Mixtures of aminosilyl-functionalized styrenes, their preparation and their use in the production of elastomeric copolymers

1. An initiator component comprising an alkali metal salt derivative of a mixture of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I),

wherein

n is 0 or 1;

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and

i) R 3 and R 4 are the same or different and each R 3 and R 4 independently represents i) a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbyl group optionally being interrupted by at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or ii) an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or

ii) R 3 and R 4 are bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring containing the nitrogen atom and at least one carbon atom and, optionally, at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and

the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) comprises (1) para isomer, and (2) meta or ortho isomer of one type of the styrene derivative of Formula (I), wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the weight ratio of the para isomer to the meta or ortho isomer ranges from 1:9 to 9:1.

2. The initiator component of claim 1 , wherein R 1 and R 2 both represent CH 3 .

3. The initiator component of claim 1 , wherein i) R 3 and R 4 in the Formula (I) are independently selected from methyl and methoxyethyl groups, or ii) R 3 and R 4 in the Formula (I) are bonded to each other to form a 1,4-butylene or 1,5-pentylene group.

4. The initiator component of claim 3 , wherein the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) are selected from Formula (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6)

5. The initiator component of claim 3 , wherein the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) are selected from Formula (7), (8), (9), or (10)

6. A method of preparing a copolymer, comprising copolymerizing (i) the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) according to claim 1 , (ii) one or more diene monomers, and optionally (iii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, other than the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) in (i), wherein (a) the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) is used as a comonomer; and (b) the alkali metal salt derivative of the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) is used as an initiator for the copolymerization;

wherein the copolymer comprises repeat units that are derived from

A) 20 wt. % to 99.95 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of the one or more diene monomers;

B) 0 wt. % to 60 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of the one or more vinyl aromatic monomers; and

C) 0.05 wt. % to 50 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I).

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising copolymerizing (i) the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), (ii) one or more conjugated diene monomers and optionally (iii) one or more vinyl aromatic monomers, wherein the alkali metal salt derivative of the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) is used as an initiator for the copolymerization, wherein the alkali metal is selected from lithium, sodium, and potassium.

8. The initiator component of claim 1 , wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the para isomer constitutes at least 30% by weight.

9. The initiator component of claim 1 , wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the para isomer constitutes 40% to 80% by weight and wherein the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) comprises the para isomer and meta isomer of one type of the styrene derivatives of Formula (I).

10. A method for the preparation of an initiator component comprising an alkali metal salt derivative of a mixture of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I),

wherein

n is 0 or 1;

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and

i) R 3 and R 4 are the same or different and each R 3 and R 4 independently represents i) a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbyl group optionally being interrupted by at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or ii) an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or

ii) R 3 and R 4 are bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring containing the nitrogen atom and at least one carbon atom and, optionally, at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and

the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) comprises (1) para isomer and (2) meta or ortho isomer of one type of the styrene derivative of Formula (I), wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the weight ratio of the para isomer to the meta or ortho isomer ranges from 1:9 to 9:1,

the method comprising

(a) reacting a halogenosilane of Formula (II)

wherein X 1 is selected from chlorine, bromine, and iodine atoms, and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as defined above,

with a mixture of two or more magnesium compounds of Formula (III),

wherein X 2 is selected from chlorine, bromine, and iodine atoms to obtain the mixture of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I); and

(b) converting the mixture of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) into the alkali metal salt derivative.

11. A process for the preparation of a copolymer component comprising coupled copolymer and terminally modified copolymer, the process comprising the following steps:

(1) providing an initiator component comprising an alkali metal salt derivative of a mixture of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I),

wherein

n is 0 or 1;

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and

i) R 3 and R 4 are the same or different and each R 3 and R 4 independently represents i) a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbyl group optionally being interrupted by at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or ii) an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or

ii) R 3 and R 4 are bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring containing the nitrogen atom and at least one carbon atom and, optionally, at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and

the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) comprise (x) para isomer and (y) meta or ortho isomer of one type of the styrene derivative of Formula (I), wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the weight ratio of the para isomer to the meta or ortho isomer ranges from 1:9 to 9:1,

(2) contacting a monomer component comprising

i) one or more conjugated diene monomers and

ii) optionally one or more vinyl aromatic monomers

with the initiator component, to initiate anionic copolymerization;

(3) continuing copolymerization, to result in a copolymer;

(4) optionally continuing copolymerization of the copolymer, in the presence of one or more functionalized monomers, to result in a functionalized copolymer;

(5) coupling a part of the copolymer of step (3) or the functionalized copolymer of step (4) with one or more coupling agents, to result in coupled copolymer; and

(6) terminally modifying a part of the copolymer of step (3) or the functionalized copolymer of step (4) with one or more terminal modifying agents, to result in terminally modified copolymer,

wherein the monomer component in step (2) comprises the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I).

