Molecular parameters of polybutadiene prepared in the presence of polyfunctional sodium-piperylene initiator☆

Abstract It is shown that the interaction of piperylene with metallic sodium in the presence of 4,4′-dimethyldioxane-1,3 results in the formation of branched oligomers having a number average functionality of 1·5–12, which can be used as a butadiene polymerization initiator. The MMD and molecular structure of the polybutadiene obtained in the presence of sodium piperylene initiator are studied. The polymer has a high MM (especially on polymerization without a modifier), a wide MMD, and shows very marked molecular chain branching.