Tools
Tools
Manning, J. J. (1963) The reaction of potassium permanganate with unsaturated monolayers. Doctoral thesis, Northern Polytechnic.
The surface balance has proved a useful research tool to chemists during the last thirty years, and has been instrumental in providing much additional information concerning the reaction between various oxidising agents and unimolecular films of unsaturated materials. However, prior to the recent researches of DEAN, PERERA and GLAZER, little study was made of the surface oxidation of polymeric materials.
The initial aim of the present investigation is to further the work of these authors with particular reference to the product of the surface oxidation reaction. A further kinetic study of the surface oxidation reaction of 3,4-polyisoprene and various polybutadienes has also been carried out.
It has always been believed that the product of the surface oxidation reaction between unsaturated materials and dilute, aqueous, acidified potassium permanganate is the corresponding dihydroxy compound, and the results obtained using natural rubber and gutta-percha were interpreted in accord with this belief. In order to substantiate this concept unequivocally the surface oxidation reaction of various unsaturated, amphipathic materials, e.g. oleyl alcohol and elaidyl alcohol, are now investigated and the monolayer characteristics of the corresponding dihydroxy compounds have been studied. The relative solubilities of the various monolayers on sub-solutions of potassium permanganate and periodic acid are also studied, and the experimental results lead us to conclude that the product of the surface oxidation reaction is not totally dihydroxy.
A novel attempt to characterise the product of the surface oxidation reaction has been made by reacting oleyl alcohol and dilute, aqueous, acidified potassium permanganate in "bulk" and analysing the product. The results of this experiment lead us to suppose that the surface oxidised product may contain the corresponding epoxide. The epoxide of oleyl alcohol and that of natural rubber has been prepared and the monolayer characteristics studied.
The various results are summarised and an acceptable kinetic scheme is postulated.
The chapters of this thesis are not arranged chronologically but in such an order, it is hoped, that will prove more lucid to the reader.
 |
View Item |