The Structure of Cyclized Polybutadiene

Abstract

Abstract Polybutadiene was cyclized with sulfuric acid under rather drastic conditions. The cyclization was confirmed by the decrease of unsaturation and the change of physical properties. The low degree of unsaturation of cyclized polybutadiene, as determined by the iodine-bromide method, suggested the formation of polycyclic structures. Oxidation of cyclized polybutadiene with acidic permanganate gave a dibasic acid, C16H22O4, which corresponds to a tricyclic ring system. Consequently, the structure of cyclized polybutadiene may be considered to include polycyclic structures joined by uncyclized segments of the molecular chain together with isolated six-membered rings. Further study will be necessary to fully establish the structure of cyclized polybutadiene.