GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY OF STYRENE OLIGOMERS USING A CURIE-POINT PYROLYZER

A Curie-point pyrolyzer directly coupled to a capillary gas chromatograph was applied to analyze the volume effects of stereoisomers on the chromatography of 2,4-diphenylpentane as a model compound of a styrene dimer, and finally of those of styrene oligomers. It was found that the retention time for the meso-isomer of 2,4-diphenylpentane appeared to be advanced and significantly far apart from that of the racemo-isomer. In the case of styrene oligomers prepared with n-butyllithium as the initiator, the n-butyl group coupled to the beta-carbon atom to the styrene terminal unit was stable even at 590 degrees C, and corresponding peaks for the 1-mer, 2-mer, 3-mer and 4-mer were detected, in addition to the well-recognized peaks assigned to the dimer and the trimer.