Metathetic Selective Degradation of Polyisoprene: Low‐Molecular‐Weight Telechelic Oligomer Obtained from Both Synthetic and Natural Rubber

Summary: Degradation studies of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene were carried out using first and second generation Grubbs catalysts to achieve end‐functionalized acetoxy oligomers in both an organic solvent and a latex phase at room temperature. Well‐defined acetoxy telechelic polyisoprene structures were obtained in a selective manner with a range of M ₙ from 10 000 to 30 000, with a polydispersity index of around 2.5. Structure produced by the metathetic depolymerization of hydroxy telechelic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene. magnified image Structure produced by the metathetic depolymerization of hydroxy telechelic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene.