Phase-Transfer Catalyzed Polycondensation of α,α′-Dichloro-p-xylene with 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane

Abstract

The phase-transfer catalyzed polycondensation of α,α′-dichloro-p-xylene with 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane was carried out in the presence of benzyltriethylammonium chloride in a two-phase system of an aqueous alkaline solution and its solution-immiscible organic solvents such as benzene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Addition of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to the system not only enhanced the reaction but also suppressed side reactions to give a completely soluble, high molecular weight polyether. Optimal solvent systems at 60°C were THF–DMSO (3: 1)/ or nitrobenzene–DMSO (3: 1)/50 wt% aqueous sodium hydroxide, which gave the polymer having an inherent viscosity of 0.54 dlg−1. The reaction temperature also affected the inherent viscosity of the resulting polymer causing it to become 0.62 dlg−1 at 100°C in a toluene–DMSO (3:1)/50wt% aqueous sodium hydroxide system.