No abstract

A controlled degradation process enabling Natural Rubber (NR) depolymerization and using the olefin metathesis reaction in ionic liquid medium is reported. Using trihexyl-(tetradecyl)­phosphonium chloride (Cyphos101) and N,N-dioctylimidazolium bromide (C8C8ImBr), low-dispersity telechelic polymers are produced. With N,N-dioctylimidazolium bromide (C8C8ImBr), the degradation process could be performed for five consecutive cycles with excellent control. This degradation process was successfully applied to waste tires.