Patent ID: 8618199

Claim:
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of: preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, wherein the lanthanide-based catalyst comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkyl aluminoxane, and (c) a source of halogen; and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one functionalizing agent selected from the group consisting of: where R 1 is a divalent bond or divalent organic group comprising from 0 to about 20 carbon atoms, R 2 is a divalent organic group or trivalent organic group in the case where R 2 combines with R 4 to form a cyclic group, and R 4 is a hydrogen atom, a monovalent organic group, or, in the case where R 4 combines with R 2 , R 4 , may be a divalent organic group, and where Z is a substituent that will react or interact with organic or inorganic filler.