A process for forming a macromolecule that comprises a polymer bonded at a terminus through at least one -Si-O-M- moiety to a polyatomic functionality that comprises multiple M atoms where M represents Si, Ti, Zr, Sn, Al, or Fe, said process comprising: a) in an organic solvent medium, reacting a carbanionic polymer with one or more functional silanes having any of the general formulas R f Si(OR 4) 4-f, (OR 4) 2 SiZ', and R f (R 4 O) 3-f Si-[(CH 2) m -Q'-(CH 2) n]-Si(OR 4) 3-g R g, where Q' is a divalent heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing divalent linking group that is free of active hydrogen atoms, f and g independently are integers of from 0 to 2 inclusive, m and n independently are integers of from 0 to 200 inclusive, each R 4 independently is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, each R independently is a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, and Z' is a -Q'R 4 - group where each of Q' and R 4 is directly bonded to the Si atom, thereby providing a polymer that comprises a functionality in which at least one alkoxy group is bonded to a silicon atom, said polymer having the general formula {p} 4 - c -J-SiR a (OR 1) b where each J independently is a moiety defined by one of the following general structures [SiR 2 O] d or {[SiR e (OR 1) 2-e]-[(CH 2) m Q'(CH 2) n]}, {p} represents a polymer chain, each R independently is a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, each R 1 independently is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, a is an integer of from 0 to 2 inclusive, b is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive, and c = a+b with the proviso that c ≤ 3, d is an integer of from 0 to 42 inclusive, e is an integer of from 0 to 2 inclusive, and m and n independently are integers of from 0 to 200 inclusive; b) adding to said organic solvent medium up to 100 equivalents of one or more compounds comprising a M atom for each equivalent of polymer; and c) hydrolyzing one or more of said at least one alkoxy group, thereby in situ synthesizing said polyatomic functionality and thereby providing said macromolecule. a) in an organic solvent medium, reacting a carbanionic polymer with one or more functional silanes having any of the general formulas R f Si(OR 4) 4-f, (OR 4) 2 SiZ', and R f (R 4 O) 3-f Si-[(CH 2) m -Q'-(CH 2) n]-Si(OR 4) 3-g R g, where Q' is a divalent heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing divalent linking group that is free of active hydrogen atoms, f and g independently are integers of from 0 to 2 inclusive, m and n independently are integers of from 0 to 200 inclusive, each R 4 independently is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, each R independently is a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, and Z' is a -Q'R 4 - group where each of Q' and R 4 is directly bonded to the Si atom, thereby providing a polymer that comprises a functionality in which at least one alkoxy group is bonded to a silicon atom, said polymer having the general formula {p} 4 - c -J-SiR a (OR 1) b where each J independently is a moiety defined by one of the following general structures [SiR 2 O] d or {[SiR e (OR 1) 2-e]-[(CH 2) m Q'(CH 2) n]}, {p} represents a polymer chain, each R independently is a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, each R 1 independently is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, a is an integer of from 0 to 2 inclusive, b is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive, and c = a+b with the proviso that c ≤ 3, d is an integer of from 0 to 42 inclusive, e is an integer of from 0 to 2 inclusive, and m and n independently are integers of from 0 to 200 inclusive; Q' is a divalent heteroatom or a heteroatom-containing divalent linking group that is free of active hydrogen atoms, f and g independently are integers of from 0 to 2 inclusive, m and n independently are integers of from 0 to 200 inclusive, each R 4 independently is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, each R independently is a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, and Z' is a -Q'R 4 - group where each of Q' and R 4 is directly bonded to the Si atom, thereby providing a polymer that comprises a functionality in which at least one alkoxy group is bonded to a silicon atom, said polymer having the general formula {p} 4 - c -J-SiR a (OR 1) b where each J independently is a moiety defined by one of the following general structures [SiR 2 O] d or {[SiR e (OR 1) 2-e]-[(CH 2) m Q'(CH 2) n]}, {p} represents a polymer chain, each R independently is a hydrogen atom or C 1 -C 20 alkyl group, each R 1 independently is a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, allyl, aralkyl, alkaryl, or alkynyl group, a is an integer of from 0 to 2 inclusive, b is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive, and c = a+b with the proviso that c ≤ 3, d is an integer of from 0 to 42 inclusive, e is an integer of from 0 to 2 inclusive, and m and n independently are integers of from 0 to 200 inclusive; b) adding to said organic solvent medium up to 100 equivalents of one or more compounds comprising a M atom for each equivalent of polymer; and c) hydrolyzing one or more of said at least one alkoxy group, thereby in situ synthesizing said polyatomic functionality and thereby providing said macromolecule.