Coupling of alkali metal-terminated polymers

Abstract

Alkali metal-terminated polymers of one or more alkadienes and of one or more vinyl-substituted aromatic monomers are effectively coupled by an anhydride of a monocarboxylic acid having 2 to 8 carbon atoms per molecule.

I claim: .[.1. A polymer having the structure ##STR5## wherein the radicals R, which can be the same or different, are hydrocarbyl radicals with 1 to 7 carbon atoms, R' is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of ##STR6## wherein Y is selected from the group of radicals consisting of --OH and --Z, and wherein Z is a homopolymer or copolymer chain of one or more conjugated alkadienes of 4 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule or a copolymer chain of at least one alkadiene of 4 to 12 carbon atoms and at least one monovinyl-substituted arene radical of 8 to 18 carbon atoms per molecule, the vinyl radical being attached to a carbon atom of the arene ring, 
     
        in 100 molecules of formula (I)..]. .[.2.  A polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is an alkyl radical with 1 to 3 carbon atoms..]. .[.3. A polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is methyl..]. .[.4. A polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the polymer chain Z is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of butadiene and isoprene and of copolymers of butadiene and/or isoprene with styrene and/or a methyl styrene..]. .[.5. A polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein the polymer chain radicals Z have the structure A-B-, wherein A is a polystyrene block and B is a rubbery block obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing an alkadiene selected from the group consisting of butadiene, isoprene and mixtures thereof..]. .[.6. A polymer in accordance with claim 1 wherein Z is polybutadiene..]. .Iadd. 7. A polymer having the structure ##STR7## wherein the radical R is n-butyl, R' is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of ##STR8## wherein Y is selected from the group of radicals consisting of --OH and --Z wherein Z is a homopolymer of butadiene and wherein 230 polymer chains Z are present in 100 molecules of formula (I). .Iaddend.