Deuterium labeling of polymers creates targeted contrast for neutron scattering experiments in bulk polymer systems, polymer blends, block copolymers, and polymer solutions. Catalytic H-D exchange provides a simple method of preparing labeled polymers post-reactor, eliminating the synthetic complications and cost inherent in the use of labeled monomers and allowing for direct comparison with the unlabeled precursor. Here, we demonstrate significant H-D exchange on polypropylenes using a catalyst system that does not alter the molecular weight distribution of the polymer sample; this is the first such system to our knowledge that allows for this breadth of labeling capability. The impact of H-D exchange on the tacticity of the polymer systems studied will also be discussed.

Heterogeneous catalytic H-D exchange and racemization of polypropylenes

248th National Meeting (2014)

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