Abstract The studies described in this papier lead to certain conclusions. The crosslinking reaction of halobutyl with zinc oxide does not give rise to ether crosslinks. All the evidence indicates that the chemistry involves the formation of carbon-carbon bonds by an alkylation type chemistry. The dehydrohalogenation of the halobutyl to form a zinc chloride catalyst is a key feature of the crosslinking chemistry. But conjugated diene butyl and Diels-Alder reactions are not the major reaction pathway for the zinc oxide crosslinking reaction. These conclusions have significance for the zinc oxide cure of CR which has an active allylic halide structure formed by 1,2-monomer enchainment.