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein R 1 and R 2 in the Formula (I) both represent CH 3 .

13. The process of claim 11 , wherein i) R 3 and R 4 in the Formula (I) are independently selected from methyl and methoxyethyl groups, or ii) R 3 and R 4 in the Formula (I) are bonded to each other to form a 1,4-butylene or 1,5-pentylene group.

14. The process of claim 11 , wherein the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) are selected from Formula (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), or (6)

15. The process of claim 11 , wherein the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) are selected from Formula (7), (8), (9), or (10)

16. The copolymer component produced by the process of claim 11 .

17. A process for producing an elastomeric copolymer comprising subjecting

one or more diene monomers,

optionally one or more vinyl aromatic monomers and

a mixture of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I)

wherein

n is 0 or 1;

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and

i) R 3 and R 4 are the same or different and each R 3 and R 4 independently represents i) a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbyl group optionally being interrupted by at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or ii) an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or

ii) R 3 and R 4 are bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring containing the nitrogen atom and at least one carbon atom and, optionally, at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom; and

the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) comprises (1) para isomer and (2) meta or ortho isomer of one type of the styrene derivative of Formula (I), wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the weight ratio of the para isomer to the meta or ortho isomer ranges from 1:9 to 9:1,

to anionic polymerization conditions,

wherein an alkali metal salt derivative of the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) is used as an initiator for the anionic polymerization.

18. An elastomeric copolymer comprising repeat units that are derived from

A) 20 wt. % to 99.95 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more diene monomers;

B) 0 wt. % to 60 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of one or more vinyl aromatic monomers; and

C) 0.05 wt. % to 50 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer, of two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I)

wherein

n is 0 or 1;

R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and represent an alkyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms; and

i) R 3 and R 4 are the same or different and each R 3 and R 4 independently represents i) a hydrocarbyl group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the hydrocarbyl group optionally being interrupted by at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or ii) an aryl or aralkyl group containing from 6 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom or a nitrogen atom; or

ii) R 3 and R 4 are bonded to each other to form a heterocyclic ring containing the nitrogen atom and at least one carbon atom and, optionally, at least one heteroatom selected from a silicon atom, an oxygen atom and a nitrogen atom, and

the one or more vinyl aromatic monomers in B), when present, is different from the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) in C), and

the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) comprise (1) para isomer and (2) meta or ortho isomer of one type of the styrene derivative of Formula (I), wherein in the mixture of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I), the weight ratio of the para isomer to the meta or ortho isomer ranges from 1:9 to 9:1,

wherein the elastomeric copolymer is prepared using an alkali metal salt derivative of the two or more styrene derivatives of Formula (I) as an initiator.

19. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 18 , wherein the diene monomer is a conjugated diene monomer, wherein the conjugated diene monomer is selected from 1,3-butadiene and isoprene.

20. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 18 , wherein the amount of A) conjugated diene monomer is 50 to 90 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer.

21. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 18 , wherein the vinyl aromatic monomer is selected from styrene, 3-methylstyrene and α-methylstyrene.

22. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 18 , wherein the amount of B) vinyl aromatic monomer is 10 to 50 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer.

23. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 18 , wherein the amount of C) styrene derivative of Formula (I) is 0.2 to 10 wt. %, by weight of the copolymer.

24. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 18 , wherein the copolymer comprises repeat units having a star structure and being produced by the reaction of metal-terminated living linear copolymer with one or more coupling agents.

25. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 24 , wherein

I) the coupling agent is tin tetrachloride,

or

II) the coupling agent is a silicon halide coupling agent.

26. The elastomeric copolymer of claim 24 , wherein the fraction of repeat units having star structure is between 15 and 75%, by weight of the copolymer.

27. A method for preparing a rubber comprising vulcanizing the elastomeric copolymer according to claim 18 in the presence of one or more vulcanizing agents.

28. A rubber as obtainable according to the method of claim 27 .

29. A rubber composition comprising x) a rubber component comprising the rubber according to claim 28 and y) one or more fillers.

30. The rubber composition according to claim 29 , wherein the one or more fillers are each selected from the group consisting of silica and carbon black.

31. The rubber composition according to claim 30 , wherein the amount of filler component y) is 20 to 140 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component x) (phr).

32. The rubber composition according to claim 29 , wherein the rubber component x) also comprises one or more further rubbery polymers,

wherein the further rubbery polymer is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubber, ethylene-α-olefin-diene copolymer rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber, chloroprene rubber and halogenated butyl rubber.

33. A tire component comprising the rubber composition of claim 32 , wherein the tire component is a tire tread.

34. A tire comprising the tire component of claim 33 .