FAST-ATOM-BOMBARDMENT MASS-SPECTROMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE PARTIAL OZONOLYSIS PRODUCTS OF POLY(ISOPRENE) AND POLY(CHLOROPRENE)

The low molecular weight compounds formed by partial ozonolysis of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene) were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS). In the poly(chloroprene) case, the ozonized mixtures were treated with piperidine before the MS analysis to transform in amide end groups the reactive acyl chlorides formed by the cleavage of double bonds along the main chain. Only one family of compounds having carboxyl and ketone or carboxyl and amide end groups were obtained from the ozonolysis of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene), respectively. The assigned structures were confirmed by FAB-MS analysis of the GPC separated fractions [poly(chloroprene)] or by FAB-MS of the KOH-doped ozonolysis mixtures [poly(isoprene)]. It has been also ascertained, by GPC experiments, that poly(chloroprene) decomposes more rapidly than poly(isoprene) and poly(butadiene).