FUNCTIONALIZED ELASTOMER CONTAINING A SULFUR GROUP

The present invention is directed to a copolymer of a monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene, and a monomer of formula I wherein R 1 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; and R 2 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and X is a sulfur atom or a structure of formula II or III, wherein when X is of formula III, the S atom of formula III is adjacent to the phenyl ring of formula I and the N atom of formula III is adjacent to R 1 .