Radiation synthesis of polymers in aqueous cyanides

Structures and properties of polymers isolated from the reaction mixtures obtained upon irradiation of dilute aqueous solutions of ammonium cyanide and HCN with gamma rays of 60Co were studied. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical data it was concluded that two principal classes of polymers occur each of them having molecular weights that range from about 5000 to over 20000. In both types of polymers peptidic, urea-formaldehyde, and complex heterocyclic fragments are identified. In one type aliphatic fragments are more pronounced, while in the other heterocyclic structures predominate. The polymers interact with nucleic acid bases and some of them show catalytic properties as demonstrated by the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylacetate.