with a certain functionalizing agent. For example, functionalizing agents that act with one type of polymer do not necessarily do so with another type of polymer, and vice versa.

It is known that lanthanide-based catalyst systems are useful for the polymerization of conjugated diene monomers to form polydiennes having a high content of c / s-1,4 bonds. The resulting c / s-1,4-polydiennes can show pseudo-surviving characteristics since, after polymerization is completed, some of the polymer chains have reactive ends that can react with certain functionalizing agents resulting in ac / s-1,4-polydiennes functionalized

The c / s-1,4-polydiennes obtained with lanthanide-based catalyst systems typically have a linear main chain, which is believed to provide better traction properties, greater abrasion resistance, less hysteresis and greater resistance. to fatigue compared to the c / s-1,4-polydiennes prepared with other catalyst systems such as catalyst systems based on titanium, cobalt and nickel. Therefore, the c / s-1,4-polydiennes obtained with lanthanide-based catalyst systems are especially suitable for use in tire components such as side walls and treads. However, a disadvantage of the c / s-1,4-polydiennes prepared with lanthanide-based catalysts is that the polymers have a high fluence at fno due to their linear main chain structure. The high creep at fno causes problems during the storage and transport of polymers and also limits the use of automatic feeding equipment in rubber compound mixing facilities.

It is known that anionic initiators are useful for the polymerization of conjugated diene monomers to form polydiene having a combination of 1,2, cis-1,4 and trans-1,4 bonds: Anionic initiators are also useful for copolymerization of diene monomers conjugated with vinyl substituted aromatic compounds. Polymers prepared with anionic initiators can have living characteristics since, upon completion of polymerization, polymer chains have living ends that are capable of reacting with additional monomers for further chain growth or of reacting with certain functionalizing agents resulting in to functionalized polymers. Without the introduction of coupled or branched structures, polymers prepared with anionic initiators can also present the problem of high fluence at fno.

US-A-4,927,887 discloses a method of preparing a polymer based on dienes terminally modified with a heterocyclic group. The modified polymers are prepared by reacting at least one polymeric rubber containing an alkali metal (lithium) and carbon-carbon unsaturation with at least one aromatic heterocyclic compound containing six-membered nitrogen substituted with a nitrile group, such as pyrimidine and pyridine Rubber is used in compositions for the preparation of treads.

US-A-2005/131174 describes a process for the preparation of cis-1,4-polydiene which includes the steps of preparing a pseudo-living diene (co) polymer containing a terminal group with active lanthanide metal polymerizing a diene monomer. conjugated using a lanthanide (neodymium) based catalyst and terminating all pseudo-surviving diene polymer chains by reacting the terminal group of

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metal with a coupling agent or a functionalizing agent. The polymerization step is carried out with less than 20% organic solvent with respect to the total weight of monomers.

US-A-2006 025539) refers to a method of preparing a functionalized polymer having an amount of cis units greater than 85% and comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing a diene monomer conjugated to a catalyst based on lanthanide and reacting the pseudo-surviving polymer with at least one functionalizing agent that has one or two imine groups and is substituted by a heterocyclic group.

Since functionalized polymers are advantageous, especially in the manufacture of tires, there is a need to develop new functionalized polymers that provide reduced hysteresis and reduced cold flow.

Summary of the invention

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of preparing a reactive polymer and reacting the reactive polymer with a heterocyclic nitrile compound.

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of preparing a functional polymer, the method comprising the steps of introducing a conjugated diene monomer, optionally a copolymerizable monomer thereof, and a catalyst or initiator to form a polymerization mixture; and adding a heterocyclic nitrile compound to the polymerization mixture.

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of preparing a polymer, the method comprising preparing an active polymerization mixture and adding a heterocyclic nityryl compound to the active polymerization mixture.

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a functionalized polymer prepared by the polymerization steps of a monomer to form a reactive polymer and to react the reactive polymer with a heterocyclic nitrile compound.

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a functionalized polymer defined by at least one of the following formulas:

0 II

n ------ C ------ 0 k ------------ C ---------- R ----- 0

where% is a polymer chain, 0 is a heterodyl group and R is a divalent organic group.

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of preparing a polymer, the method comprising preparing an active polymerization mixture, adding a heterodyl nitrile compound to the active polymerization mixture and adding a cofunctionalizing agent to the mixture of active polymerization.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a graphical representation of cold creep gauge (mm in 8 min) versus Mooney viscosity (ML 1 + 4 at 100 ° C) for functionalized cis-1,4-polybutadiene prepared according to one or more embodiments of the present invention in comparison with non-functionalized cis-1,4-polybutadiene.

Fig. 2 is a graphical representation of loss of hysteresis (tan 5) versus Mooney viscosity (ML 1 + 4 at 130 ° C) for vulcanization products prepared from cis-1,4-functionalized polybutadiene prepared according to or more embodiments of the present invention in comparison with vulcanization products prepared from non-functionalized cis-1,4-polybutadiene.

Fig. 3 is a graphical representation of cold creep gauge (mm in 8 min) versus Mooney viscosity (ML 1 + 4 at 100 ° C) for functionalized poly (styrene-co-butadiene) prepared according to one or more Embodiments of the present invention compared to non-functionalized poly (styrene-co-butadiene).

Fig. 4 is a graphical representation of loss of hysteresis (tan 5) versus Mooney viscosity (ML 1 + 4 at 100 ° C) for vulcanization products prepared from functionalized poly (styrene-co-butadiene) prepared according to one or more embodiments of the present invention in comparison with vulcanization products prepared from non-functionalized poly (styrene-co-butadiene).

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Detailed description of the illustrative embodiments

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a reactive polymer is prepared by polymerization of conjugated diene monomer and optionally copolymerizable monomer thereof, and then this reactive polymer can be functionalized by reaction with a heterocyclic nitrile compound. The resulting functionalized polymers can be used in the manufacture of components for tires. In one or more embodiments, the resulting functionalized polymers, which include cis-1,4-polydiennes and poly (styrene-co-budathiene), have advantages of creep resistance at fno and provide tire components that advantageously present little hysteresis.

Examples of conjugated diene monomer include 1,3-budathiene, isoprene, 1,3-pentadiene, 1,3-hexadiene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-ethyl-1,3-butadiene, 2 -methyl-1,3-pentadiene, 3-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene and 2,4-hexadiene. Mixtures of two or more conjugated dienes can also be used in the copolymerization.

Examples of monomer copolymerizable with conjugated diene monomer include vinyl substituted aromatic compounds such as styrene, p-methylstyrene, alpha-methylstyrene and vinyl naphthalene.

In one or more embodiments, the reactive polymer is prepared by coordination polymerization, in which the monomer is polymerized using a coordination catalyst system. The key mechanical features of coordination polymerization have been analyzed in books (e.g., Kuran, W., Principles of Coordination Polymerization; John Wiley & Sons: New York, 2001) and magazine articles (e.g., Mulhaupt, R., Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 2003, volume 204, pages 289-327). It is believed that the coordination catalysts initiate the polymerization of a monomer by means of a mechanism that involves the coordination or complexation of a monomer in an active metal center prior to the insertion of the monomer in a growing polymer chain. An advantageous feature of the coordination catalysts is their ability to provide stereochemical control of polymerizations and produce stereoregular polymers. As is known in the art, there are numerous methods for creating coordination catalysts, but all methods eventually generate an active intermediate that is capable of coordinating with a monomer and inserting the monomer into a covalent bond between an active metal center and a chain. of growing polymer. It is believed that the coordination polymerization of conjugated dienes continues through rc-allyl complexes as intermediates. Coordination catalysts can be one, two, three or multiple component systems. In one or more embodiments, a coordination catalyst can be formed by combining a heavy metal compound (e.g., a metal detransition compound or a lanthanide compound), an alkylating agent (e.g., a compound of organoaluminium) and optionally other cocatalyst components (e.g., a Lewis acid or a Lewis base).

Various methods can be used to prepare coordination catalysts. In one or more embodiments, a coordination catalyst can be formed in situ by separately adding the catalyst components to the monomer to be polymerized in a stepped or simultaneous manner. In other embodiments, a coordination catalyst may be preformed. That is, the catalyst components are premixed outside the polymerization system in the absence of any monomer or in the presence of a small amount of monomer. The resulting preformed catalyst composition can be aged, if desired, and then added to the monomer to be polymerized.

Useful coordination catalyst systems include lanthanide-based catalyst systems. These catalyst systems can advantageously produce cis-1,4-polydiennes which, before being inactivated, have reactive chain ends and can be referred to as pseudo-surviving polnrieros. Although other coordination catalyst systems can also be employed, it has been found that lanthanide-based catalysts are especially advantageous and, therefore, without limiting the scope of the present invention, will be described in greater detail.

The practice of one or more embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the selection of a particular lanthanide based catalyst. In one or more embodiments, the catalyst composition may include a lanthanide compound, an alkylating agent and a halogen-containing compound that includes one or more labile halogen atoms. If the lanthanide compound and / or the alkylating agent include one or more labile halogen atoms, it will not be necessary for the catalyst to include a separate halogen-containing compound; for example, the catalyst may simply include a halogenated lanthanide compound and an alkylating agent. In certain embodiments, the alkylating agent may include both an aluminoxane and at least one other organoaluminum compound. In still other embodiments, a compound containing a non-coordinating anion, or a non-coordinating anion precursor, that is, a compound that can undergo a chemical reaction to form a non-coordinating anion, may be used instead of a compound containing halogen In one embodiment, if the alkylating agent includes an organoaluminium hydride compound, the halogen-containing compound may be a tin halide as described in US Pat. No. 7,008,899, which is incorporated herein by reference. In these and other embodiments, in addition to the ingredients or components indicated above, other organometallic compounds, Lewis bases and / or catalyst modifiers can be used. For example, in one embodiment, a compound containing nickel can be employed as a molecular weight regulator as described in US Pat. No. 6,699,813, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Various lanthanide compounds or mixtures thereof can be used. In one or more embodiments, said compounds may be soluble in hydrocarbon solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbons,

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aliphatic hydrocarbons or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons. In other embodiments, the hydrocarbon insoluble lanthanide compounds, which can be suspended in the polymerization medium to form catalytically active species, are also useful.

Lanthanide compounds may include at least one atom of lanthanum, neodymium, cerium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, tulio, ytterbium, lutetium and didymium. The didimio may include a commercial mixture of rare earth elements obtained from monacite sand.

The atom of lanthanide in the lanthanide compounds may be in various oxidation states, including, but not limited to, the oxidation states 0, +2, +3 and +4. Lanthanide compounds include, but are not limited to, lanthanide carboxylates, lanthanide organophosphates, lanthanide organophosphonates, lanthanide organophosphinates, lanthanum carbamates, lanthanide dithiocarbamates, lantanido xanthates, lantaxide aldosxyxides lanthanide, lanthanide halides, lanthanide pseudo halides, lanthanide oxyhalides and organolantanide compounds.

Without intending to limit the practice of the present invention, the following description will focus on neodymium compounds, although the person skilled in the art will be able to select similar compounds based on other lanthanide metals.

Neodymium carboxylates include neodymium format, neodymium acetate, neodymium acrylate, neodymium methacrylate, neodymium valerate, neodymium gluconate, neodymium citrate, neodymium fumarate, neodymium lactate, neodymium neodymium, oxa-2 Neodymium ethylhexanoate, neodymium neodecanoate (also known as neodymium versatate), neodymium naphthenate, neodymium stearate, neodymium oleate, neodymium benzoate and neodymium picolinate.

Neodymium organophosphates include dibutyl neodymium phosphate, dipentyl neodymium phosphate, dihexyl neodymium phosphate, diheptyl neodymium phosphate, dioctyl phosphate neodymium, bis (1-methylheptyl) neodymium phosphate, bis (2- ethylhexyl) phosphate Neodymium didecyl phosphate, neodymium didodecyl phosphate, neodymium dioctadecyl phosphate, neodymium dioleyl phosphate, neodymium bis (p-nonylphenyl) neodymium phosphate, butyl (2- ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphate, (1-methylhexyl) Neodymium (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate and (2-ethylhexyl) (p-nonylphenyl) neodymium phosphate.

Neodymium organophosphonates include neodymium butyl phosphonate, neodymium pentyl phosphonate, neodymium hexyl phosphonate, neodymium heptyl phosphonate, neodymium octyl phosphonate, (2-ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphonate, (2- ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphonate, decyl neodymium, neodymium dodecyl phosphonate, neodymium octadecyl phosphonate, neodymium oleyl phosphonate, neodymium phenyl phosphonate, (p-nonylphenyl) neodymium phosphonate, neodymium butylphosphonate, neodymium pentylphosphonate, hexyl hexylphosphonate hexylphosphonate Neodymium, Neodymium Octyl Octylphosphonate, (1-methylheptyl) (l-methylheptyl) neodymium phosphonate, (2-ethylhexyl) (2- ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphonate, Neodymium decyl decylphosphonate, Neodymium dodecyl dodecylphosphonate, octadecyl phosphonate, octadecyl phosphonate, octadecylphiode, octadecylphosphonate neodymium oleyl oleyl phosphonate, neodymium phenyl phenylphosphonate, (p-nonylphenyl) (p-nonylphenyl) neodymium phosphonate, butyl (2-ethylhexyl) phosphonate Neodymium, neodymium (2-ethylhexyl) butylphosphonate, (1- methylheptyl) (2-ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphonate, (2-ethylhexyl) (l-methylheptyl) neodymium phosphonate, (2-ethylhexyl) (p-nonylphenyl) phosphonate of neodymium and (p-nonylphenyl) (2-ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphonate.

Neodymium organophosphinates include neodymium butylphosphinate, neodymium pentylphosphinate, neodymium hexylphosphinate, neodymium heptylphosphinate, neodymium octylphosphinate, (2-methylheptyl) neodymium phosphinate, (2-ethylhexyl dothiodeodiophiodeodiode phosphonate, nephymodiodeodiophiodethiodephiodetate phosphate , neodymium octadecylphosphinate, neodymium oleyl phosphinate, neodymium phenylphosphinate, (p-nonylphenyl) neodymium phosphinate, neodymium dibutylphosphinate, neodymium dipentyl phosphinate, neodymium dihexylphosphinate, nephthiophthiophthylate, nephthiophthiophthylate, neodymium dihydrophosphate Neodymium, neodymium bis (2-ethylhexyl) phosphinate, neodymium didecylphosphinate, neodymium didodecylphosphinate, neodymium dioctadecylphosphinate, neodymium dioleylphosphinate, neodymium diphenylphosphinate, bis (p-nonylphenyl) phosphinate dephosphate (3) Neodymium, (1-methylheptyl) (2- ethylhexyl) neodymium phosphinate and (2-ethylhexyl) (p-nonylphenyl) fosfi born of neodymium.

Neodymium carbamates include neodymium dimethylcarbamate, neodymium diethylcarbamate, neodymium diisopropylcarbamate, neodymium dibutylcarbamate and neodymium dibenzylcarbamate.

Neodymium dithiocarbamates include neodymium dimethyldithiocarbamate, neodymium diethyldithiocarbamate, neodymium diisopropyldithiocarbamate, neodymium dibutyldithiocarbamate and neodymium dibenzyldithiocarbamate.

Neodymium xanthates include neodymium methylxantate, neodymium ethylxantate, neodymium isopropylxantate, neodymium butylxantate, and neodymium benzylxantate.

Neodymium p-diketonates include neodymium acetylacetonate, neodymium trifluoroacetylacetonate, neodymium hexafluoroacetylacetonate, neodymium benzoylacetonate and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate neodymium.

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Neodymium alkoxides or aryloxides include neodymium methoxide, neodymium ethoxide, neodymium isopropoxide, neodymium 2-ethylhexoxide, neodymium phenoxide, neodymium nonylphenoxide and neodymium naphthoxide.

Neodymium halides include neodymium fluoride, neodymium chloride, neodymium bromide and neodymium iodide. Suitable neodymium pseudohalides include neodymium cyanide, neodymium cyanate, neodymium thiocyanate, neodymium azide and neodymium ferrocyanide. Suitable neodymium oxyhalides include neodymium oxyfluoride, neodymium oxychloride and neodymium oxybromide. When neodymium halides, neodymium oxyhalides and other neodymium compounds containing labile halogen atoms are employed, the neodymium-containing compound can also act as a halogen-containing compound. A Lewis base, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), can be used as an adjuvant for the solubilization of this class of neodymium compounds in inert organic solvents.

The term "organolantanide compound" may refer to any lanthanide compound that contains at least one lanthanide-carbon bond. Such compounds predominantly, but not exclusively, those containing cyclopentadienyl (Cp), substituted cyclopentadienyl, allyl and substituted allyl ligands. Suitable organolantanide compounds include CpaLn, Cp2LnR, Cp2LnCl, CpLnCh, CpLn (cyclooctatetraen), (CsMes ^ LnR, LnR3, Ln (allyl) 3 and Ln (allyl) 2Cl, where Ln represents a lanthanide atom and R represents a group .

Various alkylating agents, or mixtures thereof, can be used. Alkylating agents, which may also be referred to as hydrocarbilating agents, include organometallic compounds that can transfer hydrocarbyl groups to another metal. Typically, these agents include organometallic compounds of electropositive metals such as Group 1, 2 and 3 metals (Group IA, IIA and IIIA metals). In one or more embodiments, alkylating agents include organoaluminum and organomagnesium compounds. If the alkylating agent includes a labile halogen atom, the alkylating agent can also serve as a halogenated compound.

The term "organoaluminum compound" may refer to any aluminum compound that contains at least one aluminum-carbon bond. In one or more embodiments, the organoaluminum compounds may be soluble in a hydrocarbon solvent.

In one or more embodiments, the organoaluminum compounds include those represented by the formula AlRnX3-n, where each R, which may be the same or different, is a monovalent organic group that binds to the aluminum atom through an atom of carbon, where each X, which may be the same or different, is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a carboxylate group, an alkoxy group or an aryloxide group, and where n is an integer from 1 to 3. In One or more embodiments, the monovalent organic groups may include hydrocarbyl groups such as, but not limited to, alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, allyl and alkynyl groups. These hydrocarbyl groups may contain heteroatoms such as, but not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen, boron, silicon, sulfur, stannous and phosphorus atoms.

