Patent ID: 6107408
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: C08C,C08F,C08G

Abstract:
A process for preparing multi-branched or star polyalkadiene polymers exhibiting increased linking efficiency, the process comprising:polymerizing at least one conjugated alkadiene monomer with at least one organometallic initiator in the presence of about 0.5 to about 15 mole percent of at least one alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon to form living polydiene anions end capped with alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon;coupling said end capped living polydiene anions with at least one linking agent which is not the same as said alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon to provide a multi-branched or star-shaped polydiene polymer at a higher coupling efficiency as compared to coupling efficiencies exhibited by coupling living polyalkadiene anions which are not end capped with alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon under the same conditions; andoptionally hydrogenating said multi-branched or star-shaped polydiene polymer.