received by the International Bureau on 28 June 2018 (28.06.2018)

1. A polymer comprising:

a functionalized copolymer produced by copolymerization of at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and at least one vinyl monomer, the functionalized copolymer comprising at least one alkoxysilyl functional group, the alkoxylsilyl functional group being selected from the group consisting of alkoxysilane compounds, aralkyloxysilane compounds, tetraalkoxysilane compounds, alkylalkoxysilane compounds, alkenylalkoxysilane compounds,

halogenoalkoxysilane compounds,

wherein the functionalized copolymer has a degree of hydrogenation of 75% to 98 mol% as measured using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ('H NMR).

2. The polymer of claim 1 wherein the conjugated diolefin monomer comprises 1,3 butadiene, isoprene, myrcene, or combinations thereof, and wherein the vinyl monomer comprise styrene, alpha methyl styrene, or combinations thereof, and the silica reactive moieties comprises one or more groups selected from alkoxysilyl, hydroxyl, polyalkylene glycol, silanol, silyl halide, anhydride, organic acid, epoxy groups and combinations thereof.

3. The polymer of any preceding claim wherein the functional group comprises carbon black reactive moieties.

4. The polymer of any preceding claim, wherein the alkoxysilyl functional group comprises trimethoxysilane, dimethoxysilane, or combinations thereof.

5. The polymer of any preceding claim, wherein the functionalized copolymer has a vinyl content from 10 to 60% and the degree of hydrogenation of the functionalized copolymer is at least 85 mol%.

6. The polymer of any preceding claim, wherein the functionalized copolymer is a silane functionalized styrene butadiene copolymer.

7. A rubber composition comprising:

the polymer of any preceding claim;

at least one curative; and

reinforcing filler.

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8. The rubber composition of claim 7, further comprising an additional rubber comprising natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or combinations thereof.

9. The rubber composition of claim 7 or 8, wherein the reinforcing filler comprises silica, carbon black, or combinations thereof, and the curative comprises sulfur.

10. A method of making a hydrogenated functionalized copolymer comprising:

introducing an anionic polymerization initiator, at least one conjugated diolefin monomer, at least one vinyl monomer, and solvent to a reactor to produce a living copolymer via anionic polymerization;

reacting at least one alkoxysilyl functional group with the living copolymer to produce a functionalized copolymer, wherein the alkoxylsilyl functional group is selected from the group consisting of alkoxysilane compounds, aralkyloxysilane compounds, tetraalkoxysilane compounds, alkylalkoxysilane compounds, alkenylalkoxysilane compounds,

halogenoalkoxysilane compounds; and

hydrogenating the functionalized copolymer by mixing the functionalized copolymer with solvent and a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrogen stream, wherein the hydrogenated functionalized copolymer has a degree of hydrogenation of 75% to 98 mol % as measured using ¾ NMR.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises nickel and aluminum, and the anionic polymerization initiator is a lithium catalyst.

12. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises nickel octoate.

13. The method of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the alkoxysilyl functional group comprises trimethoxysilane, dimethoxysilane, or combinations thereof.

14. The method of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the functionalized copolymer has a vinyl content from 10 to 60% and the degree of hydrogenation of the functionalized copolymer is at least 85 mol%.

15. The method of any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the functionalized copolymer is a silane functionalized styrene butadiene copolymer.