Polyamides from esters

No major kinetic studies have been made on this polyamidation reaction. The mechanism, at least as regards monofunctional model compounds [101], is essentially (basic or neutral medium, acyl- 

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The above synthetic method for well-defined aromatic polyamides, however, needs a peculiar base, N-oclyl-N-triethylsilylaniline, along with CsF and 18-crown-6, and the monomer has a phenyl ester moiety as an electrophilic site, which is not that common compared with a methyl ester or an ethyl ester. Furthermore, it is necessary to separate the obtained polyamide from by-products, such as AT-octylaniline and phenol, by HPLC. For convenient synthesis, the polycondensation of the corresponding methyl ester monomer 22b with a commercially available base has been developed [301]. The methyl ester 22b polymerized with LiHMDS in the presence of an initiator in THF at -10 °C (Scheme 86). The highly pure polyamide with a defined molecu-... 

Carbodiimides are also used as catalysts in the formation of polyamides from dicarboxylic acids and diisocyanates. The carbodiimide catalyst is generated in situ from the diisocyanate using dimethylphospholene oxide as the catalyst. In this manner segmented thermoplastic poly(ether amides) and poly(ester amides) are obtained from the acid terminated monomers and diisocyanates by reaction polymerization processes. This reaction is best conducted in a vented extruder because carbon dioxide is the byproduct. 

In addition to step and chain polymerizations, another mode of polymerization is of importance. This is the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomers such as cyclic ethers, esters (lactones), amides (lactams), and siloxanes. Examples of commercially important types are given in Table 10.1. Of those listed, only the polyalkenes are composed solely of carbon chains. Those that have enjoyed the longest history of commercial exploitation are polyethers prepared from three-membered ring cyclic ethers (epoxides), polyamides from cyclic amides (lactams), and polysiloxanes from cyclic siloxanes. 

The first polyamides from these polybasic acids or their corresponding esters were described by Bradley and Johnston (1) and subsequently by Falkenburg et al. (2), These chemists recognized that polyamide resins have unusual solubility in lower alcohols and that films, deposited from alcohol solution, have good water resistance, strong adhesion to various surfaces, and other... 

In addition, isosorbide and other l,4 3,6-dianhydrohexitols (isomannide derived from D-mannose, isoidide derived from L-fructose) are also attractive to serve as monomers for polymer production due to their rigidity, chirality, and non-toxicity (Fig. 6). Such features may introduce special properties into the polymers formed, such as enhanced Jg and/or special optical properties. Their innocuous nature also opens the possibility of applications in packaging or medical devices. As a bifunctional monomer, isosorbide can be polymerized with other bifunctional monomers via condensation polymerization. A recent review described various isosorbide-based polymers synthesized, including polyesters, polyamides, poly(ester amide)s, poly(ester imide)s, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, and so on [308], and the present... 

Isosorbide, a double dehydration product derived from sorbitol, is an attractive monomer due to its rigidity, chirality, and non-toxicity. Various isosorbide-based polymers have been synthesized by condensation polymerization, including polyesters, polyamides, poly(ester amides), polycarbonates, and polyurethanes. Incorporation of isosorbide into polymers backbones will introduce special properties, such as enhanced glass transition temperatures and/or optical properties. 

HOaQCHjlfiCOiH, CSH14O4. Important dicarboxylic acid obtained by oxidizing ricino-leic acid (from castor oil) also obtained by oxidation of cyclo-octene or cyclo-octadiene formerly obtained from cork. Used in the formation of alkyd resins and polyamides. Esters are used as plasticizers and heavy duty lubricants and oils. 

Polyamides. The next two compounds are the amide counterparts of the esters listed under item (4). Although the values of AH j are less for the amides than for the esters, the values of T j, are considerably higher. This is a consequence of the very much lower values of AS j for the amides. These, in turn, are attributed to the low entropies of the amide in the liquid state owing to the effects of hydrogen bonding and chain stiffness arising from the contribution of the resonance form... 

As a class of compounds, nitriles have broad commercial utility that includes their use as solvents, feedstocks, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and pesticides. The versatile reactivity of organonitnles arises both from the reactivity of the C=N bond, and from the abiHty of the cyano substituent to activate adjacent bonds, especially C—H bonds. Nitriles can be used to prepare amines, amides, amidines, carboxyHc acids and esters, aldehydes, ketones, large-ring cycHc ketones, imines, heterocycles, orthoesters, and other compounds. Some of the more common transformations involve hydrolysis or alcoholysis to produce amides, acids and esters, and hydrogenation to produce amines, which are intermediates for the production of polyurethanes and polyamides. An extensive review on hydrogenation of nitriles has been recendy pubHshed (10). 

Organic Acids and Their Derivatives (Anhydrides, Nitriles, Ureas). Alkyleneamines react with acids, esters, acid anhydrides or acyl hahdes to form amidoamines and polyamides. Various diamides of EDA are prepared from the appropriate methyl ester or acid at moderate temperatures (25,26). 

Seb cic Acid. Sebacic acid [111-20-6] C QH gO, is an important intermediate in the manufacture of polyamide resins (see Polyamides). It has an estimated demand worldwide of approximately 20,000 t/yr. The alkaline hydrolysis of castor oil (qv), which historically has shown some wide fluctuations in price, is the conventional method of preparation. Because of these price fluctuations, there have been years of considerable interest in an electrochemical route to sebacic acid based on adipic acid [124-04-9] (qv) as the starting material. The electrochemical step involves the Kolbn-type or Brown-Walker reaction where anodic coupling of the monomethyl ester of adipic acid forms dimethyl sebacate [106-79-6]. The three steps in the reaction sequence from adipic acid to sebacic acid are as follows ... 

Nearly all of the polymers produced by step-growth polymerization contain heteroatoms and/or aromatic rings in the backbone. One exception is polymers produced from acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization.22 Hydrocarbon polymers with carbon-carbon double bonds are readily produced using ADMET polymerization techniques. Polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, and polyurethanes can be produced from aliphatic monomers with appropriate functional groups (Fig. 1.1). In these aliphatic polymers, the concentration of the linking groups (ester, carbonate, amide, or urethane) in the backbone greatly influences the physical properties. 

It is also possible to prepare them from amino acids by the self-condensation reaction (3.12). The PAs (AABB) can be prepared from diamines and diacids by hydrolytic polymerization [see (3.12)]. The polyamides can also be prepared from other starting materials, such as esters, acid chlorides, isocyanates, silylated amines, and nitrils. The reactive acid chlorides are employed in the synthesis of wholly aromatic polyamides, such as poly(p-phenyleneterephthalamide) in (3.4). The molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of these polymers follows the classical theory of molecular weight distribution and is nearly always in the region of 2. In some cases, such as PA-6,6, chain branching can take place and then the Mw/Mn ratio is higher. 

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