Mechanism of radiation-induced addition reaction of carbon tetrachloride onto liquid 1,2-polybutadiene accompanied by cyclization

Effects of irradiation conditions were investigated in the γ-ray-induced addition reaction of carbon tetrachloride onto liquid 1,2-polybutadiene. The rate of addition reaction was proportional to the dose rate, and its apparent activation energy was 1.4 kcal/mole in the range of ca. 20–80°C; the G values for the addition of carbon tetrachloride and vinyl consumption were high. The addition reactions of methyl isobutylate, isopropyl amine, and bromotrichloromethane to liquid 1,2-polybutadiene by γ rays were studied to compare with carbon tetrachloride. Methyl isobutylate and isopropyl amine were added much more slowly. On the other hand, in bromotrichloromethane the rate of addition reaction was much faster but cyclization was less pronounced than in carbon tetrachloride. On the basis of these results a mechanism of a radical chain reaction which includes the addition of carbon tetrachloride, cyclization, and crosslinking, is proposed.