The oxidation of polyvinyl alcohol by ceric ion

Abstract

Abstract The rate of reaction of ceric nitrate with the 1,2‐glycol units and the alcohol units of polyvinyl alcohol was determined at 20°C. It was found that the glycol units are oxidized much faster than the alcohol units even though they are outnumbered about one hundred to one in the polymer chain. Under the conditions studied, at least 83 glycol units reacted per 100 hours oxidized. Since the oxidation of the glycol units is accompanied by chain splitting, the free radicals are produced predominantly at the fragments end.