Chemical modification of wood with isopropenyl acetate (IPA) using iodine (I 2 ) as catalyst has been carried out. Rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis) specimens were reacted with IPA using iodine (I 2 ) catalyst at 95°C up to 10 h under solvent free conditions. The effect of catalyst concentration and reaction time was studied. The extent of acetylation was measured by determining weight percent gain and the modified wood was characterized by FTIR-ATR and 13 C NMR spectroscopy. It was found that IPA in the presence of iodine is an excellent acylating reagent for wood. Modified wood exhibited high dimensional stability.

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