The present invention is directed to a copolymer derived from an acyclic conjugated diene monomer and a 1-vinylcycloalkene monomer of formula I where n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4, R is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group of one to four carbon atoms, with the proviso that R may be appended at the 3 to (n+5) positions on the carbon ring.