Types of organoaluminum compounds represented by the AlRnX3-n formulated include trihydrocarbylaluminum compounds, hydride dihydrocarbylaluminum dihydride hydrocarbyl, carboxylate dihydride, bis (carboxylate) hydrocarbyl, dihydrocarbylaluminum alkoxide, hydrocarbylaluminum dialkoxide, halide dihydride, dihalide of hydrocarbylaluminum, dihydrocarbyl aluminum aryloxide and hydrocarbylaluminium diaryloxide.

The trihydrocarbonylaluminum compounds include trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-propylaluminum, triisopropyl aluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, tri-t-butylaluminum, tri-n-pentylaluminum, trineopentylaluminum, tri-numinyl-octyl-tri-numinyl, tri-n-aluminum-tri-numinyl, tri-n-aluminum-tri-numinyl, tri-n-aluminum-tri-numinyl, tri-n-n-yluminium , tris (2-ethylhexyl) aluminum, tricyclohexylaluminum, tris (1-methylcyclopentyl) aluminum, triphenylaluminum, tri-p-tolylaluminum, tris (2,6-dimethylphenyl) aluminum, tribenzylaluminum, diethylphenylaluminum, diethyl-p-tolylaluminyl, diethylbenzylaluminum, diethylbenzylaluminum , ethyldi-p-tolylaluminum and ethyldibenzylaluminum.

Compounds of dihydrocarbyl aluminum hydride include diethyl aluminum hydride, di-n-propyl aluminum hydride, diisopropyl aluminum hydride, di-n-butyl aluminum hydride, diisobutylaluminum hydride, di-n-octylaluminium dihydride, dihydride dihydride -p-tolylaluminum, dibenzylaluminium hydride, phenylethylaluminium hydride, phenyl-n-propylaluminum hydride, phenylisopropyl aluminum hydride, phenyl-n-butylaluminum hydride, phenylisobutylaluminum hydride, phenyl-nyl-ethyl-aluminum hydride , p-tolyl-n-propylaluminum hydride, p-tolylisopropyl aluminum hydride, p-tolyl-n-butylaluminium hydride, p-tolylisobutylaluminum hydride, p-tolyl-n-octylaluminum hydride, benzylethyl aluminum hydride, benzyl aluminum hydride, -n-propylaluminum, benzylisopropyl aluminum hydride, benzyl-n-butylaluminium hydride, benzyl isobutyl aluminum hydride, benzyl-n-butyl aluminum hydride.

The hydrocarbuminium dihydride compounds include ethylaluminum dihydride, n-propylaluminum dihydride, isopropyl aluminum dihydride, n-butyl aluminum dihydride, isobutylaluminum dihydride and n-octylaluminum dihydride.

The dihydrocarbyl aluminum halide compounds include diethyl aluminum chloride, di-n-propyl aluminum chloride, diisopropyl aluminum chloride, di-n-butyl aluminum chloride, diisobutyl aluminum chloride, di-n-octylaluminium chloride, diphenylaluminium chloride, di chloride -p-tolylaluminum, dibenzylaluminium chloride, phenylethylaluminium chloride, chloride

of phenyl-n-propylaluminum, phenylisopropyl aluminum chloride, phenyl-n-butyl aluminum chloride, phenylisobutylaluminum chloride, phenyl-n-octylaluminum chloride, p-tolylethyl aluminum chloride, p-tolyl-n-propyl aluminum chloride, p chloride -tolylisopropyl aluminum, p-tolyl-n-butylaluminium chloride, p-tolylisobutylaluminum chloride, p-tolyl-n-octylaluminium chloride, benzylethyl aluminum chloride, benzyl-n-propyl aluminum chloride, benzylisopropyl aluminum chloride, 5 benzyl chloride n-butylaluminum, benzyl isobutyl aluminum chloride and benzyl-n-octylaluminium chloride.

Hydrocarbuminium dihalide compounds include ethyl aluminum dichloride, n-propyl aluminum dichloride, isopropyl aluminum dichloride, n-butyl aluminum dichloride, isobutyl aluminum dichloride and n-octyl aluminum dichloride.

Other organoaluminium compounds represented by the formula AlRnX3-n include dimethylaluminum hexanoate, diethylaluminum octoate, diisobutylaluminum 2-ethylhexanoate, dimethylaluminum neodecanoate, diethylaluminum stearate, diisobutylaluminum oleate, bis (hexanolatoate) bis (hexanolate) of ethylaluminum, bis (2- ethylhexanoate) of isobutylaluminum, bis (neodecanoate) of methylaluminum, bis (stearate) of ethylaluminum, bis (oleate) of isobutylaluminum, dimethylaluminium methoxide, diethylaluminium methoxide, diisobutylaluminium dimethoxide, ethoxylaluminum, ethoxide of diethylaluminum, diisobutylaluminum ethoxide, dimethylaluminium phenoxide, diethylaluminium phenoxide, diisobutylaluminum phenoxide, methylaluminium dimethoxide, ethylaluminum dimethoxide, isobutylaluminum dimethoxide, methylaluminium diphenyl, diethyloxyuminum, methoxyuminum, diethoxy aluminum oxide isobutyl ethylaluminum and diphenoxide aluminum.

Another class of organoaluminum compounds includes aluminoxanes. Aluminoxanes include oligomeric linear aluminoxanes that can be represented by the general formula:

image 1

20 and oligomeric cyclic aluminoxanes that can be represented by the general formula:

LfAI-ofJ

v I ‘and

R1

where x can be an integer from 1 to about 100 and, in other embodiments, from about 10 to about 50; and it can be an integer from 2 to about 100 and, in other embodiments, from about 3 to about 20; and where each R1, which may be the same or different, may be a monovalent organic group that is attached to the aluminum atom through a carbon atom. Organic monovalent groups have been defined hereinbefore. It should be noted that the number of moles of aluminoxane, as used in this application, refers to the number of moles of aluminum atoms and not the number of moles of oligomeric aluminoxane molecules. This convention is commonly used in the catalysis technique that uses aluminoxanes.

The aluminoxanes can be prepared by reacting trihydrocarbyl aluminum compounds with water. This reaction can be carried out according to known methods, for example, (1) a method in which the trihydrocarbonylaluminum compound can be dissolved in an organic solvent and then comes into contact with water, (2) a method in which the trihydrocarbyl aluminum compound can be reacted with the crystallization water contained in, for example, metal salts or water adsorbed in inorganic or organic compounds, and (3) a method in which the trihydrocarbyl aluminum compound can be reacted with water in presence of the monomer or of the monomeric solution to be polymerized.

Aluminoxane compounds include methylaluminoxane (MAO), modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), ethylaluminoxane, n-propylaluminoxane, isopropylaluminoxane, butylaluminoxane, isobutylaluminoxane, n- pentylaluminoxane, neopentylaluminoxane, n-hexylaluminoxane, n-octylaluminoxane, 2-ethylhexylaluminoxane, 40 ciclohexilaluminoxano 1 -methylcyclopentylaluminoxane, phenylaluminoxane and 2,6-dimethylphenylaluminoxane. The modified methylaluminoxane can be formed by replacing approximately 20-80% of the methyl groups of methylaluminoxane with C2 to C12 hydrocarbyl groups, preferably with isobutyl groups, using techniques known to those skilled in the art.

Aluminoxanes can be used alone or in combination with other organoaluminum compounds. In one embodiment, methylaluminoxane and at least one other organoaluminum compound (for example, AlRnX3-n), such as diisobutyl aluminum hydride, are used in combination.

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The term "organomagnesium compound" may refer to any magnesium compound that contains at least one magnesium-carbon bond. Organomagnesium compounds can be soluble in a hydrocarbon solvent. A class of organomagnesium compounds that can be used can be represented by the formula MgR2, where each R, which can be the same or different, is a monovalent organic group, with the proviso that the group is attached to the magnesium atom at through a carbon atom. In one or more embodiments, each R may be a hydrocarbyl group and the resulting organomagnesium compounds are dihydrocarbylmagnesium compounds. Examples of the hydrocarbyl groups include, but are not limited to, alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, substituted aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl and alkynyl groups. These hydrocarbyl groups may contain heteroatoms such as, but not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, sulfur, tin and phosphorus atoms.

Examples of suitable dihydrocarbylmagnesium compounds include diethylmagnesium, di-n-propylmagnesium, diisopropylmagnesium, dibutylmagnesium, dihexyl magnesium, diphenylmagnesium and dibenzyl magnesium.

Another class of organomagnesium compounds that can be used include those that can be represented by the RMgX formula, where R is a monovalent organic group, with the proviso that the group is attached to the magnesium atom through a carbon atom, and X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a carboxylate group, an alkoxy group or an aryloxide group. Monovalent groups have been defined hereinbefore. In one or more embodiments, X is a carboxylate group, an alkoxy group, or an aryloxide group.

Illustrative types of organomagnesium compounds represented by the RMgX formula include hydrocarbyl magnesium hydride, hydrocarbylmagnesium halide, hydrocarbyl magnesium carboxylate, hydrocarbyl magnesium alkoxide and hydrocarbyl magnesium aryloxide.

Specific examples of organometallic compounds represented by the RMgX formula include methyl magnesium hydride, ethyl magnesium hydride, butyl magnesium hydride, hexyl magnesium hydride, hydride

Phenylmagnesium, benzylmagnesium hydride, methylmagnesium chloride, ethylmagnesium chloride, butylmagnesium chloride, hexylmagnesium chloride, phenylmagnesium chloride, benzylmagnesium chloride,

methylmagnesium, ethylmagnesium bromide, butylmagnesium bromide, hexylmagnesium bromide,

Phenylmagnesium, benzylmagnesium bromide, methylmagnesium bromide, ethylmagnesium hexanoate, butylmagnesium hexanoate, hexylmagnesium hexanoate, phenylmagnesium hexanoate, benzylmagnesium hexanoate, methylmagnesium ethoxide, ethylmagnesium ethoxide, ethioxide oxide

phenylmagnesium, benzylmagnesium ethoxide, methylmagnesium ethoxide, ethylmagnesium phenoxide, butylmagnesium phenoxide, hexylmagnesium phenoxide, phenylmagnesium phenoxide and benzylmagnesium phenoxide.

Various compounds containing halogen, or mixtures thereof, containing one or more halogen-labile atoms can be used. Examples of halogen atoms include, but are not limited to, fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. A combination of two or more compounds containing halogen atoms having different halogen atoms can also be used. In one or more embodiments, the halogen-containing compounds may be soluble in a hydrocarbon solvent. In other embodiments, hydrocarbon-insoluble halogen-containing compounds, which can be suspended in the polymerization medium to form catalytically active species, may be useful.

Useful types of halogen-containing compounds include elemental halogens, mixed halogens, hydrogen halides, organic halides, inorganic halides, metal halides and organometallic halides.

Elemental halogens include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Mixed halogens include iodine monochloride, iodine monobromide, iodine trichloride and iodine pentafluoride.

Hydrogen halides include hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide and hydrogen iodide.

Organic halides include t-butyl chloride, t-butyl bromides, allyl chloride, allyl bromide, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide, chloro-di-phenylmethane, bromo-di-phenylmethane, triphenylmethyl chloride, triphenylmethyl bromide, benzylidene chloride, benzylidene bromide, methyltrichlorosilane, phenyltrichlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, diphenyl dichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane, benzoflo chloride, benzoflo bromide, propionyl chloride, methyl prophethyl bromide, methyl chlorophyll.

Inorganic halides include phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus tribromide, phosphorus pentachloride, phosphorus oxychloride, phosphorus oxychloride, boron trifluoride, boron trichloride, boron tribromide, silicon tetrafluoride, silicon tetrachloride, silicon tetrabromide, silicon tetrabromide, silicon tetrabromide silicon, arsenic trichloride, arsenic tribromide, arsenic triiodide, selenium tetrachloride, selenium tetrabromide, tellurium tetrachloride, tellurium tetrabromide and tellurium tetraiodide.

Metal halides include tin tetrachloride, tin tetrabromide, aluminum trichloride, aluminum tribromide, antimony trichloride, antimony pentachloride, antimony tribromide, aluminum triiodide, aluminum trifluoride, gallium trichloride, gallium tribromide, gallium, gallium trifluoride, trichloride

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indium, indium tribromide, indium triiodide, indium trifluoride, titanium tetrachloride, titanium tetrabromide, titanium tetraiodide, zinc dichloride, zinc dibromide, zinc diiodide and zinc difluoride.

Organometallic halides include dimethylaluminium chloride, diethylaluminium chloride, dimethylaluminum bromide, diethylaluminum bromide, dimethylaluminium fluoride, diethylaluminium fluoride, dichloride

methylaluminum, ethylaluminium dichloride, methylaluminum dibromide, ethylaluminum dibromide, difluoride

methylaluminum, ethylaluminium difluoride, methylaluminum sesquichloride, ethylaluminum sesquichloride, isobutylaluminum sesquichloride, methylmagnesium chloride, methylmagnesium bromide, methylmagnesium iodide, ethylmagnesium chloride, ethyl magnesium bromide, butyl magnesium bromide

phenylmagnesium, phenylmagnesium bromide, benzylmagnesium chloride, trimethyl methane chloride,

trimethyl ethane, triethyl ethane chloride, triethyl ethane bromide, di-t-butyl ethane chloride, di-t-butyl ethane dibromide, dibutyl ethane dichloride, dibutyl ethane dibromide, tributyl ethane

Tributylethane

Compounds containing non-coordinating anions are known in the art. In general, non-coordinating anions are sterically bulky anions that do not form coordinated bonds with, for example, the active center of a catalyst system, due to the steric hindrance. Illustrative non-coordinating anions include tetraarylborate anions and fluorinated tetraarylborate anions. Compounds containing a non-coordinating anion also contain a contracation such as, for example, a cation carbonium, ammonium or phosphonium. Illustrative contracations include triarylcarbonium cations and N, N-dialkylanilinium cations. Examples of compounds containing a non-coordinating anion and a contracation include triphenylcarbonium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) borate, N, N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis, tetrakis [3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl] triphenylcarbonium borate, and N, N-dimethylanilinium tetrakis [3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl] borate.

Non-coordinating anion precursors include compounds that can form a non-coordinating anion under reaction conditions. Illustrative non-coordinating anion precursors include triarylboro compounds, BR3, where R is a strong electron acceptor aryl group such as a pentafluorophenyl or 3,5-bis (trifluoromethyl) phenyl group.

The lanthanide-based catalyst composition used in this invention can be formed by combining or mixing the above catalyst ingredients. Although it is believed that from this combination of the lanthanide-based catalyst ingredients one or more active catalyst species are formed, the degree of interaction or reaction between the various ingredients or components of the catalyst is not known with a high degree of certainty. . Therefore, the term "catalyst composition" has been used to encompass a simple mixture of the ingredients, a complex of the various ingredients formed by physical or chemical forces of attraction, a chemical reaction product of the ingredients or a combination of the above.

The above lanthanide-based catalyst composition may exhibit a high catalytic activity for the polymerization of conjugated dienes in cis-1,4-polydiene with a wide range of catalyst concentrations and catalyst ingredient ratios. There are several factors that can influence the optimal concentration of any of the catalyst ingredients. For example, since the catalyst ingredients can interact to form an active species, the optimal concentration of any catalyst ingredient may depend on the concentrations of the other catalyst ingredients.

In one or more embodiments, the molar ratio of the alkylating agent to the lanthanide compound (alkylating agent / Ln) may range from 1: 1 to about 1,000: 1, in other embodiments from about 2: 1 to 500: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 5: 1 to about 200: 1.

In embodiments in which both an aluminoxane and at least one other organoaluminum agent are used as alkylating agents, the molar ratio of the aluminoxane to the lanthanide compound (aluminoxane / Ln) may range from 5: 1 to about 1,000: 1, in others embodiments from about 10: 1 to about 700: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 20: 1 to about 500: 1; and the molar ratio of at least one organoaluminum compound to the lanthanide compound (Al / Ln) may range from about 1: 1 to about 200: 1, in other embodiments from about 2: 1 to about 150: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 5: 1 to about 100: 1.

The molar ratio of the halogen-containing compound to the lanthanide compound is optimally described in terms of the ratio of the moles of halogen atoms in the halogen-containing compound to the moles of lanthanide atoms in the lanthanide compound (halogen / Ln). In one or more embodiments, the halogen / Ln molar ratio may range from about 0.5: 1 to about 20: 1, in other embodiments from about 1: 1 to about 10: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 2: 1 to about 6: 1.

In another embodiment, the molar ratio of the non-coordinating anion or non-coordinating anion precursor to the lanthanide compound (An / Ln) may range from about 0.5: 1 to about 20: 1, in other embodiments of about 0.75: 1 to about 10: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 1: 1 to about 6: 1.

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The lanthanide-based catalyst composition can be obtained by various methods.

In one embodiment, the lanthanide-based catalyst composition can be formed in situ by adding the catalyst ingredients to a solution containing monomer and solvent, or bulk monomer, either gradually or simultaneously. In one embodiment, the alkylating agent may be added first, followed by the lanthanide compound, and then followed by the halogen-containing compound, if used, or the compound containing a non-coordinating anion or the non-coordinating anion precursor.

In another embodiment, the lanthanide-based catalyst composition can be previously formed. That is, the catalyst ingredients can be pre-mixed outside the polymerization system either in the absence of any monomer or in the presence of a small amount of at least one conjugated diene monomer at a suitable temperature, which can be approximately -20 ° C to approximately 80 ° C. The amount of conjugated diene monomer that can be used to previously form the catalyst may range from about 1 to about 500 moles, in other embodiments from about 5 to about 250 moles and, in other embodiments, from about 10 to about 100 moles per mole of the lanthanide compound. The resulting catalyst composition can be subjected to aging, if desired, before adding it to the monomer to be polymerized.

In yet another embodiment, the lanthanide-based catalyst composition can be formed using a two-stage process. The first step may comprise the combination of the alkylating agent with the lanthanide compound, either in the absence of any monomer or in the presence of a small amount of at least one conjugated diene monomer at an appropriate temperature, which may be approximately -20 ° C to approximately 80 ° C. The amount of monomer used in the first stage may be similar to that set forth above for obtaining the catalyst. In the second stage, the mixture formed in the first stage and the halogen-containing, non-coordinating anion or non-coordinating anion precursor can be added either gradually or simultaneously to the monomer to be polymerized.

