Novel polyunsaturated poly(ether ester) made by consecutive formation of ether and ester bonds under one pot conditions

POLY 197

Anbanandam Parthiban, a_parthiban@ices.a-star.edu.sg, Ng Yeap Hung, T. R. Babu Rao, and Lily Liqi Yang. Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, 1, Pesek Road, Jurong Island, Singapore, 627833, Singapore
Polymerization reactions, irrespective of whether it is polycondensation or addition polymerization, in general, involve a single type of bond formation. For example, polymerization of olefins by addition polymerization involve C-C bond forming reactions. Among the polymers obtained by condensation polymerization, polyesters are formed in the reaction between a dicarboxylic acid or its derivative and a diol or its derivatives. Similarly in the preparation of polyamides, a dicarboxylic acid or its derivatives is reacted with a diamine. These reactions also involve bond formation of a single type viz., ester bonds and amide bonds respectively. We have recently observed that it is possible to obtain high molecular weight polymers involving the formation of dual bonds under one pot reaction conditions. In spite of the difference in the nucleophilicity between a phenoxide (more nucleophilic) and a carboxylate (less nucleophilic) anions, both anions participate in nucleophilic substitution reaction with 1,4-dihalo-2-butene under the same conditions to yield a novel, polyunsaturated poly(ether ester), I. High molecular weight polymers were obtained even at room temperature. These polymers have the added benefit of enabling further functionalization due to the presence of unsaturated bonds in the polymeric structure. The preparation and characterization of one such polyunsaturated poly(ether ester) and its characterization will be discussed.