Über die Spaltung von PVC mit Alkali in Tetrahydrofuran

With the objective of scanning the molecular structure of PVC, its reaction with alkali in tetrahydrofurane which has been published previously was reexamined in detail. It was found that, stirring of a 1% solution of PVC in THF with KOH/MeOH at room temperature or 60°C for 90 min yields a product which has only two-thirds of the original K-value. If reacted at room temperature 16 molecules of HCl per 100 VC-units will be eliminated, obtaining at the same time 12 double bonds and the introduction of 2 oxygen atoms. If the splitting is performed at 60°C, 30 molecules of HCl per 100 VC-units will be eliminated obtaining 15 double bonds and the introduction of 10 oxygen atoms. Analysis by gelpermeation chromatography in combination with balance of materials indicates that parallel to chain splitting an increase in molecular weight takes place possibly by intermolecular elimination of HCl. As compared to reactions with low molecular weight compounds the possibility will be discussed that the splitting of the chain in THF could have proceeded at a head-to-head-addition site after HCl elimination followed by saponification (retroaldolreaction).