In one or more embodiments, the reactive polymer is prepared by anionic polymerization, in which the monomer is polymerized using an anionic initiator. The key mechastic features of anionic polymerization have been described in several books (e.g., Hsieh, HL; Quirk, RP Anionic Polymerization: Principles and Practical Applications; Marcel Dekker: New York, 1996) and review articles (p. eg, Hadjichristidis, N .; Pitsikalis, M .; Pispas, S .; latrou, H .; Chem. Rev. 2001, 101 (12), 3747-3792). Anionic initiators can advantageously produce live polymers that, before cooling, are capable of reacting with additional monomers for further chain growth or reacting with certain functionalizing agents to give functionalized polynomers.

The practice of this invention is not limited by the selection of any of the particular anionic initiators. In one or more embodiments, the anionic initiator employed is a functional initiator that confers a functional group at the head of the polymer chain (ie, the location from which the polymer chain starts). In particular embodiments, the functional group includes one or more heteroatoms (eg, nitrogen, oxygen, boron, silicon, sulfur, stannous and phosphorus atoms) or heterocyclic groups. In certain embodiments, the functional group reduces the loss of 50 ° C hysteresis of carbon black-loaded vulcanization products prepared from polymers containing the functional group compared to similar carbon black-loaded vulcanization products prepared to from polymer that does not include the functional group.

Exemplary anionic initiators include organolithium compounds. In one or more embodiments, the organolithium compounds may include heteroatoms. In these or other embodiments, the organolithium compounds may include one or more heterodical groups.

Types of organolithium compounds include alkyl lithium compound, arillitium and cycloalkyl lithium compounds. Specific examples of organolithium compounds include ethyllithium, n-propyllithium, isopropylthio, n-butyllithium, sec-butyllithium, t-butyllithium, n-amyllithium, isoamyllithium and phenyllithium. Other examples include alkyl magnesium halide compounds, such as butylmagnesium bromide and phenylmagnesium bromide. Other anionic initiators include organosodium compounds, such as phenylsodium and 2,4,6-trimethylphenylsodium. Also contemplated are those anionic initiators that give rise to di-active polymers, where both ends of a polymer chain are active. Examples of such initiators include dilithium initiators, such as those prepared by reacting 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene with sec-butyllithium. These and related difunctional initiators are disclosed in US Patent 3,652,516, incorporated herein by reference. Anionic radical initiators can also be employed, including those described in US Pat. No. 5,552,483, incorporated herein by reference.

In particular embodiments, organolithium compounds include a compound containing cyclic amine, such as lithium hexamethyleneimine. These and related useful difunctional initiators are disclosed in patents US-5,332,810, US-5,329,005, US-5,578,542, US-5,393,721, US-5,698,646, US-5,491,230, US-5,521 .309, US-5,496,940, US-5,574,109, and US-5,786,441 incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, the organolithium compounds include alkylthioacetals such as 2-lithium-2-methyl-1,3-dithian. These and related useful initiators are disclosed in US publication 2006/0030657, 2006/0264590 and 2006/0264589, incorporated by reference herein. In yet other embodiments, the organolithium compounds include initiators containing

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alkoxysilyl, such lithium comot-butyldimethylpropoxysilane. These and related useful initiators are disclosed in US publication 2006/0241241, incorporated by reference herein.

In one or more embodiments, the anionic initiator employed is a trialkyl ethanol compound, such as tri-n-butyl ethanol. These and related useful initiators are disclosed in patents US-3,426,006 and US-5,268,439, incorporated by reference herein.

When elastomeric copolymers containing conjugated diene monomers and vinyl substituted aromatic monomers are prepared by anionic polymerization, conjugated diene monomers and aromatic vinyl containing monomers can be used at any weight ratio of 95: 5 to 50:50, or in other embodiments, from 90:10 to 65:35. To promote the randomization of copolymerization comonomers and to control the microstructure (such as 1,2 bond of conjugated diene monomer) of the polymer, a randomizer can be used, which is typically a polar coordinator, together with the anionic initiator.

Useful compounds as randomizers include those that have an oxygen or nitrogen heteroatom and an unbound pair of electrons. Examples include linear and cyclic oligomeric oxoanyl alkanes; dialkyl ethers of mono and oligo alkylene glycols (also known as "glyme" ethers); "crown" ethers; tertiary amines; THF linear oligomers; and the like Linear and cyclic oligomeric oxoanyl alkanes are described in US Pat. No. 4,429,091, incorporated herein by reference. Specific examples of useful compounds as randomizers include 2,2-bis (2'-tetrahydrofuryl) propane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, N, N, N ', N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), tetrahydrofuran (THF), 1,2 -dipiperidylethane, dipiperidylmethane, hexamethylphosphoramide, N-N'-dimethylpiperazine, diazabicyclooctane, dimethyl ether, diethyl ether, tri-n-butylamine, and mixtures thereof.

The amount of randomizer to be used may depend on various factors, such as the desired microstructure of the polymer, the proportion of monomer with respect to comonomer, the polymerization temperature, as well as the nature of the specific randomizer used. In one or more embodiments, the amount of randomizer used may vary between 0.05 and 100 moles per mole of the anionic initiator.

The anionic initiator and the randomizer can be introduced into the polymerization system by various methods. In one or more embodiments, the anionic initiator and the randomizer may be added separately to the monomer that is to be polymerized in a stepwise or simultaneous manner. In other embodiments, the anionic initiator and the randomizer can be premixed outside the polymerization system both in the absence of any monomer and in the presence of a small amount of monomer and the resulting mixture can be matured, if desired, and then added to the monomer that is It will polymerize.

Regardless of whether the reactive polymer is prepared using a coordination catalyst or an anionic initiator, in one or more embodiments, a solvent can be used as a vehicle both to dissolve and to suspend the catalyst or initiator in order to facilitate the release of the catalyst or initiator. in the polymerization system. In other embodiments, monomer can be used as a catalyst. In yet other embodiments, the catalyst or initiator can be used in its pure state without any solvent.

In one or more embodiments, suitable solvents include organic compounds that do not undergo polymerization or incorporation into polymer chains that propagate during polymerization of monomer in the presence of the catalyst or initiator. In one or more embodiments, said organic species are liquid at ambient temperature and pressure. In one or more embodiments, these organic solvents are inert to the catalyst or initiator. Illustrative organic solvents include hydrocarbons with a low or relatively low boiling point such as aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons. Non-limiting examples of aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, diethylbenzene and mesitylene. Non-limiting examples of aliphatic hydrocarbons include n-pentane, n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, n-nonane, n-decane, isopentane, isohexanes, isopentanes, isooctanes, 2,2-dimethylbutane, petroleum ether, kerosene and light oil fractions. And non-limiting examples of cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons include cyclopentane, cyclohexane, methylcyclopentane and methylcyclohexane. Mixtures of the above hydrocarbons can also be used. As is known in the art, for environmental reasons it may be desirable to use aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons. Low-boiling hydrocarbon solvents are typically separated from the polymer after polymerization is complete.

Other examples of organic solvents include high boiling hydrocarbons of high molecular weight, such as paraffinic oil, aromatic oil or other hydrocarbon oils commonly used to increase the size of polymers with oil. Since these hydrocarbons are non-volatile, they typically do not require separation and remain incorporated in the polymer.

The production of the reactive polymer according to the present invention can be achieved by polymerizing monomers of conjugated dienes, optionally together with copolymerizable monomers with monomers of conjugated dienes, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst or an initiator. The introduction of the catalyst or initiator, the conjugated diene monomer, optionally the comonomer and any solvent, if used, forms a polymerization mixture in which the reactive polymer is formed. The amount of the catalyst or initiator to be used may depend on the interaction of various factors such as, for example, the type of catalyst or initiator used, the purity of the ingredients, the temperature of

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polymerization, the desired polymerization and conversion rate, the desired molecular weight and many other factors. Consequently, a specific amount of catalyst or initiator cannot be established except to say that catalytically effective amounts of catalyst or initiator can be used.

In one or more embodiments, when a coordination catalyst (e.g., a lanthanide-based catalyst) is used, the amount of coordinating metal compound (e.g., a lanthanide compound) used can be varied from about 0.001 to about 2 mmol, in other embodiments of about 0.005 to about 1 mmol and in other embodiments of about 0.01 to about 0.2 mmol per 100 grams of monomer.

In other embodiments, where an anionic initiator (e.g., an alkylthio compound) is used, the initiator charge may be varied from about 0.05 to about 100 mmol, in other embodiments from about 0.1 to about 50 mmol , and in other embodiments of about 0.2 to about 5 mmol per 100 grams of monomer.

In one or more embodiments, the polymerization can be carried out in a polymerization system that includes a substantial amount of solvent. In one embodiment, a solution polymerization system can be used, in which both the monomer to be polymerized and the polymer formed are soluble in the solvent. In another embodiment, a precipitation polymerization system can be used by choosing a solvent in which the polymer formed is insoluble. In both cases, a quantity of solvent is usually added to the polymerization system apart from the amount of solvent that can be used in preparing the catalyst or initiator. The additional solvent may be the same or different from the solvent used to prepare the catalyst or initiator. Previously, herein, illustrative solvents have been described. In one or more embodiments, the solvent content of the polymerization mixture may be greater than 20% by weight, for other embodiments greater than 50% by weight and, in other embodiments, greater than 80% by weight with respect to the total weight of the polymerization mixture.

In other embodiments, the polymerization system employed can generally be considered a bulk polymerization system that does not substantially include any solvent or a minimum amount of solvent. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the advantages of bulk polymerization processes (i.e., processes in which the monomer acts as a solvent) and, therefore, the polymerization system includes less solvent that negatively affects the desired advantages of carry out bulk polymerization. In one or more embodiments, the solvent content of the polymerization mixture may be less than about 20% by weight, in other embodiments less than about 10% by weight and, in other embodiments, less than about 5% by weight with respect to to the total weight of the polymerization mixture. In another embodiment, the polymerization mixture is substantially free of solvent, which means the absence of the amount of solvent that will have an appreciable effect on the polymerization process. It can also be said that polymerization systems that are substantially solvent free do not practically include solvent. In specific embodiments, the polymerization mixture is solvent free.

The polymerization can be carried out in any conventional polymerization vessels known in the art. In one or more embodiments, solution polymerization can be carried out in a conventional stirred tank reactor. In other embodiments, bulk polymerization can be carried out in a conventional stirred tank reactor, especially if the monomeric conversion is less than about 60%. In other embodiments, especially if the monomeric conversion in a bulk polymerization process is greater than about 60%, which typically results in a highly viscous cement, bulk polymerization can be carried out in an elongated reactor in the that the viscous cement that is polymerized is driven by piston, or substantially by piston. For example, extruders in which cement is injected by means of a single self-cleaning spindle or a double spindle agitator are suitable for this purpose. Examples of useful bulk polymerization processes are described in US Patent Publication Document num. 2005/0197474 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one or more embodiments, all the ingredients used for the polymerization can be combined in a single vessel (e.g., a conventional stirred tank reactor), and all stages of the polymerization process can be carried out within said vessel. . In other embodiments, two or more of the ingredients can be previously combined in one container and transferred to another container in which the polymerization of the monomer (or at least a majority of it) can be carried out.

The polymerization can be carried out as a batch process, a continuous process or a semi-continuous process. In the semi-continuous process, the monomer is intermittently charged as necessary to replace the already polymerized monomer. In one or more embodiments, the conditions under which polymerization continues can be controlled to maintain the temperature of the polymerization mixture in a range of from about -10 ° C to about 200 ° C, in other embodiments from about 0 ° C at about 150 ° C, and in other embodiments from about 20 ° C to about 100 ° C. In one or more embodiments, the heat of polymerization can be removed by external cooling by a thermally controlled reactor envelope, internal cooling by evaporation and condensation of the monomer through the use of a reflux condenser connected to the reactor, or a combination of the two methods. The polymerization conditions can also be controlled to lead to

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polymerization is carried out at a pressure of about 0.01 MPa to about 5.07 MPa (from 0.1 atmospheres to about 50 atmospheres), in other embodiments of about 0.05 MPa to about 2.03 MPa (of about 0, 5 atmospheres at about 20 atmospheres) and, in other embodiments, from about 0.1 MPa to about 1.01 MPa (from 1 atmosphere to about 10 atmospheres). In one or more embodiments, the pressures at which polymerization can be carried out include those that ensure that most of the monomer is in the liquid phase. In these or other embodiments, the polymerization mixture can be maintained under anaerobic conditions.

Regardless of whether the polymerization is catalyzed or initiated by a coordinating catalyst system (e.g., a lanthanide based system) or an anionic initiator (e.g., an alkylthyllium initiator), some or all of the resulting polymer chains they may have reactive ends before inactivating the polymerization mixture. As previously indicated, it can be said that the reactive polnriero is a pseudo-living polnriero in which a coordination catalyst is used or is a living polnriero when an anionic initiator is used. In one or more embodiments, it can be said that a polymerization mixture that includes reactive polymer is an active polymerization mixture. The percentage of polymer chains that possess a reactive end depends on various factors, such as the type of catalyst or initiator, the type of monomer, the purity of the ingredients, the polymerization temperature, the conversion of monomer and many others. factors. In one or more embodiments, at least about 20% of the polymer chains have a reactive end and, in other embodiments, at least about 50% of the polymer chains have a reactive end and, in other embodiments, at least about 80% of the polymer chains have a reactive end. In any case, the reactive polymer can be reacted with heterodical nitrile compounds or mixtures thereof to form the functionalized polymer of the present invention.

In one or more embodiments, the heterocyclic nitrile compounds include at least one -CeN group (ie, a cyano or nitrile group) and at least one heterodyl group. In specific embodiments, at least one cyano group is directly linked to a heterocyclic group. In these or other embodiments, at least one cyano group is indirectly linked to a heterocyclic group.

In one or more embodiments, the heterocyclic nitrile compounds may be represented by the formula, 0-CeN, wherein 0 represents a heterodyl group. In other embodiments, the heterodclic nitrile compounds can be represented by the formula 0-R-CeN, wherein 0 represents a heterodyl group and R represents a divalent organic group.

In one or more embodiments, the divalent organic groups may include hydrocarbylene groups or substituted hydrocarbylene groups such as, but not limited to, alkylene, cycloalkylene, substituted alkylene, substituted cycloalkylene, alkenylene, cycloalkenylene, substituted alkenylene, substituted cycloalkenylene, arylene and substituted arylene . In one or more embodiments, each group may contain 1 carbon atom, or the appropriate minimum number of carbon atoms to form the group, at approximately 20 carbon atoms. The substituted hydrocarbylene groups include a hydrocarbylene group in which one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl group. Divalent organic groups may also contain one or more heteroatoms such as, but not limited to, nitrogen, oxygen, boron, silicon, sulfur, stannous and phosphorus atoms.

In one or more embodiments, 0 may contain one or more additional cyano groups (ie, -CeN), whereby the heterodical nitrile compounds may contain two or more cyano groups. In these or other embodiments, the heterocyclic group may contain unsaturations and may be aromatic or non-aromatic. The heterodclic group may contain a heteroatom or multiple heteroatoms, whether identical or different. In specific embodiments, the heteroatoms can be selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, boron, silicon, tin and phosphorus atoms. The heterocyclic group may be monodyl, bidcyclic, tricyclic or multidyl.

In one or more embodiments, the heterocyclic group may be a substituted heterodyl group, which is a heterodyl group in which one or more hydrogen atoms of the heterocyclic ring have been substituted by a substituent such as, for example, a monovalent organic group. In one or more embodiments, monovalent organic groups may include hydrocarbyl groups or substituted hydrocarbyl groups such as, but not limited to, alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, substituted cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, substituted aryl groups , aralkyl, alkaryl or alkynyl groups. In one or more embodiments, said groups may include one, or the appropriate minimum number of carbon atoms to form the group, at 20 carbon atoms. These hydrocarbyl groups may contain heteroatoms such as, but not limited to, nitrogen, boron, oxygen, silicon, sulfur and phosphorus atoms.

Representative examples of heterodclic groups containing one or more nitrogen heteroatoms include the 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, pyrazinyl, 2-pyrimidinyl, 4-pyrimidinyl, 5-pyrimidinyl, 3-pyridazinyl, 4-pyridazinyl groups, N-methyl-2-pyrrolyl, N-methyl-3-pyrrolyl, N-methyl-2-imidazolyl, N-methyl-4-imidazolyl, N-methyl-5-imidazolyl, N-methyl-3-pyrazolyl, N- methyl-4-pyrazolyl, N-methyl-5-pyrazolyl, N-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl, N-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl, N-methyl- 1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl, 1,2,4-triazin-3-yl, 1,2,4-triazin-5- yl, 1,2,4-triazin-6-yl, 1,3,5-triazinyl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-2-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-3-yl, N-methyl- 2-pyrrolin-4-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-5-yl, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-yl, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-3-yl, N-methyl-

2-imidazolin-2-yl, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-4-yl, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-5-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-3-yl, N-methyl-2- pyrazolin-4-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-5-yl, 2-quinolyl, 3-quinolyl, 4-quinolyl, 1-isoquinolyl, 3-isoquinolyl, 4-isoquinolyl, N-methylindole-2-yl, N-methylindole-3-yl, N-methylisoindole-1-yl, N-methylisoindole-3-yl, 1-indolizinyl, 2-indolizinyl, 3-indolizinyl, 1-phthalazinyl, 2- quinazolinyl, 4-quinazolinyl, 2- quinoxalinyl, 3-cinolinyl, 4-cinolinyl, 1-methylindazol-3-yl, 1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl, 1,5-

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naphthyridin-3-yl, 1,5-naphthyridin-4-yl, 1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl, 1,8-naphthyridin-3-yl, 1,8-naphthyridin-4-yl, 2-pteridinyl, 4-pteridinyl, 6- pteridinyl, 7-pteridinyl, 1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl, 6-phenanthridinyl, N-methyl-2-purinyl, N-methyl-6-purinyl, N-methyl-8-purinyl, N- methyl-p-carbolin-1-yl, N-methyl-p-carbolin-3-yl, N-methyl-p-carbolin-4-yl, 9-acridinyl, 1,7-phenanthrin-2-yl, 1, 7- fenantrolin-3-yl, 1,7-phenanttrolin-4-yl, 1, 10-phenanthirolin-2-yl, 1,10-phenanthrin-3-yl, 1,10-phenanthrin-4-yl, 4, 7-Phenatrolin-1- yl, 4,7-phenatrolin-2-yl, 4,7-phenatrolin-3-yl, 1-phenazinyl, 2-phenazinyl, pyrrolidino and piperidino.

