POLYENE SEQUENCES IN IODINATED POLYISOPRENE

The presence of polyene sequences, introduced into polyisoprene by int eraction with molecular iodine in the solid phase and in chloroform so lution has been established using fluorescence emission and excitation spectroscopy. Changes in the electrical conductivity of polyene films following the interaction have been measured and the mechanism of pol yene formation is discussed. The results support the conclusions of ot her workers that the presence of conjugated sequences are a pre-requis ite for conducting materials rather than the intersite hopping between carbocation centres derived from oxidation of isolated double bonds w hich has been suggested. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.