Radical transfer reactions in polymers

Fret-radical transfer in polymers have been studied by pulse radiolysis and product analysis with the water-soluble polymers poly(vinyl alcohol), poly (acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), polynucleotides and DNA. When OH ra dicals react with polymers the lifetime of the polymer radical thus created strongly depends on the number of radicals per polymer chain. Moreover, in negatively charged polymers the increased stiffness at high pH results in a remarkable increase of the lifetime of the radicals with respect to recom bination. This allows a number of radical transfer reactions to occur (e.g. intramolecular H-transfer, beta-fragmentation, depolymerization, reactions with additives). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.