Formation of carbynoid structures by chemical dehydrohalogenation of poly(vinylidene chloride). A ¹³C solid‐state NMR study

Abstract

Abstract The products of the interaction of poly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC) powder with a mixture of alcoholic KOH solution and tetrahydrofuran were studied by solid‐state 13 C NMR spectroscopy. The reaction was found to be a complex process involving dehydrochlorination as a target reaction and some side reactions, viz., nucleophilic substitution, cross‐linking, and secondary transformations of intermediate and final products. The endproducts are “carbynoid‐type” polymeric materials containing short carbyne fragments along with various defect links such as alkoxy‐ and hydroxy groups, carbonyl species, as well as cross‐links. The reasons for the concurrent formation of both polyyne and cumulene structures, and the nature of side reactions are discussed.