Abstract
This study aimed at improving the structure of polybutadiene through epoxidation at a constant temperature. This was accomplished using dimethyl dioxirane (DMD) as an in-situ generated oxidant in the presence of Cloisite 30B as a phase-transfer catalyst (PTC). Indeed, this experiment was an attempt to see how Cloisite 30B modifies the process of epoxidation. More specifically, we added different quantities of Cloisite 30B and, spectroscopy methods, checked the products after different periods. Cloisite 30B was found to be particularly selective: it caused more of the cis double bonds and less of the trans and vinyl bonds to be epoxidized.
Notes
A: 98% cis.
B: 36% cis, 55% trans, and 9% vinyl.
C: 20% vinyl and 80% cis and trans.