A process for the preparation of hydrocarbon solutions of monofunctional ether initiators of the following general structure:M--Q.sub.n --Z--OA(R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3) (II)wherein M is defined as an alkali metal, selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium, Q is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group derived by incorporation of a compound selected from the group consisting of conjugated diene hydrocarbons and alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons; Z is defined as a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon tether or connecting group which contains 3-25 carbon atoms, optionally containing aryl or substituted aryl groups; A is an element selected from Group IVa of the periodic table and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl groups, and n is an integer from 1 to 5. monofunctional ethers produced by the process, use of the initiators in a polymerization process and polymers produced by the polymerization process.