On the number-average molecular weight of poly(1,4-trans isoprene) determined by conventional GPC

We became aware, in the course of our on-going research, that the number-average molecular weight of poly(1,4-trans isoprene) determined by conventional gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using polystyrene standards differs from its true value by a factor 2. As far as we know, the Mark-Houwink coefficients of this polymer in a widespread GPC eluent such as THF have never been determined. We provide in this contribution a simple relationship between the number-average molecular weight of poly(1,4-trans isoprene) determined by GPC in THF using polystyrene standards and its true value.