Sulfenyl halide polymerization terminators

This invention relates to compounds that are useful for terminating anionic polymerization reactions. More particularly, the compounds of this invention are polymerization terminators that impart a functionality to the resulting polymer. Specifically, the compounds of this invention are sulfenyl halides. One preferred embodiment of this invention is directed toward the use of these sulfenyl halides to terminate elastomers that are useful in fabricating tires. A method of preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of initiating the formation and propagation of an anionically-polymerized living polymer, and terminating the propagation of the living polymer by reacting the polymer with a terminating agent selected from the group of agents defined by the formulas (III), (IV), and (V) where C is a carbon atom, S is a sulfur atom, X is a halogen atom, Rand Rare independently selected from hydrogen and carbon-based moieties, and where the phenyl groups are selected from unsubstituted and substituted phenyl groups.