Representative examples of heterodclic groups containing one or more oxygen heteroatoms include the 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-benzo [b] furyl, 3-benzo [b] furyl, 1-isobenzo [b] furyl groups, 3-isobenzo [b] furyl, 2-naphtho [2,3- b] furyl and 3-naphtho [2,3-b] furyl.

Representative examples of heterodclic groups containing one or more sulfur heteroatoms include the 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-benzo [b] thienyl, 3-benzo [b] thienyl, 1-isobenzo [b] thienyl, 3- groups isobenzo [b] thienyl, 2- naphtho [2,3-b] thienyl and 3-naphto [2,3-b] thienyl.

Representative examples of heterodclic groups containing two or more different heteroatoms include the 2-oxazolyl, 4-oxazolyl, 5-oxazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl groups ,

3-isothiazolyl, 4-isothiazolyl, 5-isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-4-yl, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-5-yl, 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl, 1, 2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl, 2-oxazolin-2-yl, 2-oxazolin-4-yl, 2-oxazolin-5-yl, 3- isoxazolinyl, 4-isoxazolinyl, 5-isoxazolinyl, 2-thiazolin-2-yl, 2-thiazolin-4-yl, 2-thiazolin-5-yl, 3-isothiazolinyl, 4- isothiazolinyl, 5-isothiazolinyl, 2-benzothiazolyl and morpholino.

Representative examples of heterodcrylic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-CeN, wherein 0 contains one or more nitrogen heteroatoms, include 2-pyridinecarbonitrile, 3-pyridinecarbonitrile, 4-pyridinecarbonitrile, pyrazinecarbonitrile,

2- pyrimidinecarbonitrile, 4-pyrimidinecarbonitrile, 5-pyrimidinecarbonitrile, 3-pyridazinecarbonitrile, 4-pyridazinecarbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imyl-4- methyl imidazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-5- imidazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-4-pyrazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-5-pyrazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-5-carbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-5- carbonitrile, 1, 2,4-Triazin-3-carbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-5-carbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-6-carbonitrile, 1,3,5-triazinecarbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin- 2-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-5-carbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2- carbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-2-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-5-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-3-carboni trile, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2- pyrazolin-5-carbonitrile, 2-quinolinecarbonitrile, 3-quinolinecarbonitrile, 4-quinolinecarbonitrile, 1-isoquinolincarbonitrile, 3- isoquinolincarbonitrile, 4-isoquinolincarbonitrile, N-methylindole-2-carbonitrile, N-methylindole-3-carbonitrile, N-methylisoindol-1- carbonitrile, N-methylisoindol-3-carbonitrile, 1-indolizincarbonitrile, 2-indolizincarbonitrile, 3-indolizincarbonitrile, 1- phthalazylcarbonyl, 1- phthalazylcarbonitrile, 1- phthalazitrile, 1- phthalazitrile, 1- phthalazitrile, 1- phthalazitrile, 1- phthalazitrile, 1- phthalazitrile, 1- phthalazitrile quinazolincarbonitrile, 4-quinazolincarbonitrile, 2-quinoxalincarbonitrile, 3-cinolincarbonitrile, 4- cinolincarbonitrile, 1-methylindazol-3-carbonitrile, 1,5-naphthyridine-2-carbonitrile, 1,5-naphthyridine-1,5-carbonitrile naphthyridin-4-carbonitrile, 1,8-naphthyridin-2-carbonitrile, 1,8-naphthyridin-3-carbonitrile, 1,8-naphthyridin-4-carbonitrile, 2-pteridinecarbonitrile, 4- pteridinecarbonitrile, 6-pteridinecarbonitrile, 7- pteridinecarbonitrile, 1-methylbenzimidazol-2-carbonitrile, phenanthridin-6-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-purincarbonitrile, N-methyl-6- purincarbonitrile, N-methyl-8-purincarbonitrile, N-methyl-p-carbolin-1-carbonitrile, N-methyl-p-carbolin-3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-p-carbolin-4-carbonitrile, 9-acridincarbonitrile, 1,7-fenantrolin-2-carbonitrile, 1,7-phenanttrolin-

3- carbonitrile, 1,7-phenanttrolin-4-carbonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrin-2-carbonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrinin-3-carbonitrile, 1,10-phenantholine-4-carbonitrile, 4,7-phenanthtrolin- 1-carbonitrile, 4,7-phenanthrin-2-carbonitrile, 4,7-phenanthrin-3-carbonitrile, 1-phenazincarbonitrile, 2-phenazincarbonitrile, 1-pyrrolidinecarbonitrile and 1-piperidinecarbonitrile.

Representative examples of heterodclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-CeN, where 0 contains one or more oxygen heteroatoms, include 2-furylonitrile, 3-furylonitrile 2-benzo [b] furancarbonitrile, 3- benzo [b] furancarbonitrile, isobenzo [b] furan-1-carbonitrile, isobenzo [b] furan-3-carbonitrile, naphtho [2,3-b] furan-2-carbonitrile and naphtho [2,3-b] furan-3-carbonitrile.

Representative examples of heterodclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-CeN, where 0 contains one or more sulfur heteroatoms, include 2-thiophenecarbonitrile, 3-thiophenecarbonitrile, benzo [b] thiophene-2-carbonitrile, benzo [b] thiophene- 3-carbonitrile, isobenzo [b] thiophene-1-carbonitrile, isobenzo [b] thiophene-3-carbonitrile, naphtho [2,3-b] thiophene-2-carbonitrile and naphtho [2,3-b] thiophene-3- carbonitrile

Representative examples of heterodical nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-CeN, where 0 contains two or more different heteroatoms, include 2-oxazolcarbonitrile, 4-oxazolcarbonitrile, 5-oxazolcarbonitrile, 3-isoxazolcarbonitrile,

4- isoxazolcarbonitrile, 5-isoxazolcarbonitrile, 2-thiazolcarbonitrile, 4-thiazolcarbonitrile, 5-thiazolcarbonitrile, 3- isothiazolcarbonitrile, 4-isothiazolcarbonitrile, 5-isothiazolcarbonitrile, 1,2,3-oxadiazole-4-carbonyl oxadiazol-5- carbonitrile, 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-carbonitrile, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-carbonitrile, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-carbonitrile, 1,3,4-thiadiazole- 2- carbonitrile, 2-oxazolin-2-carbonitrile, 2-oxazolin-4-carbonitrile, 2-oxazolin-5-carbonitrile, 3-isoxazolincarbonitrile, 4- isoxazolincarbonitrile, 5-isoxazolincarbonitrile, 2-thiazolin-2-carbonitrile thiazolin-4-carbonitrile, 2-thiazolin-5-carbonitrile, 3- isothiazolincarbonitrile, 4-isothiazolincarbonitrile, 5-isothiazolincarbonitrile, benzothiazol-2-carbonitrile and 4-morpholincarbonitrile.

Representative examples of heterodclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-CeN, where 0 contains one or more cyano groups include 2,3-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,4-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,5-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,6-pyridindicarbonitrile, 3, 4-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,4-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 2,5-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 4,5-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 4,6-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 2,3-pyrazindicarbonitrile, 2,5-pyrazindicarbonitrile, 2,6-pyrazindicarbonitrile, 2,3- furandicarbonitrile, 2,4-

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furandicarbonitrile, 2,5-furandicarbonitrile, 2,3-thiophenedicarbonitrile, 2,4-thiophenedicarbonitrile, 2,5-thiophenedicarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,3-pyroldicarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,4-pyroldicarbonitrile, N-methyl 2,5-pyrroldicarbonitrile, 1,3,5-triazin-2,4-dicarbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-3,5-dicarbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-3,6-dicarbonitrile, 2, 3,4-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,3,5-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,3,6-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,4,5-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,4,6-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 3,4,5-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,4, 5- pyrimidintricarbonitrile, 2,4,6-pyrimidintricarbonitrile, 4,5,6-pyrimidintricarbonitrile, pyrazintricarbonitrile, 2,3,4- furantricarbonitrile, 2,3,5-furantricarbonitrile, 2,3,4-thiophenetricarbonitrile, 2,3, 5-thiophenetricarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,4-pyrroltricarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,5-pyrroltricarbonitrile, 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-tricarbonitrile and 1,2,4- triazin-3,5,6-tricarbonitrile.

Representative examples of heterodclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-R-CeN, where 0 contains one or more nitrogen heteroatoms, include 2-pyridyl acetonitrile, 3-pyridylacetonitrile, 4-pyridylacetonitrile, pyrazinyl acetonitrile, 2-pyrimidinylacetonitrile, 4-pyrimitryritrile, 4- 5-pyrimidinylacetonitrile, 3-pyridazinylacetonitrile, 4-pyridazinylacetonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolylacetonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolylacetonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolylacetonitrile, N-methyl-

4-imidazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-5-imidazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-4-pyrazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-5-pyrazolyl acetonitrile, 1,3,5-triazinylacetonitrile, 2-quinolyl-3-quinolyl quinolilacetonitrilo, 4-quinolilacetonitrilo, 1 -isoquinolilacetonitrilo, 3-isoquinolilacetonitrilo, 4-isoquinolilacetonitrilo, 1 -indolizinilacetonitrilo, indolizinilacetonitrilo 2-, 3-indolizinilacetonitrilo, 1-ftalazinilacetonitrilo, 2-quinazolinilacetonitrilo, 4-quinazolinilacetonitrilo, 2-quinoxalinilacetonitrilo, 3-cinolinilacetonitrilo, 4-cinolinylacetonitrile, 2-pteridinylacetonitrile, 4-pteridinylacetonitrile, 6- pteridinylacetonitrile, 7-pteridinylacetonitrile, 6-phenanthrididyllacetonitrile, N-methyl-2-purinyl acetonitrNo, N-methyl-6-

purinyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-8-purynylacetonitrile, 9-acridinylacetonitrile, 1,7-phenanthtrolin-2-ylacetonitrile, 1,7-phenanthrin-3-ylacetonitrile, 1,7-phenanttrolin-4-ylacetonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrinin 2-ylacetonitrile, 1,10-phenanttrolin-3-ylacetonitrile, 1,10- phenanthrin-4-ylacetonitrile, 4,7-phenanthrin-1-ylacetonitrile, 4,7-phenanttrolin-2-ylacetonitrile, 4,7-phenanttrolin- 3-ilacetonitrile, 1-phenazinyl acetonitrile, 2-phenazinyl acetonitrile, pyrrolidinoacetonitrile and piperidinoacetonitrile.

Representative examples of heterocyclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-R-CeN, where 0 contains one or more oxygen heteroatoms, include 2-furylacetonitrile, 3-furylacetonitrile, 2-

benzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 3-benzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 1-isobenzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 3-isobenzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 2- naphtho [2,3-b] furylacetonitrile and 3-naphtho [2,3- b] Furylacetonitrile.

Representative examples of heterocyclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-R-CeN, where 0 contains one or more sulfur heteroatoms, include 2-thienyl acetonitrile, 3-thienyl acetonitrile, 2-

benzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 3-benzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 1-isobenzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 3-isobenzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 2-naphtho [2,3-b] thienyl acetonitrile and 3-naphtho [2,3- b] thienylacetonitrile.

Representative examples of heterodclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-R-CeN, where 0 contains two or more different heteroatoms, include 2-oxazolyl acetonitrile, 4-oxazolyl acetonitrile, 5- oxazolyl acetonitrile, 3-isoxazolyl acetonitrile, 4-isoxazolyl acetonitrile, 5-isolazoletritrile, 5-isoxylaryl-tritrileacetyl 2-tiazolilacetonitrilo, tiazolilacetonitrilo 4-, 5-tiazolilacetonitrilo, 3-isotiazolilacetonitrilo, 4-isotiazolilacetonitrilo, 5-isotiazolilacetonitrilo, isoxazolinilacetonitrilo 3-, 4-isoxazolinilacetonitrilo, 5-isoxazolinilacetonitrilo, 3-isotiazolinilacetonitrilo, isotiazolinilacetonitrilo 4-, 5-isotiazolinilacetonitrilo, 2 -benzothiazolyl acetonitrile and morpholinoacetonitrile.

Representative examples of heterocyclic nitrile compounds defined by the formula 9-R-CeN, where 0 contains one or more cyano groups, include 2,3-pyridinediacetonitrile, 2,4-pyridinediacetonitrile, 2,5-

piridindiacetonitrilo, 2,6-piridindiacetonitrilo, 3,4-piridindiacetonitrilo, 2,4-pirimidindiacetonitrilo, pirimidindiacetonitrilo 2,5-, 4,5- pirimidindiacetonitrilo, 4,6-pirimidindiacetonitrilo, 2,3-pirazindiacetonitrilo, 2,5- pirazindiacetonitrilo, 2,6-pyrazindiacetonitrile, 2,3-furandiacetonitrile, 2,4-furandiacetonitrile, 2,5-furandiacetonitrile, 2,3-thiophenediacetonitrile, 2,4-thiondiacetonitrile, 2,5-thiophenediacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,3- pyrroldiacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,4-pyroldiacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,5-pyroldiacetonitrile, 1,3,5-triazin-2,4-diacetonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-3,5-diacetonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-3,6-diacetonitrile, 2,3,4-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,3,5-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,3,6-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,4,5-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,4, 6-pyridintriacetonitrile, 3,4,5-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,4,5-pyrimidintriacetonitrile, 2,4,6-pyrimidintriacetonitrile, 4,5,6-pyrimidintriacetonitrile, pyrazintriacetonitrile, 2,3,4-furantriacetonitrile, 2,3 5-furantriacetonitrile, 2,3,4-thio Phentriacetonitrile, 2,3,5-thiophenetriacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,4-pyrroltriacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,5-pyrroltriacetonitrile, 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triacetonitrile and 1,2,4-triazin-3,5,6-triacetonitrile.

The amount of heterocyclic nitrile compound that can be added to the polymerization mixture may depend on various factors, including the type and amount of catalyst or initiator used to initiate the polymerization and the desired degree of functionalization. In one or more embodiments, wherein the reactive polymer is prepared using a lanthanide catalyst, the amount of heterocyclic nitrile compound employed can be described with reference to the lanthanide metal of the lanthanide compound. For example, the molar ratio of the heterocyclic nitrile compound to the lanthanide metal may be from about 1: 1 to about 200: 1, in other embodiments from about 5: 1 to about 150: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 10: 1 to about 100: 1.

In other embodiments, such as where the reactive polymer is prepared using an anionic initiator, the amount of the heterocyclic nitrile compound employed can be described with reference to the amount of metal cation associated with the initiator. For example, when an organolithium initiator is used, the molar ratio of the heterocyclic nitrile compound with respect to the lithium metal may be approximately 0.3: 1 to

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about 2: 1, in other embodiments from about 0.6: 1 to about 1.5: 1 and in other embodiments from 0.8: 1 to about 1.2: 1.

In one or more embodiments, a cofunctionalizing agent can also be added to the polymerization mixture. A mixture of two or more cofunctionalizing agents can also be used. The cofunctionalizing agent can be added to the polymerization mixture before, after or at the same time as the heterodyl nitrile compound is introduced. In one or more embodiments, the cofunctionalizing agent is added to the reaction mixture at least 5 minutes later, in other embodiments at least 10 minutes later and in other embodiments at least 30 minutes after introducing the heterocyclic nitrile compound.

In one or more embodiments, cofunctionalizing agents include compounds or reagents that can react with a reactive polymer produced by the present invention and thereby provide the polymer with a functional group other than a propagating chain that has not reacted with the agent. of cofunctionalization. The functional group may be reactive or interactive with other polymer chains (which propagate and / or which do not propagate) or with other constituents such as reinforcing fillers (e.g., carbon black) that can be combined with the polymer. In one or more embodiments, the reaction between the cofunctionalizing agent and the reactive polymer takes place by means of an addition or substitution reaction.

Useful cofunctionalizing agents may include compounds that simply provide a functional group at the end of a polymer chain without joining two or more polynomer chains, as well as compounds that can couple or join two or more polymer chains through a functional bond forming a functional bond. single macromolecule The latter type of cofunctionalization agents can also be called coupling agents.

In one or more embodiments, cofunctionalization agents include compounds that add or impart a heteroatom to the polymer chain. In specific embodiments, cofunctionalizing agents include compounds that provide a functional group to the polymer chain forming a functionalized polymer that reduces the loss of hysteresis at 50 ° C of a carbon black filled vulcanization product prepared from the functionalized polymer compared to vulcanization products with carbon black filler prepared from non-functionalized polymer. In one or more embodiments, this reduction in hysteresis loss is at least 5%, in other embodiments at least 10% and in other embodiments at least 15%.

In one or more embodiments, suitable cofunctionalizing agents include compounds that contain groups that can react with pseudo-surviving polnrieros (eg, those produced according to the present invention). Exemplary cofunctionalizing agents include ketones, quinones, aldefutes, amides, esters, isocyanates, isothiocyanates, epoxides, imines, amino ketones, aminothioketones and acid amphudids. Examples of such compounds are described in patents US-4,906,706, US-4,990,573, US-5,064,910, US-5,567,784, US-5,844,050, US-6,838,526, US-6,977,281 and US 6,992,147; Patent publications US-2006/0004131 A1, US-2006/0025539 A1, US-2006/0030677 A1 and US-2004/0147694 A1; Japanese patent applications JP-05-051406A, JP-05-059103A, JP-10-306113A and JP-11-035633A; incorporated herein by reference. Other examples of cofunctionalizing agents include azine compounds as described in the document with num. Series US-11 / 640,711, hydrobenzamide compounds as described in the document with num. Serial US-11 / 710,713, nitro compounds as described in the document with num. Series US-11 / 710,845 and oxime-protected compounds protected as described in the document with num. Standard US-60 / 875,484, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

In specific embodiments, cofunctionalizing agents include metal halides, metalloid halides, alkoxysilanes, hydrocarbylmetal carboxylates, hydrocarbylmetal ester carboxylates and alkoxystananes.

