Isomerization in olefin formation in radiation degradation of poly(olefin sulphone)s

Gamma irradiation of poly(3-methyl-1-butene sulphone) in the solid state at 20°C produced a mixture of isomers, viz. 3-methyl-1-butene (61%), 2-methyl-1-butene (2%) and 2-methyl-2-butene (37%). Similarly, poly(1-butene sulphone) yielded 1-butene (65%) and 2-butene (35%). A hydride shift reaction in a polymer cation produced by main-chain scission is proposed to account for the isomerization