The chemical modification of polymers for analytical purposes

When it is possible to convert one polymer quantitatively into another, the derived polymer can sometimes be studied to obtain information about the original polymer. In other instances, the derived polymer can serve as a reference material for use in the development of polymer characterization procedures. This paper reviews the use of such techniques in studies on branching and stereoregularity in homopolymers and in studies on sequence distribution in copolymers. The reactions covered include hydrolysis, ammonolysis, alcoholysis, esterification, transesterification and the hydrogenation of polyhalocarbons and unsaturated polyhydrocarbons. In addition, recent studies on cyclization reactions in polymers are surveyed. Such studies can provide information about sequence distribution in copolymers.