On the reaction mechanism of polybutadiene with molecular iodine

The interaction of various grades of polybutadiene (MM=2x104-2.106) with iodine has been studied with the use of the ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and paramagnetic resonance. It has been established that in benzol (in darkness and in the absence of oxygen) iodine is coupled by the binary links of polybutadiene, the reaction being reversible. In all other non-aromatic solvents, iodine and polybutadiene form complexes (1:1) which are destroyed or not destroyed during vacuum treatment. It is supposed that the former complexes consist of polybutadiene and molecular iodine, whereas the latter complexes are formed by polybutadiene and iodine radicals