Preparation, Characterization, and Properties of New Generation of Polyesters Containing Bulky Groups

Nucleophilic substitution reaction of two moles of benzilic acid with terephthaloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine hydrochloride yielded terephthalic acid bis-(carboxydiphenyl methyl)ester (TBE) as a new monomer for the preparation of polyesters. This diester-diacid (TBE) was converted to its acid chloride derivative, terephthalic acid bis-(chlorocarbonyldiphenyl methyl)ester (TBECl), using thionyl chloride. Polymerization reactions of TBECl with different aromatic diols including hydroquinone, 1,5-dihydroxy naphthalene, phenolphthalein, 1,4-dihydroxy anthraquinone, 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone, and bisphenol A in the presence of triethylamine hydrochloride using high temperature solution polycondensation method resulted in different polyesters. All the polymers were characterized and their physical and thermal properties such as thermal behaviour, thermal stability, solution viscosity, and solubility behaviour were studied. Polymers showed good thermal stability while the presence of bulky groups improved their solubility.