Studies on the formation and characterization of poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate)

Abstract

Bis-(3-hydroxypropyl) 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate (BHPN) was polymerized to poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate) (PTN) in the presence of various catalysts. The order of the catalytic reactivity was Sb(III) < Zr(IV) < Sn(IV) < Ti(IV). The influence of temperature and catalyst concentration on the properties of PTN was studied with Ti(IV)butylate as a catalyst. The catalysis with titanium resulted in a yellowish polymer only if the polycondensation temperature exceeded 260 °C. PTN and its monomer BHPN were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. 1H NMR spectroscopy was employed to determine the quantity of bis-(3-hydroxypropyl)ether in PTN. The content of diolether was less than 1 mol %. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 620–629, 2001