The present invention is directed to a stereoregular functionalized
elastomer represented by poly(M1 co M2), wherein the functionalized
elastomer comprises a
microstructure selected from the group consisting of microstructures having at least 90 percent by weight of
monomer residues in trans 1,4-configuration, and microstructures having at least 80 percent by weight of
monomer residues in cis 1,4-configuration; wherein M1 is selected from the group consisting of
isoprene and 1,3-butadiene; and M2 is of formula 4wherein R6 is a
covalent bond,
phenylene, a linear or
branched alkane diyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a combination of one or more
phenylene groups and one or more linear or
branched alkane diyl groups containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R7 is
hydrogen or a linear or branched
alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; X1 is selected from formulas 5 and 6wherein R8 and R9 are independently trialkylsilyl, phenyl or a linear or branched
alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or one of R8 and R9 is
hydrogen and the other is phenyl or a linear or branched
alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or R8 and R9 taken together with the
nitrogen atom represent a
nitrogen containing heterocyclic group containing from 4 to 12 carbon atoms; and X2 is a
sulfur atom or a structure of formula 7 or 8wherein when X2 is of formula 8, the S atom of formula 8 is adjacent to the phenyl ring of formula 6 and the N atom of formula 8 is adjacent to R6.