Sequence Distribution of Polyisoprenes

Isoprene can be polymerized into four types of isomeric structures; cis-1,4, trans-1,4, 3,4, and 1,2, depending on catalysts and polymerization conditions. So far, the difference of mechanical and thermal properties among polyisoprenes has been discussed chiefly on the basis of amounts of these isomeric structures. However, it is quite reasonable to expect that the polymer properties are affected not only by the composition of isomeric structures but also by the distribution of isomeric structures, the arrangement of head and tail linkages, and the degree of branching. This idea was adopted by Hackathorn and Brock as an explanation of the poor crystallizability of lithium polyisoprene; i.e. head-to-head and/or tail-to-tail linkages of 1,4- and 3,4-units prevented the crystallization of the polymer. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography has been applied to the investigation of the sequence distribution of 1,4- and 3,4-units in polyisoprenes. This method is based on the structural relationship between the isoprene dimers and the diad sequences of 1,4- and 3,4-units. However, it is difficult to discuss the slight differences in the yield of each dimer because the absolute amount of the dimers is small (∼30%) compared to the isoprene monomer (∼65%). Ozonolysis has been used to measure the amount of head-to-head, head-to-tail, and tail-to-tail linkages of the 1,4-unit in polyisoprenes. This method, however, is limited to the detection of these linkages of 1,4-units. In a previous paper, we have investigated 13C NMR spectra of chicle and cis-trans isomerized polyisoprenes and determined the sequence distribution of cis-1,4- and trans- 1,4-units in these polymers. We have also studied 13C NMR spectra of hydrogenated polyisoprenes prepared with n-BuLi-Et2O catalysts and found that 1,4- and 3,4-units were distributed randomly along the polymer chains regardless of the amounts of 3,4-units. In the present investigation we prepared various types of polyisoprenes and discussed the distribution of 1,4-and 3,4-units, arrangements of head and tail linkages, the branches of polymer chains, and the tacticity of polyads of 3,4-unit by the use of 13C NMR spectra of hydrogenated polyisoprenes.