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1-Methylcyclopropene (MCP) copolymerizes rapidly with acrylic and vinyl monomers to form soluble, high molecular weight products containing enchained cyclopropane rings. The high electron availability in the cyclopropene double bond promotes one-to-one alternating copolymerization with sulfur dioxide, maleic anhydride, acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, dialkyl fumarates and acrylic esters. Nonalternating copolymers are obtained with vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, and attempted copolymerization fails entirely with styrene, α-methylstyrene and isoprene. This pattern of copolymerization reactivity resembles that of highly compressed ethylene. Methylcyclopropene copolymers have high glass temperatures in spite of the small size of the MCP unit. The combination of high Tg and small size allows preparation of copolymers with high Tg having a wide range of ductilities and cohesive energy densities.

At Dr Murray's request, I have during the past winter continued the investigation of Messrs Irvine and Young on the solubility of carbonate of lime in its different forms in sea water (the results of which they submitted to this Society in May 1888); and the following notes of the work done and the results obtained by me, under Mr Irvine's guidance, in the laboratory of the Marine Station, Granton, may be of interest.

Polyethylene is prepared in silver perchlorate solution by initiation with dialkyl peroxydicarbonates at 0–40°C. Saponification of the polymer endgroups yields a product rich in α,ω-diols. Well-known reactions convert the hydroxyl groups to other functional groups. The diol may be condensed with phosgene so as to increase its molecular weight severalfold or crosslinked with silicon tetrachloride to form a network.

It is well known that pseudomorphic changes take place with many minerals. These changes may be either by alteration or displacement. In the case of carbonate of lime they are generally of the former order.Among other work conducted at the Marine Station, Granton, during the past year, a number of experiments were instituted with the view of showing how far carbonate of lime was influenced in this direction by metallic and other salts.Corals, preferably the more porous and soft varieties, were selected for this purpose, and these were exposed to the action of solutions of the following salts:–Chloride of manganese, sulphate of iron, chloride of zinc, chloride of chromium, nitrate of nickel, nitrate of cobalt, nitrate of copper, nitrate of lead, chloride of mercury, chloride of tin, nitrate of silver, phosphate of ammonia.

Radiation polymerization of butadiene proceeds by the ionic route. The polymerization rate increased with decreasing temperature, a characteristic of cationic polymerizations. (T.R.H.)