Reaction of Thiols and Bisulfite with the Pendant Allyl Groups in Polytriallylamine

Abstract

The infrared spectrum of polytriallylamine prepared by the free-radical-initiated polymerization of triallylamine indicates the presence of a substantial amount of unsaturation. The usual quantitative methods of determining unsaturation (e. g., bromide/ bromate and mercuric acetate) cannot be used on polytriallylamine because of interference from the amino group. On the other hand, bisulfite was found to react rapidly and quantitatively with the pendant allyl groups of polytriallylamine. The reaction was studied over the pH range 4 to 10 and was fastest at pH 5.2. The reaction is a free-radical reaction which is catalyzed by metal ions and oxygen. The sulfonic acid groups which result from attack of bisulfite on the pendant allyl groups of polytriallylamine form strong zwitterion structures with the amine nitrogens. The addition of thiols is also a free-radical reaction. The reaction of HSCH₂CH₂OH, HSCH₂CO₂H, CH₃SH, H₂S, HSCH₂CH₂N(C₂H₅)₂, CH₅COSH, and C₆H₅SH with polytriallylamine was studied. Of these compounds, only HSCH₂CH₂OH and HSCH₂CO₂H reacted quantitatively. Some reasons for the differences in reactivity are presented.