Separation Analysis of Polyisoprenes Regarding Microstructure by Online LCCC-NMR and SEC-NMR

It is shown that online coupling of liquid chromatography at critical conditions (LCCC) and H-1 NMR spectroscopy can be used to separate and analyze polyisoprenes with respect to their isomeric microstructures. It was possible to separate blends of copolymers consisting predominantly of 3,4- and 1,4-isoprene units by using critical conditions of 1,4-PI. Critical conditions of 1,4-PI were established such that polymers containing predominantly 3,4-PI elute in the size exclusion mode. Furthermore, on-flow NMR detection allows for the complete eluate analysis and the detection of all three isomeric species, such as 1,2-, 1,4-, and 3,4-isoprene, in fie eluting fractions. These three individual moieties were correctly quantified in the individual blend components. It was also found that the 3,4-PI samples were random terpolymers of 1,2-, 1,4-, and 3,4-isoprene, whereas the 1,4-PI samples were copolymers of 1,4- and 3,4-isoprene. In addition, SEC-NMR allowed for a fast and precise molar mass calibration and the calculation of the relevant molar mass parameters M-w and M-n.