Reactivity of Normal Chain Diols in T-for-H Exchange Reaction

In order to clarify the reactivity of normal chain diols, the hydrogen-isotope exchange reaction (T-for-H exchange reaction) between solid poly (vinyl alcohol) labeled with tritium and each normal chain diol dissolved in 1, 4-dioxane has been observed in the range of 30 to 70 °C (or 90 °C) . The observed data was analyzed with the A″-McKay plot method, and the following three matters are consequently found. (1) The greater the number of methylene groups in a diol is, the smaller is the reactivity of the diol. (2) A significant difference in the reactivity is found between diols having even number of methylene groups and those having odd number of ones, and the reactivity of the former is larger than that of the latter. (3) As to the ratio of the decrease of the reactivity of the diols having increasing number of methylene groups, the ratio of diols having even number of methylene groups is greater than the ratio of diols having odd number of ones.