In one or more embodiments, the metal halides or metalloid halides useful may be selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by formulas (1) R1nM1X4-n, (2) M1X4 and (3) M2X3, where each R1 of Formula (1) is individually a monovalent organic group containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, M1 of formulas (1) and (2) represents a tin atom, silicon atom or germanium atom, M2 of the formula (3) represents a phosphorus atom, X of the formulas (1) - (3) represents a halogen atom and n of the formula (1) represents an integer from 0 to about 3.

Illustrative compounds represented by formula (1) may include halogenated organic metal compounds and compounds represented by formulas (2) and (3) may include halogenated metal compounds.

In the case where M1 represents a tin atom, the compounds represented by the formula (1) include triphenyl ethane chloride, tributyl ethane chloride, triisopropyl methane chloride, trihexyl ethane chloride, trioctyl ethane chloride, diphenyl ethane dichloride, dibutyl ethane dichloride, dihexylmethane dichloride, dioctyl ethane dichloride, phenyl ethane trichloride, butyl ethane trichloride and octyl ethane trichloride. In addition, the compounds represented by the formula (2) include stannous tetrachloride, stannous tetrabromide and stannous tetraiodide.

In the case where M1 represents a silicon atom, the compounds represented by formula (1) include triphenylchlorosilane, trihexylchlorosilane, trioctilclorosilano, tributylchlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane, diphenyldichlorosilane, dihexildiclorosilano, dioctildiclorosilano, dibutildiclorosilano, dimethyldichlorosilane, methyltrichlorosilane, phenyltrichlorosilane, hexyltrichlorosilane, octyltrichlorosilane, butyltrichlorosilane and methyltrichlorosilane. In addition, the

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Compounds represented by the formula (2) include silicon tetrachloride, silicon tetrabromide and silicon tetraiodide.

In the case where M1 represents a germanium atom, the compounds represented by the formula (1) include triphenylgermanium chloride, dibutylgermanium dichloride, diphenylgermanium dichloride and butylgermanium trichloride. In addition, the compounds represented by the formula (2) include germanium tetrachloride, germanium tetrabromide and germanium tetraiodide.

The compounds represented by the formula (3) include phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus tribromide and phosphorus triodide.

In one or more embodiments, the alkoxysilanes may include at least one group selected from the group consisting of an epoxy group and an isocyanate group.

Exemplary alkoxysilane compounds including an epoxy group include 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3- glycidyloxypropyltriethoxysilane, 3-glicidiloxipropiltrifenoxisilano, (3-glycidyloxypropyl) methyldimethoxysilane, (3- glycidyloxypropyl) methyldiethoxysilane, (3-glycidyloxypropyl) methyldiphenoxysilane, condensation product of (3- glycidyloxypropyl) methyldimethoxysilane, condensation product of (3-glycidyloxypropyl) methyldiethoxysilane, p- (3,4- epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, condensation product of 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and condensation product of 3-glycidyloxy-3-glyproxyethoxyl.

Illustrative alkoxysilane compounds that include an isocyanate group include 3-

isocyanatopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-isocianatopropiltrifenoxisilano, (3- isocyanatopropyl) methyldimethoxysilane, (3-isocyanatopropyl) methyldiethoxysilane, (3-isocyanatopropyl) methyldiphenoxysilane, condensation product of (3-isocyanatopropyl) methyldimethoxysilane, condensation product of (3-

isocyanatopropyl) methylethoxysilane, p- (isocyanatyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, condensation product of (3- isocyanatopropyl) trimethoxysilane and condensation product of (3-isocyanatopropyl) triethoxysilane.

In one or more embodiments, the hydrocarbylmethyl carboxylates can be represented by the formula (4) R2mM3 (OC (O) R2) 4-m, where each R2 is, individually, a monovalent organic group containing from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, M3 represents a tin atom, a silicon atom or a germanium atom and m represents an integer from 0 to 2.

Illustrative hydrocarbylmethyl carboxylates include triphenyl ethane laurate, triphenyl ethane 2-ethylhexanoate, triphenyl ethane, triphenyl ethane, triphenyl ethane, tri-n-butyl ethane laurate, tri-n-butyl ethane, tri-n-butylethane 2-ethylhexanoate, -butyl ethane, tri-t-butyl ethane acetate, tri-t-butyl ethane acrylate, triisobutyl ethane laurate, triisobutyl ethane 2, ethyl triisobutyl ethane, triisobutyl ethane, triisobutyl ethane acrylate, triisopropyl ethane, 2-ethylpropyl ethane , triisopropyl methane naphthenate, triisopropyl methane acetate, triisopropyl methane acrylate, trihexyl ethane laurate, trihexylestane 2-ethylhexanoate, trihexyl ethane acetate, trihexyl methane acrylate, trioctyl ethane trifethane, triocthanoethane acrylate, triocthanoethane acrylate of trioctilestane, tri-2-ethylhexyl ethane laurate, 2-ethylhexanoa to tri- 2-ethylhexylmethane, tri-2-ethylhexylmethane naphthenate, tri-2-ethylhexylmethane acetate, tri-2-ethylhexylmethane acrylate, trytearyl ethane laurate, trytearyl ethane 2-ethylhexanoate, tryteterethane naphthenate, tryteterethane naphthenate Triestearylstane acrylate, tribenzyltane laurate, tribenzyltin 2-ethylhexanoate, tribenzylmethane naphthenate, tribenzylethane acetate, tribenzylmethane acrylate, diphenylethane dilaurate, diphenylethane di-2-ethylhexanoate, diphenylethane diphenatane, diphenylmethane diethane, diphenylethane, diphenylethane, diphenylmethane, diphenylmethane, diphenylethane diphenylmethane diacrylate, di-n-butylmethane dilaurate, di-n-butylmethane di-2-ethylhexanoate, di-n-butylmethane distearate, di-n-butylmethane naphthenate, di-n-butylmethane diacetate, diacrylate di-n-butyl ethane, di-t-butyl ethane dilaurate, di-t-butyl ethane di-2-ethylhexanoate, di-t-butyl ethane distearate, di-t-butyl ethane dihate, di-t-butyl ethane diacetate, diac di-t-butyl ethane rilate, diisobutyl ethane dilaurate, diisobutyl ethane di-2-ethylhexanoate, diisobutyl ethane distearate, diisobutyl ethane dinaphthenate, diisobutyl ethane, diisobutyl ethane diacrylate, diisopropyl ethane dihydroxyethane, di-propyl dihane dihydroxyethane diisopropylstane, diisopropylstane dinaphthenate, diisopropyl methane diacetate, diisopropyl methane diacrylate, dihexyl ethane dilaurate, dihexylmethane di-2- ethylhexanoate, dihexylmethane distearate, dihexylmethane dihexyl, dihexyl dihate, dihexethane, dihexethane, dihexyl ethane di-2-ethylhexylmethane di-2-ethylhexanoate, di-2-ethylhexylmethane distearate, di-2-ethylhexylmethane dinaphthenate, di-2-ethylhexylmethane diacetate, di-2-ethylhexylmethane diacrylate, dioctyl ethane diurate, di-2-ethylhene of dioctyl ethane, dioctyl ethane diacetate, dioctyl ethane diacrylate, distearyl ethane dilaurate, di-2-ethylhexan distearyl steatanate, distearyl distearate, distearyl stearate, distearyl methane diacetate, distearyl methane diacrylate, dibenzyl tetanus, di-2-ethylhexanoate, dibenzyl tetanus, dibenzylethane distearate, dibenzethane dibethane, dibethane, dibethane, dibethane, dibethane, dibethane, dibethane, dibethane, dibethane diethane, phenylethane, phenyl-tri-2-ethylhexanoate, phenyl-ethane trinaphthanate, phenyl-ethane triacrylate, phenyl-ethane triacrylate, n-butyl ethane trilaurate, n-butyl ethane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, n-butyl ethane trinacetate, n-butyl ethane triacetate n-butyl ethane triacrylate, tert-butyl ethane trilaurate, tert-butyl ethane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, tert-butyl ethane trinaphthenate, tert-butyl ethane triacrylate, tert-butyl ethane triacrylate, isobutyl ethane, tri-2-ethylhexane isobutyl ethane, isobutyl ethane trinaphthanate, isobutyl ethane triacetate, isobutyl ethane triacrylate, isop trilaurate ropilestane, isopropyl methane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, isopropyl methane trinaftenate, isopropyl methane triacetate, isopropyl methane triacrylate, hexylmethane trilaurate, hexylmethane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, hexyl ethane triacetate, hexylethane triacetate, hexyl ethane tri-2-

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Octyl ethane ethylhexanoate, octyl ethane trinaphthanate, octyl ethane triacetate, octyl ethane triacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl ethane trilaurate, 2-ethylhexyl ethane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, 2-ethylhexyl ethane trinaphthenate, 2-ethylhexyl ethane, 2-ethylhexyl ethane stearylestane trilaurate, stearylestane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, stearylestane trinaftenate, stearylestane triacetate, stearylestane triacrylate, bencilestane trilaurate, benzylmethane tri-2-ethylhexanoate, benzyl tetanyl triacetate and benzyl triacetate.

In one or more embodiments, hydrocarbylmethyl ester carboxylates can be represented by the formula

2 3 3 2 2 11

(5) R mM (OCO-R -CO (O) R) 4-m, where each R is individually a monovalent organic group containing 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, R3 is a divalent organic group, M3 represents a tin atom, a silicon atom or a germanium atom and m represents an integer from 0 to 2.

Illustrative hydrocarbylmethyl ester carboxylates include diphenylmethane bis (methylmaleate), diphenylmethane bis (2- ethylhexylmaleate), diphenylmethane bis (octyl maleate), diphenylmethane bis (benzylmaleate), di-n-butylmethane bis (methylmaleate), di-n-butylmethane bis (2-ethylhexylmaleate), di-n-butylmethane bis (octylmaleate), di-n-butylmethane bis (benzylmaleate), di-t-butylmethane bis (methylmaleate), bis (2- di-t-butylmethane ethylhexmaleate), di-t-butylmethane bis (octylmaleate), di-t-butylmethane bis (benzylmaleate), diisobutyl ethane bis (methylmaleate), diisobutyl ethane bis (2-ethylhexylmaleate), bis (octylmaleate) ) of diisobutyl ethane, bis (benzylmaleate) of diisobutyl ethane, bis (methylmaleate) of diisopropyl methane, bis (2-ethylhexylmaleate) of diisopropyltane, bis (octylmaleate) of diisopropylethane, bis (methyl benzyl maleate) of diisopropylethane, bis (methylmalenate) of bis (methylhethyl) 2- ethylhexylmaleate) dihexylmethane, bis (octylmaleate) dihexyl ethane, bis (benc dihexylmethane), di (2-ethylhexylmethane) bis (methylmaleate), di-2-ethylhexylmethane bis (2-ethylhexylmethane), di-2-ethylhexylmethane bis (octylmaleate), di-2-ethylhexylmethane bis (benzylmaleate) , dioctyl methane bis (methylmaleate), dioctyl methane bis (2-ethylhexylmaleate), dioctyl methane bis (octylmaleate), dioctyl methane bis (benzylmaleate), distearylstane bis (methylmaleate), distearylstane bis (2-ethylhexylmaleate), bis (octylmaleate) ) of distearylstane, bis (benzylmaleate) of distearylstane, bis (methylmaleate) of dibencilestane, bis (2-ethylhexylmaleate) of dibencilestane, bis (octylmaleate) of dibenzylmethane, bis (benzylmaleate) of dibenzyltane, bis (methyladipate) of diphenylmethane, bis ( Diphenylmethane 2-ethylhexyladipate, diphenylmethane bis (octyladipate), diphenyl ethane bis (benzyladipate), di-n-butylmethane bis (methyladipate), di-n-butyl ethane bis (2-ethylhexylate), bis (octyladipate) di-n-butyl ethane, bis (benzyladipate) of di-n-butyl ethane, bis di-t-butylmethane (methyladipate), di-t-butyl ethane bis (2-ethylhexyladipate), di-t-butyl ethane bis (octyladipate), di-t-butyl ethane bis (benzyladipate), bis (methyladipate) diisobutyl ethane, bis (2-ethylhexyladipate) diisobutyl ethane, bis (octyladipate) diisobutyl ethane, bis (benzyladipate) diisobutyl ethane, bis (methyladipate) diisopropyl methane, bis (2-ethylhexyladipate) diisopropyl diphane, bis (octyl bisylate) bis (octyl) ) of diisopropyl methane, bis (methyladipate) of dihexyl ethane, bis (2-ethylhexyladipate) of dihexyl ethane, bis (methyladipate) of dihexyl ethane, bis (methyladipate) of dihexyl ethane, bis (methyladipate) of di-2-ethylhexylphene, bis (2-ethylhexylphene) bis (methyladipate) ) of di-2-ethyl hexylmethane, bis (octyladipate) of di-2-ethylhexyl ethane, bis (benzyladipate) of di-2-ethylhexyl ethane, bis (methyladipate) of dioctyl ethane, bis (2-ethylhexyladipate) of dioctyl ethane, bis (octyladipate) ) of dioctyl methane, bis (benzyladipate) of dioctyl ethane, bis (methyladipate) of right-handed arylethane, distearylstane bis (2-ethylhexyladipate), distearylstane bis (octyladipate), distearylstane bis (benzyladipate), dibenzylmethane bis (methyladipate), dibenzylmethane bis (2- ethylhexylate), bis (octyl dipatane) and bis (octyl dipatane) benzyladipate) of dibencilestane.

The amount of the cofunctionalizing agent that can be added to the polymerization mixture can depend on various factors, including the type and amount of catalyst or initiator used to initiate the polymerization and the desired degree of functionalization. In one or more embodiments, wherein the reactive polymer is prepared using a lanthanide catalyst, the amount of the cofunctionalizing agent employed can be described with reference to the lanthanide metal of the lanthanide compound. For example, the molar ratio of the cofunctionalizing agent to the lanthanide metal may be from about 1: 1 to about 200: 1, in other embodiments from about 5: 1 to about 150: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 10: 1 at about 100: 1. In one or more embodiments, the molar ratio of the cofunctionalizing agent to the heterocyclic nitrile compound may be from about 0.05: 1 to about 1: 1, in other embodiments from about 0.1: 1 to about 0.8: 1 and, in other embodiments, from about 0.2: 1 to about 0.6: 1.

In one or more embodiments, the heterocyclic nitrile compound (and, optionally, the cofunctionalizing agent) can be reacted with the reactive polymer after achieving a desired monomer conversion but before cooling the polymerization mixture with an agent immersion cooling In one or more embodiments, the reaction between the heterocyclic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer may occur within 30 minutes, in other embodiments within 5 minutes and, in other embodiments, within one minute after reach the maximum polymerization temperature. In one or more embodiments, the reaction between the heterocyclic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer can occur once the maximum polymerization temperature has been reached. In other embodiments, the reaction between the heterocyclic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer can occur after the reactive polymer is stored. In one or more embodiments, the storage of the reactive polymer occurs at room temperature or below that in an inert atmosphere. In one or more embodiments, the reaction between the heterocyclic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer can take place at a temperature of about 10 ° C to about 150 ° C, and in other embodiments of about 20 ° C to about 100 ° C. The time required to complete the reaction between the heterodcrylic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer depends on various factors, such as the type and amount of the catalyst or initiator used to prepare the reactive polymer, the type and amount of the heterodcrylic nitrile compound, asf as the temperature at which

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functionalization reaction is performed. In one or more embodiments, the reaction between the heterocyclic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer can be carried out over a period of about 10 to 60 minutes.

In one or more embodiments, once the reaction between the reactive polymer and the heterocyclic nitrile compound (and, optionally, the cofunctionalizing agent) is achieved, a cooling agent can be added to the polymerization mixture to deactivate the remaining residual reactive polymer chains and the catalyst or catalyst components. The cooling agent may include a protic compound, which includes, but is not limited to, an alcohol, a carboxylic acid, an inorganic acid, water or a mixture thereof. An antioxidant such as 2,6-di-ferc-butyl-4-methylphenol can be added before or after the addition of the cooling agent. The amount of the antioxidant used may be in the range of 0.2% to 1% by weight of the polymer product.

When the polymerization mixture has cooled, the polymer product can be recovered from the polymerization mixture using conventional solvent removal and drying procedures known in the art. The polymer can be recovered, for example, by subjecting the polymer cement to solvent removal by steam, followed by drying the resulting polymer pieces in a hot air tunnel. Alternatively, the polymer can be recovered by direct drying of the polymer cement in a drying drum. The content of volatile substances in the dry polymer may be less than 1% and, in other embodiments, less than 0.5% by weight of the polymer.

Although it is believed that the reactive polymer and the heterocyclic nitrile compound (and, optionally, the cofunctionalizing agent) react producing novel functionalized polymers, the exact chemical structure of the functionalized polymer produced in each embodiment is unknown, especially since the structure is related to the residue transmitted to the end of the polymer chain by the heterocyclic nitrile compound. In fact, it is believed that the structure of the functionalized polymer may depend on various factors such as the conditions used to prepare the reactive polymer (e.g., the type and amount of the catalyst or initiator) and the conditions employed to react the heterocyclic nitrile compound (and, optionally, the cofunctionalizing agent) with the reactive polymer (e.g., the types and amounts of heterocyclic nitrile compound and the cofunctionalizing agent).

In one or more embodiments, one of the products resulting from the reaction between the heterocyclic nitrile compound and the reactive polymer may be a functionalized polymer defined by one of the formulas:

image2

where n is a polymer chain and 0 is a heterodyl group as defined above and R is a divalent organic group as defined above.

For example, it is believed that at least one of the reaction products between a reactive polymer and 2-pyridinecarbonitrile is a functionalized polymer that can be defined by the formula:

image3

where n is a polymer chain such as, for example, a long chain c / s-1,4-polybutadiene.

