The cure of polybutadiene rubber (BR) with sulfur donor dipentamethylene thiuram tetrasulfide (DPTT) does not show reversion reaction, in contrast with similar natural rubber compounds. No polysulfure links are formed; whereas a great amount of -C-C-crosslinks are produced. The addition of tetramethyl thiuram monosulfidic (TMTM) strongly affects the crosslinking process. Mechanical properties of the cured compounds are poor. In DPTT, curing of BR the radical species produced through homolitic cleavage of DPTT molecule seems to have sufficient energy to produce crosslinking, via allylic abstraction, and also initiate the polymerization of double bonds producing areas of high crosslinking density that induce early material failure. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.