Polymers functionalized with nitrile compounds containing a protected amino group

1. A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) polymerizing monomer with an anionic initiator to form a reactive polymer; and

(ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group, where the protected amino group is directly attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of acyclic moieties, heterocyclic moieties, and non-aromatic cyclic moieties, where the protected amino group includes a hydrolyzable group.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the protected amino group is selected from the group consisting of bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino, bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino, 1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl, (trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino, (dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino, and 1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl, groups.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group derives from a nitrile compound selected from the group consisting of arenecarbonitrile compounds, alkanecarbonitrile compounds, alkenecarbonitrile compounds, alkynecarbonitrile compounds, cycloalkanecarbonitrile compounds, cycloalkenecarbonitrile compounds, cycloalkynecarbonitrile compounds, and heterocyclic nitrile compounds.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the anionic initiator is an organolithium compound and the monomer includes conjugated diene monomer and optionally monomer copolymerizable therewith.

5. The method of claim 1 , where both the cyano group and the protected amino group of the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group are directly attached to a moiety selected from the group consisting of acyclic moieties, heterocyclic moieties, and non-aromatic cyclic moieties.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is an arenecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]arenecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]arenecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl) arenecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]arenecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]arenecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl) arenecarbonitrile.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is an alkanecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]alkanecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]alkanecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)alkanecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]alkanecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl) carbyl)amino]alkanecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)alkanecarbonitrile.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is an alkenecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]alkenecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]alkenecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)alkenecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]alkenecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]alkenecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)alkenecarbonitrile.

9. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is an alkynecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]alkynecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]alkynecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)alkynecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]alkynecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]alkynecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)alkynecarbonitrile.

10. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is a cycloalkanecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]cycloalkanecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]cycloalkanecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)cycloalkanecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]cycloalkanecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]cycloalkanecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)cycloalkanecarbonitrile.

11. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is a cycloalkenecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]cycloalkenecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]cycloalkenecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)cycloalkenecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]cycloalkenecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]cycloalkenecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)cycloalkenecarbonitrile.

12. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is a cycloalkynecarbonitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]cycloalkynecarbonitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]cycloalkynecarbonitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)cycloalkynecarbonitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]cycloalkynecarbonitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]cycloalkynecarbonitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl)cycloalkynecarbonitrile.

13. The method of claim 1 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is a heterocyclic nitrile compound containing a protected amino group selected from the group consisting of [bis(trihydrocarbylsilyl)amino]heterocyclic nitrile, [bis(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl)amino]heterocyclic nitrile, (1-aza-disila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl) heterocyclic nitrile, [(trihydrocarbylsilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]heterocyclic nitrile, [(dihydrocarbylhydrosilyl) (hydrocarbyl)amino]heterocyclic nitrile, and (1-aza-2-sila-1-cyclohydrocarbyl) heterocyclic nitrile.

14. A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) polymerizing monomer with an anionic initiator to form a reactive polymer; and

(ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group defined by the formula I:

where R 1 is a divalent organic group, and R 2 and R 3 are each independently a monovalent organic group or a hydrolyzable group, or R 2 and R 3 join to form a divalent organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R 2 , R 3 , or the divalent organic group formed by joining R 2 and R 3 is a hydrolyzable group, and with the further proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

15. The method of claim 14 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is defined by the formula II:

where R 1 and R 5 are each independently a divalent organic group, and R 4 and R 6 are each independently a bond or a hydrolyzable group, with the proviso that at least one of R 4 and R 6 is a divalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

16. The method of claim 14 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is defined by the formula III:

where R 1 is a divalent organic group, R 3 is a monovalent organic group or a hydrolyzable group, each R 7 is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, or R 3 and one R 7 join to form a divalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

17. The method of claim 16 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is defined by the formula IV:

where R 1 and R 8 are each independently a divalent organic group, and each R 7 is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

18. The method of claim 14 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is defined by the formula V:

where R 1 is a divalent organic group, and R 9 and R 10 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, or at least one R 9 and at least one R 10 join to form a divalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

19. The method of claim 18 , where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is defined by the formula VI:

where R 1 and R 11 are each independently a divalent organic group, and R 9 and R 10 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

20. The method of claim 14 , where the anionic initiator is an organolithium compound and the monomer includes conjugated diene monomer and optionally monomer copolymerizable therewith.

21. The method of claim 14 , where said step of reacting produces a reaction product that is subsequently protonated.

22. A functionalized polymer containing a protected amino group, the functionalized polymer being defined by the formula VII:

where π is a polymer chain of a polydiene or a copolymer of conjugated diene and co-monomer having a medium or low cis-1,4-linkage content, R 1 is a divalent organic group, and R 2 and R 3 are each independently a monovalent organic group or a hydrolyzable group, or R 2 and R 3 join to form a divalent organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R 2 , R 3 , or the divalent organic group formed by joining R 2 and R 3 is a hydrolyzable group, and with the further proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

23. A functionalized polymer containing an amino group, the functionalized polymer being defined by the formula VIII:

where π is a polymer chain of a polydiene or a copolymer of conjugated diene and co-monomer having a medium or low cis-1,4-linkage content, R 1 is a divalent organic group, and R 12 and R 13 are each independently a monovalent organic group or a hydrogen atom, or R 12 and R 13 join to form a divalent organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R 12 , R 13 , or the divalent organic group formed by joining R 12 and R 13 is a hydrolyzable group, and with the further proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.

24. A tire component including the vulcanized residue of the functionalized polymer of claim 22 .

25. A tire component including the vulcanized residue of the functionalized polymer of claim 23 .

26. A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) polymerizing monomer with an anionic initiator to form a reactive polymer; and

(ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a nitrile compound containing a protected amino group defined by the formula III:

where R 1 is a divalent organic group, R 3 is a monovalent organic group or a hydrolyzable group, each R 7 is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, or R 3 and one R 7 join to form a divalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring, or where the nitrile compound containing a protected amino group is defined by the formula IV:

where R 1 and R 8 are each independently a divalent organic group, and each R 7 is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, with the proviso that R 1 is an acyclic divalent organic group, a heterocyclic divalent organic group, a non-aromatic cyclic divalent organic group that is devoid of heteroatoms, or a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms so long as, where R 1 is a divalent organic group containing an aromatic ring that is devoid of heteroatoms, the protected amino group is not directly attached to the aromatic ring.