Trialkylsilyloxy-terminated polymers

1. A process for producing polymers functionalized by terminal groups, the process comprising contacting polymers having reactive chain ends with functionalization reagent comprising one or more bis(trialkylsilyl) peroxides to produce polymers comprising terminal trialkylsilyloxy groups.

2. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising contacting the polymers having reactive chain ends with the functionalization reagent after conclusion of polymerization of the polymers.

3. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising contacting the polymers having reactive chain ends with an excess amount of functionalization reagent.

4. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising contacting the polymers having reactive chain ends with a stoichiometric amount or a sub-stoichiometric amount of functionalization reagent.

5. The process to claim 2 , 3 or 4 , wherein the amount of functionalization reagents is 0.005-2% by weight based on the amount of polymer having reactive polymer than ends.

6. The process according to claim 5 , further comprising contacting the polymers having reactive chain ends with functionalization reagent in the presence of coupling reagents.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process comprises contacting the polymers having reactive chain ends with bis(trialkylsilyl) peroxide of the formula (II)

to produce polymers comprising terminal trialkylsilyloxy groups of the formula (I)

where R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are identical or different and are alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aralkyl moieties which can comprise heteroatoms such as O, N, S, and Si.

8. The process according to claim 7 , wherein:

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are identical and are methyl;

the polymer is a polybutadiene, a polyisoprene, a butadiene-isoprene copolymer, a butadiene-styrene copolymer, an isoprene-styrene copolymer, or a butadiene-isoprene-styrene terpolymer; and

the process further comprises polymerization of the polymers, and after conclusion of polymerization, contacting of the polymers having reactive chain ends with the functionalization reagent in the presence of a coupling agent; and

an amount of functionalization reagent is 0.01-1% by weight, based on the amount of polymer having reactive polymer chain ends,

the coupling agent is added prior to the functionalization reagent, at the same time as the functionalization reagent, or after the functionalization reagent; and

the coupling agent comprises at least one of: silicon tetrachloride, methyltrichlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, tin tetrachloride, dibutyltin dichloride, tetraalkoxysilanes, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, and 1,2,4-tris(chloromethyl)benzene.