Poly(viny1 chloride) (PVC) was dehydrochlorinated thermally in pyridine solution under N2atmosphere and the effect of variation of reaction time, temperature, and concentration of PVC in pyridine was studied. The extent of dehydrochlorination (or conversion, x%) increases with an increase in reaction time and temperature, and with a decrease in the concentration of PVC. Incomplete precipitation of dehydrochlorinated PVC (DHPVC) occurs by nonsolvent (methanol). During dehydrochlorination there is no HCl evolution as it forms a pyridine hydrochloride complex which is supposed to act as a catalyst for dehydrochlorination. A possible mechanism has been proposed. Chain scission and cross-linking reactions are responsible for the molecular weight changes that take place during the reaction.