Patent ID: 6891019

Claim:
A process for the anionic polymerization of anionically polymerizable compounds comprising the steps of: initiating polymerization of one or more compounds capable of anionic polymerization in a hydrocarbon or mixed hydrocarbon-polar solvent medium with one or more compounds having the formula: to produce an intermediate living polymer, wherein: M is an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium; Z is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon connecting group which contains 3-25 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with aryl or substituted aryl; Q is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group derived by the incorporation of one or more unsaturated organic compounds into the M-Z linkage; n is from 0 to 5; R 1 is a protecting group selected from the group consisting of aralkyl, allyl, tertiary alkyl and methyl; and R 2 is the same as R 1 , with the proviso that when R 1 is methyl, R 2 is not C1-C4 alkyl, or R 2 is different from R 1 and selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, and substituted heterocycloalkyl, with the proviso that when R 2 is not the same as R 1 , then R 2 is more stable under conditions used to remove R 1 , or each R 1 and R 2 together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form wherein y is from 1 to 4 and each R 11 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heterocycloalkyl, and substituted heterocycloalkyl; reacting the intermediate living polymer with a terminating, functionalizing, or coupling agent; optionally removing at least one protecting group to liberate at least one functional group; and optionally reacting said at least one liberated functional group with one or more comonomers to form a polymer segment.