Initiation system for the anionic polymerization of conjugated dienes, and method for preparing diene elastomers

1. Initiating system for the preparation of living diene elastomers functionalized by an amine group at the chain end, wherein it comprises an organolithium compound and a tetravalent tin amide not having an Sn—Li bond.

2. Initiating system according to claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the organolithium compound to the tetravalent tin amide varies from 1/1 to 8/1.

3. Initiating system according to claim 1 wherein, the molar ratio of the organolithium compound to the amine groups of the tetravalent tin amide is 1/1.

4. Initiating system according to claim 1 , wherein the organolithium compound is a hydrocarbon compound represented by the formula RLi, in which R represents an alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl radical comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms.

5. Initiating system according to claim 4 , wherein the organolithium compound is chosen from ethyllithium, n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) or isobutyllithium.

6. Initiating system according to claim 1 , wherein the tetravalent tin amide is a compound corresponding to the formula Sn(NR 1 R 2 ) a (NR 3 ) b (R 4 ) c , in which R 1 and R 2 denote an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, R 3 denotes a branched or unbranched cyclic alkyl radical comprising from 3 to 16 carbon atoms, R 4 denotes an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radical comprising from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and a, b and c are integers between 0 and 4 with the proviso that a+b+c=4 and a+b≧1.

7. Initiating system according to claim 6 , wherein the tin amide is chosen from hexamethyleneiminetributyltin, pyrrolidinetributyltin and (2-methylpyrrolidine)tributyltin.

8. Process for the preparation of a living diene elastomer functionalized by an amine group at the chain end, comprising a stage of polymerization of at least one conjugated diene monomer by reaction with an initiating system as defined in claim 1 in a polymerization medium.

9. Process according to claim 8 , wherein the conjugated diene monomer is copolymerized with a vinylaromatic compound.

10. Process according to claim 9 , wherein the vinylaromatic compound is styrene.

11. Process according to claim 8 , wherein the conjugated diene monomer is butadiene.

12. Process according to claim 8 , wherein the polymerization medium comprises an inert organic solvent.

13. Process according to claim 12 , wherein the ratio by weight of the solvent to the monomer(s) before the polymerization reaction varies from 4 to 7.

14. Process according to claim 8 , wherein the components of the initiating system are added to the polymerization medium separately.

15. Process according to claim 14 , wherein the tetravalent tin amide is added to the polymerization medium before the introduction of the organolithium compound.

16. Process for the preparation of a modified diene elastomer comprising an amine functional group at at least one of its ends, comprising:

(i) a stage of preparation of a living diene elastomer functionalized by an amine group at the chain end according to the process defined in claim 8 , and

(ii) a stage of modification by means of a modifying agent of the living elastomer obtained in the preceding stage.

17. Process according to claim 16 , wherein the stage of modification is carried out by means of a functionalization, coupling or star-branching agent chosen from tin halides, silicon halides and agents capable of introducing a group comprising a polar functional group, or of a modifying agent having a functional polyether block.

18. Process according to claim 17 , wherein the coupling agent is represented by the formula R 2 SnX 2 , with R denoting a C 1 -C 12 alkyl radical and X denoting a halogen atom.

19. Process according to claim 18 , wherein the coupling agent is dibutyltin chloride.