Chemical modification of poly(epichlorohydrin) with unsaturated potassium carboxylates

Poly(epichlorohydrin) was modified by nucleophilic substitution with some aliphatic potassium carboxylates containing terminal double bonds (10-undecenoate, 4-pentenoate and 3-butenoate). In order to monitor the degree of substitution achieved, different reaction conditions were tested. The polyethers obtained were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis, thermal methods, viscosity determinations and osmometric measurements. A slight crosslinking and the reported main chain cleavage were both detected. Finally, it must be pointed out that, during the substitution reaction with the vinylacetate, isomerization to crotonic ester took place.