It is believed that the functionalized polymers described by the above formulas, when exposed to moisture, can be transformed into functionalized polymers that have a ketone-like structure and can be defined by one of the formulas:

0 II

k ------ C ----- 0 n ------ C ----- R — 0

where n is a polymer chain and 0 is a heterodyl group as defined above and R is a divalent organic group as defined above.

For example, it is believed that one of the reaction products of 2-pyridinecarbonitrile and a reactive polymer is transformed into a ketone structure that can be defined by the formula:

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image4

where n is a polymer chain, such as a long chain c / s-1,4-polybutadiene.

In one or more embodiments, the polymer chain (n) contains some unsaturation. In these or other embodiments, the polymer chain is vulcanizable. In one or more embodiments, the polymer chain (n) may have a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 0 ° C, in other embodiments less than -20 ° C and, in other embodiments, less than -30 ° C . In one embodiment, the polymers may have a unique glass transition temperature.

In one or more embodiments, the polymer chain (e.g., n), prepared according to the present invention may be of the cis-1,4-polydiene type with a cis-1,4 bond content (which may be referred to as content mer) greater than 60%, in other embodiments greater than approximately 75%, in other embodiments greater than approximately 90% and, in other embodiments, greater than approximately 95%. Also, said polymers may have a 1,2-bond content of less than about 7%, in other embodiments less than 5%, in other embodiments less than 2% and, in other embodiments, less than 1%. The content of c / s-1,4 and 1,2 bonds can be determined by infrared spectroscopy. The number average molecular weight (Mn) of said polymers can be from about 1000 to about 1,000,000, in other embodiments from about 5000 to about 200,000, in other embodiments from about 25,000 to about 150,000 and, in other embodiments, from about 50,000 to about 120,000, determined using gel permeation chromatography (CPG) calibrated with polystyrene standards and Mark-Houwink constants for the polymer in question. The polydispersity (Mw / Mn) of these polymers may be from about 1.5 to about 5.0, and in other embodiments from about 2.0 to about 4.0.

In one or more embodiments, the polymer chain (e.g., n) prepared according to the present invention may include c / s- middle or lower polydiene (or polydiene copolymers) including those prepared by anionic polymerization techniques. Said polydiene may have a cis content of about 10% to 60%, in other embodiments of about 15% to 55% and in other embodiments of about 20% to about 50%, where the percentages are based on the number of mer units of diene in the c / s configuration with respect to the total number of mer units of diene. These polydiennes may have a 1,2-bond content (ie, vinyl content) of about 10% to about 90%, in other embodiments of about 10% to about 60%, in other embodiments of about 15% to about 50% , and in other embodiments of about 20% to about 45%, where the percentages are based on the number of mer units of diene in the vinyl configuration versus the total number of mer units of diene. The rest of the diene units may be in the trans-1,4 link configuration. In particular embodiments, in which the polydiene polymers are prepared using a functional anionic initiator, the head of the polymer chain (e.g., n) includes a functional group that is the residue of the functional initiator.

In specific embodiments, the polymer chain (eg, n) is constituted by copolymers of butadiene, styrene and, optionally, isoprene. These may include random copolymers. In other embodiments, the polymers are block copolymers of polybutadiene, polystyrene and, optionally, polyisoprene. In specific embodiments, the polymers are hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.

In one or more embodiments, the polymer chain (n) is an anionically polymerized polymer selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, functionalized polyisoprene, functionalized poly (styrene-co-butadiene), poly (styrene-co-butadiene-co-isoprene ) functionalized, functionalized poly (isoprene-co-styrene) and functionalized poly (butadiene-co-isoprene). The number average molecular weight (Mn) of said polymers may be from about 1000 to about 1,000,000, in other embodiments from about 5000 to about 1,000,000, in other embodiments from about 50,000 to about 500,000 and, in other embodiments, from about 100,000 to about 300,000, determined using gel permeation chromatography (CPG) calibrated with polystyrene standards and Mark-Houwink constants for the polymer in question. The polydispersity (Pm / Mn) of said polymers may be from about 1.0 to about 3.0 and, in other embodiments, from about 1.1 to about 2.0.

Advantageously, the functionalized polymers of the present invention have improved cold creep resistance and provide vulcanization products that exhibit less hysteresis. Functionalized polymers are especially useful in the preparation of components for tires. Such components for tires can be prepared using the functionalized polymers alone or together with other rubber polymers (ie, polymers that can be vulcanized to form compositions having elastomeric properties). Other rubber type polymers that can be used include natural and synthetic elastomers. Synthetic elastomers are normally derived from the polymerization of conjugated diene monomers. Such monomers of conjugated dienes can be copolymerized with other monomers such as, for example,

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aromatic monomers substituted with vinyl. Other rubber type polymers can be obtained by polymerizing ethylene with one or more α-olefins and, optionally, with one or more diene monomers.

Useful rubber polymers include natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polyisobutylene-co-isoprene, neoprene, poly (ethylene-co-propylene), poly (styrene-co-butadiene), poly (styrene-co-isoprene) and poly (styrene-co-isoprene-co-butadiene), poly (isoprene-co-butadiene), poly (ethylene-co-propylene-co-diene), polysulfide rubber, acrylic rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, rubber of epichlorohydrin and mixtures thereof. Such elastomers can have innumerable macromolecular structures, including linear, branched and star shapes. Other ingredients typically used in the preparation of rubber mixtures can also be added.

Rubber compositions may include fillers, such as inorganic and organic fillers. Organic fillers include carbon black and starch. Inorganic fillers may include silica, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, clays (hydrated aluminum silicates) and mixtures thereof.

Many rubber curing agents (also called vulcanizing agents) can be used, including sulfur or peroxide-based curing systems. Curing agents are described in the CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY ENCYCLOPEDIA of Kirk-Othmer, vol. 20, pages 365-468, (3rd ed. 1982), particularly Vulcanization Agents and Auxiliary Materials, pages 390-402, and A.Y. Coran, Vulcanization, ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, (2nd Ed. 1989), which are incorporated by reference in this document. Vulcanizing agents can be used alone or in combination.

Other ingredients that can be used include accelerators, oils, waxes, premature vulcanization inhibitors, processing aids, zinc oxide, resins for increasing adhesive capacity, reinforcing resins, fatty acids such as stearic acid, peptizing agents and one or more additional rubbers.

Said rubber compositions are useful for forming tire components such as treads, treads, black flanks, reinforcing layers, heel fillers and the like. Preferably, the functional polymers are used in tread and sidewall formulations. In one or more embodiments, said tread formulations may include from about 10% to about 100% by weight, in other embodiments from about 35% to about 90% by weight and, in other embodiments, from about 50% to 80 % by weight of the functionalized polymer with respect to the total weight of the rubber in the formulation.

In one or more embodiments, the vulcanizable rubber composition can be prepared by forming an initial color concentrate that includes the rubber component and filler (the rubber component optionally comprising the functionalized polymer of the present invention). This initial color concentrate can be mixed at an initial temperature of about 25 ° C to about 125 ° C with a discharge temperature of about 135 ° C to about 180 ° C. To prevent premature vulcanization (also known as scorch), this initial color concentrate may not contain vulcanizing agents. Once the initial color concentrate has been processed, the vulcanizing agents can be introduced and mixed with the initial color concentrate at low temperatures in a final mixing stage, which preferably does not initiate the vulcanization process. Optionally, between the mixing stage of the color concentrate and the final mixing stage, additional mixing steps, sometimes known as swirling, can be used. Various ingredients, including the functionalized polymer of the present invention, can be added during said tipping stages. The rubber composition techniques and the additives used therein are generally known as disclosed in The Compounding and Vulcanization of Rubber, in Rubber Technology (2nd Ed. 1973).

Mixing conditions and procedures applicable to formulations for silica-filled tires are also well known and are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,227,425, U.S. Patent 5,719,207, U.S. 5,717,022 and European Patent No. 890,606, which are incorporated herein by reference. In one or more embodiments, if silica is used as a filler (alone or in combination with other fillers), a coupling and / or shielding agent can be added to the rubber formulation during mixing. Useful coupling and shielding agents are described in patents US-3,842,111, US-3,873,489, US-3,978,103, US-3,997,581, US-4,002,594, US-5,580,919, US- 5,583,245, US-5,663,396, US-5,674,932, US-

5,684,171, US-5,684,172, US-5,696,197, US-6,608,145, US-6,667,362, US-6,579,949, US-6,590,017, US-

6,525,118, US-6,342,552 and US-6,683,135, which are incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the initial color concentrate is prepared including the functionalized polymer of the present invention and silica practically in the absence of coupling and screening agents.

If vulcanizable rubber compositions are used in the manufacture of tires, said compositions can be transformed into tire components according to ordinary tire manufacturing techniques, including standard rubber forming, molding and curing techniques. Typically, vulcanization is carried out by heating the vulcanizable composition in a mold; p. eg, it can be heated to about 140 to about 180 ° C. Cured or crosslinked rubber compositions may be referred to as vulcanized, which generally contain three-dimensional polymer networks that are thermoset. The remaining ingredients, for example, processing aids and fillers can be dispersed evenly.

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all over the vulcanized network. Tires can be manufactured as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,866,171, US 5,876,527, US 5,931,211 and US 5,971,046, which are incorporated herein by reference.

The following examples were prepared and tested to demonstrate the practice of the present invention. However, such examples should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. The claims will serve to define the invention.

Examples

Example 1. Synthesis of unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene

To a 7.57 liter (2 gallon) nitrogen purged reactor equipped with turbine stirring blades, 1,383 g of hexane and 3,083 g of 20.6% butadiene by weight in hexane were added. A preformed catalyst was prepared by mixing 8.08 ml of 4.32 M methylaluminoxane (MAO) in toluene, 1.83 g of 20.6% 1,3-butadiene by weight in hexane, 0.65 ml of neodymium versatate (NdV) 0.537 M in cyclohexane, 7.33 ml of 1.0 M diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAH) in hexane and 1.40 ml of 1.0 M diethylaluminium chloride (DEAC) in hexane. The catalyst was aged for 15 minutes and added to the reactor. The reactor jacket temperature was then set at 65 ° C. Forty-five minutes after adding the catalyst, the polymerization mixture was cooled to room temperature. The resulting polymer cement was coagulated with 12 liters of isopropanol containing 5 g of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and then dried in a drying drum. The Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4) of the polymer at 100 ° C was 26.5, measured using a Monsanto Mooney viscometer using a large rotor, a heating time of one minute and an operating time of four minutes. As determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), the polymer has a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 111,800, a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 209,500 and a molecular weight distribution (Mw / Mn) of 1.87. The infrared spectroscopic analysis of the polymer indicated a cis-1.4 bond content of 94.4%, a trans-1.4 link content of 5.1% and a 1.2 link content of 0.5% . The fluence resistance at fno of the polymer was measured using a Scott plasticity meter. Approximately 2.6 g of the polymer was molded at 100 ° C for 20 minutes in a cylindrical button with a diameter of 15 mm and a height of 12 mm. After cooling to room temperature, the button was removed from the mold and placed in a Scott plasticity meter at room temperature. A load of 5 kg was applied to the sample. After 8 minutes, the residual caliper (ie, the thickness of the sample) was measured and taken as an indicator of the resistance to flunking at the end of the polymer. Generally, a high residual gauge value indicates better creep resistance at fno. The properties of unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene are summarized in Table 1.

 Example num.

 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 (comparative) Example 7 (comparative)

 Type of polnriero

 unmodified unmodified modified with 2-PiCN modified with PICN modified with PZCN modified with PhCN modified with CH3CN

 ML1 + 4

 26.5 44.2 44.0 57.9 50.6 29.1 33.4

 Mn

 111,800 130,700 109,400 94,900 106,300 111,4000 111,500

 Mw

 209,500 260,500 213,200 182,600 199,100 200,900 209,300

 Mw / Mn

 1.87 1.99 1.95 1.92 1.87 1.80 1.81

 Cold creep gauge (mm in 8 min)

 1.72 2.28 2.88 3.55 3.61 1.95 2.08

 % cis-1.4

 94.5 95.0 94.8 94.3 94.3 94.4 94.5

 % trans-1.4

 5.0 4.5 4.7 5.2 5.2 5.0 4.9

 % 1,2-

 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6

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To a 7.6 gallon (2 gallon) nitrogen purged reactor equipped with turbine stirring blades, 1,631 g of hexane and 2,835 g of 22.4% butadiene by weight in hexane were added. A preformed catalyst was prepared by mixing 6.10 ml of 4.32 M MAO in toluene, 1.27 g of 22.4% by weight 1,3-butadiene in hexane, 0.49 ml of 0.537 M NdV in cyclohexane, 5.53 ml of 1.0 M DIBAH in hexane and 1.05 ml of 1.0 M DeAC in hexane. The catalyst was aged for 15 minutes and added to the reactor. The reactor jacket temperature was set at 65 ° C. Seventy-two minutes after adding the catalyst, the polymerization mixture was cooled to room temperature. The resulting polymer cement was coagulated with 12 liters of isopropanol containing 5 g of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and then dried in a drying drum. The properties of the resulting unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene are summarized in Table 1.

Example 3. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with 2-pyridinecarbonitrile (2-PiCN)

To a 7.6 liter (2 gallon) nitrogen purged reactor equipped with turbine stirring blades, 1,670 g of hexane and 2,810 g of 22.6% butadiene by weight in hexane were added. A preformed catalyst was prepared by mixing 7.35 ml of 4.32 M MAO in toluene, 1.52 g of 22.6% 1,3-butadiene by weight in hexane, 0.59 ml of 0.537 M NdV in cyclohexane, 6.67 ml of 1.0 M DIBAH in hexane and 1.27 ml of 1.0 M DeAC in hexane. The catalyst was aged for 15 minutes and added to the reactor. The reactor jacket temperature was set at 65 ° C. Sixty minutes after adding the catalyst, the polymerization mixture was cooled to room temperature.

425 g of the resulting unmodified polymer cement (i.e. pseudo-surviving polymer cement) was transferred from the reactor to a nitrogen purged bottle and then 5.93 ml of 2-pyridinecarbonitrile (2-PiCN) 0.442 M was added in toluene The bottle was turned for 25 minutes in a water bath maintained at 65 ° C. The reaction mixture was coagulated with 3 liters of isopropanol containing 0.5 g of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and then dried in a drum. The properties of the resulting 2-PiCN modified polymer are summarized in Table 1.

Example 4. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with 2-pyrimidinecarbonitrile (PICN)

Modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene with 2-pyrimidinecarbonitrile (PICN) was prepared by reacting 422 g of the pseudo-surviving polymer cement of Example 3 with 3.94 ml of 0.799 M PICN in toluene. The reaction conditions and the polymer preparation procedure were identical to those of Example 3. The properties of the resulting PICN modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene are summarized in Table 1.

Example 5. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with pyrazinecarbonitrile (PZCN)

Modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene with pyrazincarbonitrile (PZCN) was prepared by reacting 426 g of the pseudo-surviving polymer cement of Example 3 with 3.84 ml of 0.808 M PZCN in toluene. The reaction conditions and the polymer preparation procedure were identical to those of Example 3. The properties of the resulting cis-1,4-polybutadiene with PZCN are summarized in Table 1.

Example 6 (Comparative Example). Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with benzonitrile (PhCN)

Modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene with benzonitrile (PhCN) was prepared by reacting 423 g of the pseudo-surviving polymer cement of Example 3 with 4.03 ml of 0.676 M PhCN in toluene. The reaction conditions and the polymer preparation procedure were identical to those of Example 3. The properties of the resulting PhCN-modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene are summarized in Table 1.

Example 7 (Comparative Example). Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with acetonitrile (CH3CN)

Cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with acetonitrile (CH3CN) was prepared by reacting 437 g of the pseudo-surviving polymer cement of Example 3 with 5.00 ml of 0.539 M CH3CN in toluene. The reaction conditions and the polymer preparation procedure were identical to those of Example 3. The properties of the cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with the resulting CH3CN are summarized in Table 1.

Figure 1 shows the creep resistance at fno of the samples of modified or unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene synthesized in Examples 1-7 against the Mooney viscosity of the polymer. The data indicate that, for the same Mooney viscosity of the polymer, polymers modified with 2-PiCN, PICN and PZCN show much higher residual fluence caliber values and therefore a much better creep resistance at fno. than the unmodified polymer. On the other hand, both the polymers modified with PhCN and with CH3CN do not provide an improvement or hardly provide improvement in terms of creep resistance at fno compared to the unmodified polymer.

Examples 8-14. Evaluation of the formation of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified compositions with 2-PiCN, PICN, PZCN, PhCN and CH3CN against unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene

Samples of cis-1,4-polybutadiene produced in Examples 1-7 were evaluated in a rubber compound with carbon black filler. The compositions of the vulcanization products are presented in Table 2, where the numbers are expressed as parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of rubber (pcc).

Table 2. Compositions of rubber vulcanization products prepared from cis-1,4-polybutadiene

 Ingredients

 Quantity (ppc)

 Cis-1,4-polybutadienes

 80

 Polyisoprene

 twenty

 Carbon black

 fifty

 Oil

 10

 Wax

 2

 Antioxidant

 one

 Stearic acid

 2

 Zinc oxide

 2.5

 Accelerators

 1.3

 Sulfur

 1.5

 Total

 170.3

5 The Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4) of the uncured compound at 130 ° C was determined using an Alpha Technologies Mooney viscometer with a large rotor, a heating time of one minute and an operating time of four minutes. The tensile point at break (Tb) and the elongation at break (Eb) were determined according to the ASTM D412 method. The data corresponding to the Payne effect (AG ') and hysteresis data (tan5) of the vulcanization products were obtained from a dynamic deformation scanning experiment, which was carried out at 50 ° C and 15 Hz with a strain sweep from 0.1% to 20%. AG 'is the difference between G' for a deformation of 0.1% and G 'for a deformation of 20%. The physical properties of vulcanization products are summarized in Table 3 and in Figure 2.

Table 3. Physical properties of rubber vulcanization products prepared from cis-1,4-polybutadiene

 Example num.

