Studies on polymerization and depolymerization of ε‐caprolactam polymer VII. On the amide interchange reaction

Abstract

Abstract The amide interchange reaction between acid amide (trans amide) and ε‐caprolactam (cis amide) has been studied and it was ascertained that trans‐trans and trans‐cis amides caused the interchange reaction but cis‐cis amides did not. The reaction mechanism was also discussed. It is expected for the ε‐caprolactam. polymerization in the presence of water that the interchange reaction between the amide groups of chain molecules and of ε‐caprolactam may be considerably fast besides the reaction between end groups of chain molecules and ε‐caprolactatm.