Patent ID: 7019096

Claim:
A rubbery polymer which consists of repeat units that are derived from (1) at least one conjugated diolefin monomer, (2) from about 0.1 weight percent to 2 weight percent of at least one monomer having the structural formula: wherein R represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or a hydrogen atom, wherein R′ represents a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, with the proviso that if R represents an alkyl group then R′ represents a hydrogen atom, wherein R 1 and R 2 can be the same or different, wherein R′ represents an alkyl group that is functionalized with a leaving group, wherein R 2 represents a moiety selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups containing from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, aryl groups containing from 6 to 18 carbon atoms, alkaryl groups containing from 7 to 18 carbon atoms, and alkyl groups that are functionalized with a leaving group, and (3) optionally, a vinyl aromatic monomer.