 Example 8 Example 9 Example 10 Example 11 Example 12 Example 13 Example 14

 Used amount

 Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Example 6 Example 7

 Type of polnriero

 unmodified unmodified modified with 2-PiCN modified with PICN modified with PZCN modified with PhCN modified with CH3CN

 ML1 + 4

 50.3 68.3 66.9 58.9 61.0 51.6 51.9

 Tb at 23 ° C (MPa)

 17.9 17.4 19.0 18.5 18.1 15.3 20.9

 Eb at 23 ° C (%)

 451 425 429 437 437 386 464

 AG '(MPa)

 1.95 1.83 1.16 1.23 1.30 1.77 1.91

 tan8 at 50 ° C, deformation 3%

 0,122 0,113 0,0877 0,0959 0,0965 0,118 0,120

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As can be seen in Table 3 and Figure 2, the polymers modified with 2-PiCN, PICN and PZCN give values of tan8 at 50 ° C lower than those corresponding to the unmodified polymer, which indicates that the modification with 2-PiCN, PICN or PZCN reduces hysteresis. Polymers modified with 2-PiCN, PICN and PZCN also give lower AG values than those provided by the unmodified polymer, indicating that the Payne effect has been reduced due to a stronger interaction between the modified polymers and the carbon black In contrast, neither polymers modified with PhCN nor those modified with CH3CN provide reduction or hardly provide reduction in hysteresis compared to the unmodified polymer.

Example 15. Synthesis of unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene

2.4 kg of cyclohexane and 300 g of 1,3-butadiene were introduced into a 5 l nitrogen purged reactor. As catalyst components, a solution of NdV in cyclohexane (0.09 mmol), a solution of MAO in toluene (1.8 mmol), a solution of DIBAH in cyclohexane (30 ° C) was heated in the reactor for 50 minutes 4.3 mmol), a solution of DEAC in toluene (0.18 mmol) and 1,3-butadiene (4.5 mmol) and the resulting mixture was introduced into the reactor. The polymerization was carried out at 80 ° C for 60 min. The 1,3-butadiene conversion was almost 100%.

Approximately 200 g of the resulting polymer cement was removed from the reactor and cooled with a methanol solution containing 1.5 g of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol. The solvent was removed from the polymer cement by steam entrainment and dried on a preheated roller at 110 ° C. The resulting unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene has a Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4, 100 ° C) of 32 and a cis-1,4 bond content of 95.3%.

Example 16. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with 2-PiCN and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPMOS)

The rest of the polymer cement prepared in Example 15 was kept in the reactor at a temperature of 60 ° C and a solution of 2-PiCN prepared in toluene (3.0 mmol) was added and reacted for 30 min. Next, a solution of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPMOS) (0.6 mmol) was added and reacted for 30 min. Then, a methanol solution containing 1.5 g of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol was added to obtain 2.5 kg of a modified polymer cement from which the solvent was then removed by dragging of steam and drying on a preheated roller at 110 ° C. The resulting modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene has a Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4, 100 ° C) of 47 and a fluence value at fno of 0.6 mg / min.

The fluence values at fno of the polymer were determined as follows for Examples 16-21. The modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene was maintained at a temperature of 50 ° C and extruded through a 6.35 mm hole at a pressure of 24.1 kPa. After approximately 10 minutes of extrusion (i.e., after the extrusion rate reached a constant value), the extruded amount (mg) of the polymer was measured every 30 min for 90 min and its average value was used as the value of fluence in fno (mg / min) average.

Example 17. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with 2-PiCN and dioctyl methane bis (octylmaleate) (DOTBOM)

The modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene was obtained in the same manner as in Examples 15 and 16 unless the GPMOS was replaced by dioctyl methane bis (octylmaleate) (DOTBOM) (0.15 mmol).

Prior to modification, the polymer has a Mooney viscosity of 30 and a cis-1.4 bond content of 94.8%. After modification, the polymer has a Mooney viscosity of 45 and a creep value of 0.8 mg / min.

Example 18. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with 2-PiCN and 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPEOS)

The modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene was obtained in the same manner as in Examples 15 and 16 except that GPMOS was replaced by 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (IPEOS).

Prior to modification, the polymer has a Mooney viscosity of 33 and a cis-1.4 bond content of 95.1%. After modification, the polymer has a Mooney viscosity of 48 and a fluence value at fno of 0.5 mg / min.

Example 19. Synthesis of unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene

2.4 kg of cyclohexane and 300 g of 1,3-butadiene were introduced into a 5 l nitrogen purged reactor. As catalyst components, a solution of NdV in cyclohexane (0.18 mmol), a solution of MAO in toluene (1.8 mmol), a solution of DIBAH in cyclohexane (60 ° C) was heated in the reactor for 30 minutes 5.3 mmol), a solution of trimethylsilyl iodide in toluene (MeaSil (0.36 mmol) and 1,3-butadiene (4.5 mmol) and the resulting mixture was introduced into the reactor. Polymerization was carried out. at 30 ° C for 120 min. The conversion of

1,3-butadiene was almost 100%.

Approximately 200 g of the resulting polymer cement was removed from the reactor and cooled with a methanol solution containing 1.5 g of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol. The solvent was removed from the polymer cement by steam entrainment and dried on a preheated roller at 110 ° C. The resulting unmodified cis-1,4-polybutadiene has a Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4, 100 ° C) of 22 and a cis-1,4 bond content of 99.2%.

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The rest of the polymer cement prepared in Example 19 was kept in the reactor at a temperature of 30 ° C and a solution of 2-PiCN in toluene (6.0 mmol) was added and reacted for 30 min. Then, a solution of GPMOS (0.6 mmol) was added and reacted for 30 min. Then, a solution of methanol was added, which included 1.5 g of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol to obtain 2.5 kg of a modified polymer cement from which the solvent was then removed by means of entrainment. steam and drying on a preheated roller at 110 ° C. The resulting modified cis-1,4-polybutadiene has a Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4, 100 ° C) of 56 and a fluence value at fno of 0.4 mg / min.

Example 21. Synthesis of cis-1,4-polybutadiene modified with PiCN and silicon tetrachloride (TCS)

The modified conjugated diene polymer was obtained in the same manner as in Examples 19 and 20 unless the GPMOS was replaced by silicon tetrachloride (TCS).

Prior to modification, the polymer has a Mooney viscosity of 23 and a cis-1.4 bond content of 99.1%. After modification, the polymer has a Mooney viscosity of 63 and a creep value of 0.2 mg / min.

Example 22. Synthesis of unmodified poly (styrene-co-butadiene) (unmodified SBR)

To an 18.93 liter (5 gallon) reactor equipped with turbine stirring blades were added 5,320 g of hexane, 1320 g of styrene at 33.0% by weight in hexane and 7776 g of 1,3-butadiene at 22, 4% by weight in hexane. 11.34 ml of 1.6 M n-butyllithium in hexane and 3.74 ml of 1.6 M 2,2-bis (2'-tetrahydrofuryl) propane in hexane were introduced into the reactor. The batch was heated by applying hot water to the reactor jacket. When the batch temperature reached 50 ° C, the reactor jacket was cooled with cold water. Ninety minutes after adding the catalyst, 402 g of the living polymer cement resulting from the reactor were transferred to a nitrogen purged bottle, cooled by the addition of 3 ml of isopropanol which contains 0.3 g of 2,6-di- tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, was coagulated with 3 liters of isopropanol which contains 0.5 g of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and then dried in drum. The Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4) of the polnriero at 100 ° C was 11.5, measured using a Monsanto Mooney viscometer using a large rotor, a heating time of one minute and an operating time of four minutes. As could be determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polnriero was 120,300 g / mol, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) 125,200 g / mol and the molecular weight distribution (MW / Mn) of 1.04. The 1 H NMR analysis of the polymer indicated that the polymer has a styrene content of 19.7% by weight and a degree of 1,2 bonds (butadiene unit) of 57.4%. The glass transition temperature of the polymer, measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of -32 ° C. The properties of the resulting unmodified SBR are summarized in Table 4.

Table 4. Physical properties of the unmodified and modified SBR

 Example num.

 Example 22 Example 23 Example 24 Example 25 Example 26

 Type of po ^ des

 unmodified unmodified modified with 2-PiCN modified with 4-PiCN modified with 2,4-PiDCN

 ML1 + 4

 13.9 49.5 23.1 20.6 48.0

 Mn

 120,300 185,500 135,500 138,100 180,400

 Mw

 125,200 194,800 161,200 162,400 238,600

 Mw / Mn

 1.04 1.05 1.19 1.18 1.32

 Caliber of creep in fno (mm in 8 min)

 2.37 3.11 2.83 2.94 4.00

 % styrene

 19.7 20.0 19.7 19.7 19.7

 % 1.2

 57.4 55.5 57.4 57.4 57.4

 Tg (° C)

 -32 -31 -32 -32 -32

Example 23. Poly (styrene-co-butadiene) Srhesis (unmodified SBR)

To a 7.57 liter (2 gallon) reactor equipped with turbine stirring blades were added 1597 g of hexane, 399 g of 34.0% styrene by weight in hexane and 2440 g of 1,3-butadiene at 22, 3% by weight in hexane. 2.58 ml of 1.6 M n-butyllithium in hexane and 0.85 ml of 1.6 M 2,2-bis (2'-tetrahydrofuryl) propane in hexane were introduced into the reactor. The batch was heated by applying hot water to the reactor jacket. When the batch temperature reached 55 ° C, the reactor jacket was cooled with cold water. Two hours after the addition of the catalyst, the polymer cement was removed from the reactor and coagulated with 11.36 liters (3 gallons) of isopropanol which contained 7 g of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and Dry by drum. The properties of the resulting unmodified SBR are summarized in Table 4.

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Example 24. Synthesis of poly (styrene-co-butadiene) modified with 2-pyridinecarbonitrile (SBR modified with 2-PiCN)

405 g of the living polymer cement synthesized in Example 22 of the reactor was transferred to a nitrogen purged bottle and then 0.88 ml of 0.575 M 2-pyridinecarbonitrile (2-PiCN) in toluene was added. The bottle was turned for 30 minutes in a water bath maintained at 50 ° C. The resulting polymer cement was coagulated by adding 3 liters of isopropanol containing 0.5 g of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and then dried in a drum. The properties of the sBr modified with the resulting 2-PiCN are summarized in Table 4.

Example 25. Synthesis of poly (styrene-co-butadiene) rubber modified with 4-pyridinecarbonitrile (SBR modified with 4-PiCN)

Poly (styrene-co-butadiene) modified with 4-pyridinecarbonitrile (4-PiCN) was prepared by reacting 406 g of the living polymer cement of Example 22 with 1.16 ml of 4,435 M 4-PiCN in toluene. The reaction conditions and the polymer preparation procedure were identical to those of Example 24. The properties of the SBR modified with the resulting 4-PiCN are summarized in Table 4.

Example 26. Synthesis of poly (styrene-co-butadiene) modified with 2,4-pyridindicarbonitrile (SBR modified with 2,4-PiDCN)

Poly (styrene-co-butadiene) modified with 2,4-pyridindicarbonitrile (2,4-PiDCN) was prepared by reacting 401 g of the living polymer cement of Example 22 with 1.88 ml of 2,466 PiDCN 0,266 M in Toluene. The reaction conditions and the polymer preparation procedure were identical to those of Example 24. The properties of the resulting SBR modified with 2,4-PiDCN are summarized in Table 4.

Figure 3 shows the creep resistance at fno of the modified or unmodified SBR samples synthesized in Examples 22-26 against the Mooney viscosity of the polymer. The data indicate that, for the same Mooney viscosity of the polymer, polymers modified with 2-PiCN, 4-PiCN and 2,4-PiDCN show much higher residual fluence caliber values and therefore a resistance to creep in fno much better than unmodified polymer.

Examples 27-31 Evaluation of the composition of SBR composition modified with 2-PiCN, 4-PiCN and 2,4-PiDCN versus unmodified SBR

The SBR samples produced in Examples 22-26 were evaluated in a rubber compound with carbon black filler. The compositions of the vulcanization products are presented in Table 5, where the numbers are expressed as parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of rubber (pcc).

Table 5. Compositions of rubber vulcanization products prepared from SBR

 Ingredient

 Quantity (ppc)

 SBR

 100

 Carbon black

 fifty

 Oil

 10

 Wax

 2

 Antioxidant

 0.95

 Zinc oxide

 2.5

 Stearic acid

 2

 Accelerators

 1.3

 Sulfur

 1.5

 Total

 170.25

The Mooney viscosity (ML1 + 4) of the uncured compound at 100 ° C was determined using an Alpha Technologies Mooney viscometer with a large rotor, a heating time of one minute and an operating time of four minutes. The mechanical properties under traction of vulcanization products were measured using the standard procedure described in ASTM-D412. The data corresponding to the Payne (AG ') effect and hysteresis (tan5) data of the vulcanization products were obtained from a dynamic deformation scanning experiment, which was carried out at 60 ° C and 10 Hz with a strain sweep from 0.25% to 15%. AG 'is the difference between G' for a deformation of 0.25% and G 'for a deformation of 14%. The physical properties of vulcanization products are summarized in Table 6 and in Figure 4.

Table 6. Physical properties of rubber vulcanization products prepared from SBR

 Example num.

 Example 27 Example 28 Example 29 Example 30 Example 31

 Used amount

 Example 22 Example 23 Example 24 Example 25 Example 26

 Type of polymer

 unmodified unmodified modified with 2-PiCN modified with 4-PiCN modified with 2,4-PiDCN

 ML1 + 4

 40.9 89.1 56.7 53.4 69.0

 Tb at 23 ° C (MPa)

 19.7 17.6 20.6 21.2 19.8

 Eb at 23 ° C (%)

 445 529 405 427 386

 AG '(MPa)

 3.55 1.75 0.76 0.75 0.63

 Tan5 at 60 ° C, deformation 5%

 0.238 0.157 0.134 0.139 0.124

As can be seen in Table 6 and Figure 4, SBR polymers modified with 2-PiCN, 4-PiCN and 2,4-PiDCN give values of tan8 at 60 ° C lower than those corresponding to unmodified SBR , which indicates that modification with 2-PiCN, 4-PiCN and 2,4-PiDCN reduces hysteresis. Polymers modified with 2-PiCN, 4-PiCN and

2,4-PiDCN also give AG 'values lower than those provided by unmodified SBR, indicating that the Payne effect has been reduced due to the interaction between the modified polnrieros and carbon black.

The person skilled in the art will understand as evident various modifications and changes that do not depart from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments 10 set forth herein.

Additional embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following numbered sections.

1. A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a reactive polymer; and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a heterocyclic nitrile compound.

2. A method for preparing a functional polnriero, the method comprising the steps of: (i) introducing conjugated diene monomer 15, optionally copolymerizable monomer thereof, and a catalyst or initiator to form

a polymerization mixture; and (ii) adding a heterocyclic nitrile compound to the polymerization mixture.

3. A method of preparing a polymer, the method comprising: (i) preparing an active polymerization mixture; (ii) adding a heterocyclic nitrile compound to the active polymerization mixture; and (iii) add a cofunctionalizing agent to the active polymerization mixture.

20 4. The method of sections 1-3, where the heterocyclic nitrile compound is defined by the formula

9-CEN or 9-R-CEN, where 9 is a heterocyclic group and R is a divalent organic group.

5. The method of sections 1-4, where the heterocyclic group is aromatic.

6. The method of sections 1-5, where 9 is selected from the group consisting of the groups 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, pyrazinyl, 2-pyrimidinyl, 4-pyrimidinyl, 5-pyrimidinyl, 3- pyridazinyl, 4-pyridazinyl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolyl, N-methyl-3-pyrrolyl,

N-methyl-2-imidazolyl, N-methyl-4-imidazolyl, N-methyl-5-imidazolyl, N-methyl-3-pyrazolyl, N-methyl-4-pyrazolyl, N-methyl-5-pyrazolyl, N -methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl, N-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl, N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl, N-methyl -1,2,4-triazol-5-yl, 1,2,4-triazin-3-yl, 1,2,4-triazin-5-yl, 1,2,4-triazin-6-yl, 1 , 3,5-triazinyl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-2-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-3-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-4-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin -5-yl, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-yl, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-3-yl, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-2-yl, N-methyl-2- imidazolin-4 -yl, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-5-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-3-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-4-yl, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-5-yl , 230 quinolyl, 3-quinolyl, 4-quinolyl, 1-isoquinolyl, 3-isoquinolyl, 4-isoquinolyl, N-methylindole-2-yl, N-methylindole-3-yl, N-

methyl isoindole-1-yl, N-methylisoindole-3-yl, 1-indolizinyl, 2-indolizinyl, 3-indolizinyl, 1-phthalazinyl, 2-quinazolinyl, 4-quinazolinyl,

2- quinoxalinyl, 3-cinolinyl, 4-cinolinyl, 1-methylindazol-3-yl, 1,5-naphthyridin-2-yl, 1,5-naphthyridin-3-yl, 1,5-naphthyridin-4-yl, 1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl, 1,8-naphthyridin-3-yl, 1,8-naphthyridin-4-yl, 2-pteridinyl, 4-pteridinyl, 6-pteridinyl, 7-pteridinyl, 1- methylbenzimidazole- 2-yl, 6-phenanthridinyl, N-methyl-2-purinyl, N-methyl-6-purinyl, N-methyl-8-purinyl, N-methyl-p-carbolin-1-yl, N-

Methyl-p-carbolin-3-yl, N-methyl-p-carbolin-4-yl, 9-acridinyl, 1,7-phenanthrin-2-yl, 1,7-phenanthrin-3-yl, 1,7 -fenantrolin-4-yl,

1,10-phenanthirolin-2-yl, 1,10-phenanthtrolin-3-yl, 1,10-phenanthrin-4-yl, 4,7-phenanthtrolin-1-yl, 4,7-phenantholine-2-yl, 4,7-fenantrolin-

3- yl, 1-phenazinyl, 2-phenazinyl, pyrrolidino and piperidino, piperidino, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, 2-benzo [b] furyl, 3-benzo [b] furyl, 1- isobenzo [b] furyl, and 3-isobenzo [b] furyl, 2-naphtho [2,3-b] furyl, 3-naphto [2,3-b] furyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-benzo [b] thienyl, 3 - benzo [b] thienyl, 1-isobenzo [b] thienyl, 3-isobenzo [b] thienyl, 2-naphtho [2,3-b] thienyl, 3-naphtho [2,3-b] thienyl, 2-oxazolyl , 4-oxazolyl,

5-Oxazolyl, 3-isoxazolyl, 4-isoxazolyl, 5-isoxazolyl, 2-thiazolyl, 4-thiazolyl, 5-thiazolyl, 3-isothiazolyl, 4-isothiazolyl, 5- isothiazolyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-4 -yl, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-5-yl, 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl , 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl, 2-oxazolin-2-yl, 2-oxazolin-4-yl, 2-oxazolin-5-yl, 3-isoxazolinyl, 4-isoxazolinyl, 5-isoxazolinyl, 2 -thiazolin-2- yl, 2-thiazolin-4-yl, 2-thiazolin-5-yl, 3-isothiazolinyl, 4-isothiazolinyl, 5-isothiazolinyl, 2-benzothiazolyl, and morpholino.

