Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, and a monomer of formula I wherein R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or one of R2 and R3 is hydrogen and the other is phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; and R4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and styrene; and the second monomer is of formula I or V wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R5 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of making such a copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, and a monomer of formula I wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is a sulfur atom or a structure of formula II or III, wherein when X is of formula III, the S atom of formula III is adjacent to the phenyl ring of formula I and the N atom of formula III is adjacent to R1

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene and a monomer of formula I or V wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; or R5 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of making such a copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene and a monomer of formula I or formula II where R1 is a covalent bond or C1 to C8 linear or branched alkanediyl; R2, R3, R4 are independently C1 to C8 linear or branched alkyl or —OR6, where R6 is C1 to C8 linear or branched alkyl, with the proviso that at least one of R2, R3, and R4 is —OR6, and where R5 is hydrogen or C1 to C8 linear or branched alkyl. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of making such a copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and styrene; and the second monomer is of formula I or V wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R5 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of making such a copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a functionalized elastomer comprising the reaction product of Y and Z, wherein Y is a copolymer of a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and styrene; and the second monomer is selected from the group consisting of formula 1 and 2 wherein B is boron; O is oxygen; R1 and R2 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R3 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R4 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group; and Z is a compound of formula 3 where R5 is phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and Q is hydrogen, bromine, or a functional group comprising

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the steps of: forming a copolymer Y by copolymerizing a first monomer and a second monomer, wherein the first monomer is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, and styrene; the second monomer is selected from the group consisting of formula 1 or 2 wherein B is boron; O is oxygen; R1 and R2 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R3 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R4 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group; and reacting the copolymer Y with a compound Z to form the functionalized elastomer, wherein Z is a compound of formula 3 where R5 is phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups c

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, and a monomer of formula I wherein R1 is phenylene, or a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or one of R2 and R3 is hydrogen and the other is phenyl or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R2 and R3 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; and R4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene and a monomer of formula I or V wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 are independently linear or branched alkyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; or R5 is a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a bridging aromatic group. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of making such a copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of 1,3-butadiene or isoprene and a monomer of formula I or formula II where R1 is a covalent bond or C1 to C8 linear or branched alkanediyl; R2, R3, R4 are independently C1 to C8 linear or branched alkyl or —OR6, where R6 is C1 to C8 linear or branched alkyl, with the proviso that at least one of R2, R3, and R4 is —OR6, and where R5 is hydrogen or C1 to C8 linear or branched alkyl. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition including the copolymer, and a pneumatic tire containing the rubber composition. The invention is further directed to a method of making such a copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, and a monomer of formula I wherein R1 is a covalent bond, phenylene, a linear or branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more phenylene groups and one or more linear or branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and R2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is a sulfur atom or a structure of formula II or III, wherein when X is of formula III, the S atom of formula III is adjacent to the phenyl ring of formula I and the N atom of formula III is adjacent to R1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer derived from an acyclic conjugated diene monomer and a 1-vinylcycloalkene monomer of formula I where n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, R is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group of one to four carbon atoms, with the proviso that R may be appended at the 3 to (n+5) positions on the carbon ring.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polymer comprising repeat units derived from 1,3-butadiene and a substituted butadiene of formula I or II wherein R is hydrogen, an alkyl group, aryl group, or a fused cyclic group; and wherein at least 95 percent by weight of the repeat units have a cis-1, 4 microstructure. The invention is further directed to a rubber composition and pneumatic tire comprising the polymer, and a method for making the polymer using a neodymium catalyst system.