Polar polymers having the following formula:FG--(Q).sub.d --R.sub.n --Z--J--�A(R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3)!.sub.x(I)wherein FG is H or a protected or non-protected functional group; Q is a polar hydrocarbyl group derived by incorporation of a polar compound selected from group consisting of esters, amides, and nitriles of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and mixtures thereof; d is an integer from 10 to 2000; R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group derived by incorporation of a compound selected from the group consisting of conjugated diene hydrocarbons, alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof; n is an integer from 0 to 5; Z is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon group which contains 3-25 carbon atoms, optionally containing aryl or substituted aryl groups; J is oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen; �A(R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3)!.sub.x is a protecting group, in which A is an element selected from Group IVa of the Periodic Table of Elements; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl groups containing lower alkyl, lower alkylthio, and lower dialkylamino groups, aryl or substituted aryl groups containing lower alkyl, lower alkylthio, and lower dialkylamino groups, and cycloalkyl and substituted cycloalkyl containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms; and x is dependent on the valence of J and varies from one when J is oxygen or sulfur to two when J is nitrogen, and living anionic polymerization processes for preparing the same.