New synthetic route to OH-functionalized nitrile N-oxide and polyfunctional nitrile N-oxides for click crosslinking and decrosslinking of natural rubber

Abstract

A new synthetic route for obtaining polyfunctional nitrile N-oxides from OH-tethering nitrile N-oxide is reported. OH-Tethering nitrile N-oxide is synthesized using the proposed route by using an intermediary nitroalkane and derived to polyfunctional ones via OH-involving condensations. The polyfunctional nitrile N-oxides undergo a catalyst-free crosslinking reaction to form crosslinked natural rubber (NR). The physical properties of the crosslinked NR indicate the occurrence of effective crosslinking. A crosslinker with ester-connected two nitrile N-oxide functions is demonstrated to have favorable decrosslinking ability.