US 7,321,017 B1
Amine containing catalyst system and methods of use thereof
Adel Farhan Halasa, Bath, Ohio (US); Wen-Liang Hsu, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (US); Chad Aaron Jasiunas, Copley, Ohio (US); John Robert Zuppo, III, Copley, Ohio (US); and Lauire Elizabeth Austin, Hartville, Ohio (US)
Assigned to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/466,920.
Int. Cl. C08F 4/52 (2006.01); C08F 4/48 (2006.01); C08F 36/04 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 526—180  [526/176; 526/204; 502/153; 502/154; 502/155] 17 Claims
 
11. A method comprising:
polymerizing a conjugated diolefin monomer in the presence of a catalyst system for synthesizing rubbery polymers having a high trans microstructure, the catalyst system comprising:
an organolithium compound;
a group IIa metal salt;
an organoaluminum compound; and
an amine compound selected from the group consisting of a heterocyclic aromatic compound defined by a substituted or unsubstituted 3-, 4-, or 5-membered ring structure with at least one nitrogen atom as part of the ring, an unsubstituted 6-membered ring structure with one nitrogen atom as part of the ring, a substituted or unsubstituted 6-membered ring structure with at least two nitrogen atoms as part of the ring, quinoline, 2-picoline, 3-picoline, or 4-picoline; a heterocyclic non-aromatic compound defined by a substituted or unsubstituted 3-, 4-, 5-membered ring structure with at least two nitrogen atoms as part of the ring, an unsubstituted 6-membered ring structure with at least two nitrogen atoms as part of the ring, or N,N-dimethyl piperazine, and N-methyl piperazine; an aromatic compound including a ring structure substituted with at least one amine and at least one polar functionality containing group; a bicyclic chelating diamine compound; and an aliphatic amine which includes a C8-C20 alkyl group.