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60

7. The method of sections 1-6, wherein the heterodyl nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-pyridinecarbonitrile, 3-pyridinecarbonitrile, 4-pyridinecarbonitrile, pyrazinecarbonitrile, 2-pyrimidinecarbonitrile, 4-pyrimidinecarbonitrile, 5-pyrimitrile, 5-pyrimidylcarbonitrile 3-pyridazinecarbonitrile, 4-pyridazinecarbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-4-imidazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-5-imidazolcarbonitrile methyl-3- pyrazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-4-pyrazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-5-pyrazolcarbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-

1.2.3- triazol-5-carbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-5-carbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazine- 3-carbonitrile,

1.2.4- triazin-5-carbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-6-carbonitrile, 1,3,5-triazincarbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-2-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-

pyrrolin-3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrrolin-5-carbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin-2-carbonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrrolin- 3-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-2-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-imidazolin-5-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-3- carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-4-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2-pyrazolin-5-carbonitrile, 2- quinolinecarbonitrile, 3-quinolinecarbonitrile, 4-quinolinecarbonitrile, 1-isoquinolincarbonitrile, 3-isoquinolincarbonitrile, 4- isoquinolincarrile, 4- isoquinolin N-methylindole-2-carbonitrile, N-methylindole-3-carbonitrile, N-methylisoindol-1-carbonitrile, N-methylisoindol- 3-carbonitrile, 1-indolizincarbonitrile, 2-indolizincarbonitrile, 3-indolizincarbonitrile, 1-fylcarbitrile, 1-f

quinazolincarbonitrile, 4-quinazolincarbonitrile, 2-quinoxalincarbonitrile, 3-cinolincarbonitrile, 4-cinolincarbonitrile, 1- methylindazol-3-carbonitrile, 1,5-naphthyridine-2-carbonitrile, 1,5-naphthyridine-1,5-carbonitrile naphthyridine-4-carbonitrile, 1,8-naphthyridine-

2- carbonitrile, 1,8-naphthyridin-3-carbonitrile, 1,8-naphthyridin-4-carbonitrile, 2-pteridinecarbonitrile, 4-pteridinecarbonitrile, 6- pteridinecarbonitrile, 7-pteridinecarbonitrile, 1-methylbenzimidazole-2-carbonitrile-2-carbonitrile-2-carbonitrile-2-carbonitrile-2-carbonitrilein 6-carbonitrile, N-methyl-2- purincarbonitrile, N-methyl-6-purincarbonitrile, N-methyl-8-purincarbonitrile, N-methyl-p-carbolin-1-carbonitrile, N-methyl-p-carbolin-

3- carbonitrile, N-methyl-p-carbolin-4-carbonitrile, 9-acridincarbonitrile, 1,7-phenanthrinin-2-carbonitrile, 1,7-phenanthtrolin-3-carbonitrile, 1,7-phenatrolin-4-carbonitrile, 1,10-phenanttrolin-2-carbonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrin-3-carbonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrin-4-carbonitrile, 4,7-phenatrolin-1-carbonitrile, 4,7-phenanthrine-2-carbonitrile, 4,7-phenanthrin-3-carbonitrile, 1-phenazincarbonitrile, 2-phenazincarbonitrile, 1-pyrrolidinecarbonitrile and 1-piperidinecarbonitrile.

8. The method of paragraphs 1-7, wherein the heterodcrylic nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-furylonitrile, 3-furylonitrile 2-benzo [b] furancarbonitrile, 3-benzo [b] furancarbonitrile, isobenzo [b ] furan- 1 -carbonitrile, isobenzo [b] furan-3-carbonitrile, naphtho [2,3-b] furan-2-carbonitrile and naphtho [2,3-b] furan-3-carbonitrile.

9. The method of sections 1-8, wherein the heterodcrylic nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-thiophenecarbonitrile, 3-thiophenecarbonitrile, benzo [b] thiophene-2-carbonitrile, benzo [b] thiophene-3- carbonitrile, isobenzo [b] thiophene-1-carbonitrile, isobenzo [b] thiophene-3-carbonitrile, naphtho [2,3-b] thiophene-2-carbonitrile and naphtho [2,3-b] thiophene-3-carbonitrile.

10. The method of sections 1-9, wherein the heterodyl nitrile compound is selected from the group that

consists of 2-oxazolcarbonitrile, 4-oxazolcarbonitrile, 5-oxazolcarbonitrile, 3-isoxazolcarbonitrile, 4-isoxazolcarbonitrile, 5-isoxazolcarbonitrile, 2-thiazolcarbonitrile, 4-thiazolecarbonitrile, 5-thiazolecarbonitrile, 4-thiazolecarbonitrile-4-thiazolecarbonitrile-4-thiazolecarbonitrile

isothiazolcarbonitrile, 5-isothiazolcarbonitrile, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-4-carbonitrile, 1,2,3-oxadiazol-5-carbonitrile, 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-carbonitrile, 1,2,3-thiadiazole- 4-carbonitrile, 1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-carbonitrile, 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-carbonitrile, 2-oxazolin-2-carbonitrile, 2-oxazolin-4-carbonitrile, 2-oxazolin-5- carbonitrile, 3-isoxazolincarbonitrile, 4-isoxazolincarbonitrile, 5-

isoxazolincarbonitrile, 2-thiazolin-2-carbonitrile, 2-thiazolin-4-carbonitrile, 2-thiazolin-5-carbonitrile, 3-isothiazolincarbonitrile,

4- isothiazolincarbonitrile, 5-isothiazolincarbonitrile, benzothiazol-2-carbonitrile and 4-morpholincarbonitrile.

11. The method of sections 1-10, wherein the heterodyl nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,4-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,5-pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,6-pyridindicarbonitrile, 3, 4- pyridindicarbonitrile, 2,4-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 2,5-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 4,5-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 4,6-pyrimidindicarbonitrile, 2,3-pyrazindicarbonitrile, 2,5-pyrazindicarbonitrile, 2,6-pyrazindicarbonitrile, 2,3- furandicarbonitrile,

2,4-furandicarbonitrile, 2,5-furandicarbonitrile, 2,3-thiophenedicarbonitrile, 2,4-thiophenedicarbonitrile, 2,5-thiophenedicarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,3-pyrroldicarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,4-pyroldoldbonitrile, N methyl-2,5-pyrroldicarbonitrile, 1,3,5-triazin-2,4-dicarbonitrile,

1.2.4- triazin-3,5-dicarbonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-3,6-dicarbonitrile, 2,3,4-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,3,5-pyridinetricarbonitrile, 2,3,6-

pyridintricarbonitrile, 2,4,5-pyridintricarbonitrile, 2,4,6-pyridintricarbonitrile, 3,4,5-pyridintricarbonitrile, 2,4,5-pyrimidintricarbonitrile, 2,4,6-pyrimidintricarbonitrile, 4,5,6-pyrimidintricarbonitrile, pyrazintricarbonitrile, 2,3,4-furantricarbonitrile, 2,3,5-furantricarbonitrile, 2,3,4-thiophenetricarbonitrile, 2,3,5-thiophenetricarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,4-

pyrroltricarbonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,5-pyrroltricarbonitrile, 1,3,5-triazin-2,4,6-tricarbonitrile and 1,2,4-triazin-3,5,6-tricarbonitrile.

12. The method of sections 1-11, wherein the heterodyl nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting

pyridylacetonitrile 2-3-pyridylacetonitrile, 4-pyridylacetonitrile, pirazinilacetonitrilo, 2-pirimidinilacetonitrilo, pirimidinilacetonitrilo 4-, 5-pirimidinilacetonitrilo, 3-piridazinilacetonitrilo, 4-piridazinilacetonitrilo, N-methyl-2-pirrolilacetonitrilo, N-methyl-3 pirrolilacetonitrilo, N-methyl-2-imidazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-4-imidazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-5-imidazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-3-pyrazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-4-pyrazolyl acetonitrile, N-methyl-5-pyrazolylkettonitrile, 1 3,5-triazinilacetonitrilo, quinolilacetonitrilo 2-, 3-quinolilacetonitrilo, 4-quinolilacetonitrilo, 1 -isoquinolilacetonitrilo, 3-isoquinolilacetonitrilo, 4- isoquinolilacetonitrilo, 1 -indolizinilacetonitrilo, 2-indolizinilacetonitrilo, 3-indolizinilacetonitrilo, 1-ftalazinilacetonitrilo, 2- quinazolinilacetonitrilo, 4-quinazolinyl acetonitrile, 2-quinoxalinyl acetonitrile, 3-cinolinyl acetonitrile, 4-cinolinyl acetonitrile, 2- pteridinylacetonitrile, 4-pteridinylacetonitrile, 6-pteridinylacetonitrile, 7-Pteridinylacetonitrile, 6-phenanthridinlacetonitrile, N-methyl-2-purynylacetonitrile, N-methyl-6-purynylacetonitrile, N-methyl-8-purynylacetonitrile, 9-acridinylacetonitrile, 1,7-phenanttrolin-2-

ilacetonitrile, 1,7-phenatrolin-3-ylacetonitrile, 1,7-phenanthtrolin-4-ylacetonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrin-2-ylacetonitrile, 1,10-phenanthrin-3- ilacetonitrile, 1,10-phenanttrolin-4- ylacetonitrile, 4,7-phenanthroline-1-ylacetonitrile, 4,7-phenanthroline-2-ylacetonitrile, 4,7-phenanthroline-3- ylacetonitrile, 1 -fenazinilacetonitrilo, 2-fenazinilacetonitrilo, pirrolidinoacetonitrilo and piperidinoacetonitrilo.

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

13. The method of sections 1-12, wherein the heterodical nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-furylacetonitrile, 3-furylacetonitrile, 2-benzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 3-benzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 1- isobenzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 3-isobenzo [b] furylacetonitrile, 2-naphtho [2,3-b] furylacetonitrile and 3-naphtho [2,3-b] furylacetonitrile.

14. The method of sections 1-13, wherein the heterodical nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-thienylacetonitrile, 3-thienylacetonitrile, 2-benzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 3-benzo [b] thienyl acetonitrile, 1- isobenzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 3-isobenzo [b] thienylacetonitrile, 2-naphtho [2,3-b] thienylacetonitrile and 3-naphtho [2,3-b] thienyl acetonitrile.

15. The method of sections 1-14, wherein the heterodcrylic nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2-oxazolyl acetonitrile, 4-oxazolyl acetonitrile, 5-oxazolyl acetonitrile, 3-isoxazolyl acetonitrile, 4-isoxazolyl acetonitrile, 5-isoxazolyl acetonitrile 2- triloxacetonitrilet tiazolilacetonitrilo, 4-tiazolilacetonitrilo, 5-tiazolilacetonitrilo, 3-isotiazolilacetonitrilo, isotiazolilacetonitrilo 4-, 5-isotiazolilacetonitrilo, 3-isoxazolinilacetonitrilo, 4-isoxazolinilacetonitrilo, 5-isoxazolinilacetonitrilo, isotiazolinilacetonitrilo 3-, 4-isotiazolinilacetonitrilo, 5-isotiazolinilacetonitrilo, 2-benzotiazolilacetonitrilo and morpholinoacetonitrile.

16. The method of sections 1-15, wherein the heteroditic nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of 2,3-pyridinediacetonitrile, 2,4-pyridinediacetonitrile, 2,5-pyridinediacetonitrile, 2,6-pyridinediacetonitrile, 3, 4- pyridindiacetonitrile, 2,4-pyrimidindiacetonitrile, 2,5-pyrimidindiacetonitrile, 4,5-pyrimidindiacetonitrile, 4,6-pyrimidindiacetonitrile, 2,3-pyrazindiacetonitrile, 2,5-pyrazindiacetonitrile, 2,6-pyrazindylditrilet 2,3 furandiacetonitrile,

2,4-furandiacetonitrile, 2,5-furandiacetonitrile, 2,3-thiophenediacetonitrile, 2,4-thiophenediacetonitrile, 2,5-thiophenediacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,3-pyrroldiacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,4-pyrroldiacetonitrile, N- methyl-2,5-pyrroldiacetonitrile, 1,3,5-triazin-2,4-diacetonitrile,

1.2.4- triazin-3,5-diacetonitrile, 1,2,4-triazin-3,6-diacetonitrile, 2,3,4-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,3,5-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,3,6-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,4,5-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,4,6-pyridintriacetonitrile, 3,4,5-pyridintriacetonitrile, 2,4,5-pyrimidintriacetonitrile, 2,4,6-pyrimidintriacetonitrile, 4,5,6-pyrimidintriacetonitrile, pyrazintriacetonitrile 2,3,4-furantriacetonitrile, 2,3,5-furantriacetonitrile, 2,3,4-thiophenetriacetonitrile, 2,3,5-thiophenetriacetonitrile, N-methyl-2,3,4-pyrroltriacetonitrile, N-methyl-2, 3,5-pyrroltriacetonitrile, 1,3,5-triazin-2,4,6-triacetonitrile and 1,2,4-triazin-3,5,6-triacetonitrile.

17. The method of sections 1-16, wherein the heterodical nitrile compound is 2-pyridinecarbonitrile.

18. The method of sections 1-17, wherein the heterodical nitrile compound is 2-pyrimidinecarbonitrile.

19. The method of sections 1-18, wherein said step of preparing a reactive polymer includes employing a coordination catalyst system that includes a lanthanide-based catalyst system.

20. The method of sections 1-18, wherein said step of preparing a reactive polymer includes employing an anionic initiator that includes an organolithium compound.

21. A functionalized polymer defined by at least one of the formulas:

0 II

n ------- C ------ 0 n ------- C ----- R ----- 0

where n is a polymer chain, 0 is a heterodedic group and R is a divalent organic group.

22. The method of section 3, wherein the cofunctionalizing agent is selected from the group consisting of metal halides, metalloid halides, alkoxysilanes, hydrocarbylmetal carboxylates, hydrocarbylmethyl ester carboxylates, and alkoxystanates.

23. A tire prepared from a polymer prepared according to the method of sections 1-20.

Claims (15)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 1. A functionalized number defined by at least one of the formulas: image 1 where n is a polydiene polymer chain having a cis-1.4 bond content greater than 60%, 0 is a heterodyl group, and R is a divalent organic group, where the polymer is prepared by polymerizing diene monomer combined with a lanthanide based catalyst system. 2. The functionalized polymer of claim 1, wherein n is a polymer chain having a cis-1,4 bond content greater than 95%. 3. The functionalized polymer of claim 1, wherein n is a polymer chain having a bond content 1.2 of less than 7%, a number average molecular weight of about 50,000 to about 120,000 g / mol, and a polydispersity from about 1.5 to about 5.0. Four. The functionalized polymer of claim 1 defined by at least one of the formulas image2 where n is a polydiene polymer chain having a cis-1,4 bond content greater than 60%. 5. The functionalized polymer of claim 4, wherein n is a polymer chain having a cis-1,4 bond content greater than 95%. 6. The functionalized polymer of claim 4, wherein n is a polymer chain having a content of 1.2 bonds below 7%, a number average molecular weight of approximately 50,000 to approximately 120,000 g / mol, and a polydispersity of about 1.5 to about 5.0. 7. The functionalized polymer of claim 1, wherein the functionalized polymer is prepared: (i) introducing conjugated diene monomer, optionally copolymerizable monomer thereof, and a lanthanide based catalyst to form a polymerization mixture; and (ii) adding a heterocyclic nitrile compound to the polymerization mixture. 8. The functionalized polymer of claim 7, wherein the heterodcrylic nitrile compound is defined by the formula 0-C = N or 0-R-C = N, where 0 is a heterodyl group and R is a divalent organic group. 9. The functionalized polymer of claim 8, wherein the heterocyclic nitrile compound is 2- pyridinecarbonitrile. 10. The functionalized polymer of claim 8, wherein the heterocyclic nitrile compound is 2- pyrimidinecarbonitrile. 11. The functionalized polymer of claim 7, wherein a cofunctionalizing agent selected from the group consisting of metal halides, metalloid halides, alkoxysilanes, hydrocarbylmethyl carboxylates, hydrocarbylmethyl carboxylates, and also added to the polymerization mixture, and alkoxystannates 12. A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: (i) preparing an active polymerization mixture that includes a polymer having a reactive chain end by introducing conjugated diene monomer and a lanthanide-based catalyst system, where the solvent content of the polymerization mixture is less than 20% by weight with respect to the total weight of the polymerization mixture; Y 5 (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a heterocyclic nitrile compound. 13. A vulcanizable composition comprising: a load, a curing agent, and a functionalized polymer according to claim 1 defined by at least one of the formulas: 10 image3 where n is a polydiene polymer chain having a cis-1,4 bond content greater than 60%, 0 is a heterodyl group, and R is a divalent organic group. 14. A tire component prepared by vulcanizing a vulcanizable composition that includes a functionalized polymer according to claim 1 defined by at least one of the formulas: O o n-c-e 71-C — R-e where n is a polydiene polymer chain having a cis-1,4 bond content greater than 60%, 0 is a heterodyl group, and R is a divalent organic group.