Preparation and chain extension of C100dicarboxylic acid

The selective degradation of polyethylene crystals with fuming nitric acid has been used to prepare a C₁₀₀ chain with terminal functional groups. After treating this product with concentrated sulphuric acid, it is shown by average molecular weight, titration and infra-red spectroscopy measurements that each molecule contains two carboxylic acid groups. This C₁₀₀ dicarboxylic acid is chain extended with several low molecular weight difunctional coupling agents. Block copolymers of this acid and poly(propylene glycol) have been prepared.