| Abstract: | The reaction of butadiene with n-butylsodium or metal alkoxide-modified n-butylsodium was studied. A loss of “live ends” was observed when the polymerization of butadiene-1,3 with n-butylsodium was conducted in hexane solvent. This occurs, presumably, by elimination of NaH or Na metal in the allylic system. Similar results were obtained when the polymerization was carried out in the presence of sodium-tert-butoxide-modified n-butylsodium. However, the modification of n-butylsodium by lithium or potassium tert-butoxide in the butadiene-1,3 polymerization showed no loss of live ends for a period of two weeks. The results and an explanation are discussed. |
