DICYCLOHEXYLCARBODIIMIDE ASSISTED SYNTHESIS OF ALIPHATIC POLYESTERS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Abstract

We investigated the use of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as an activating agent in the synthesis of aliphatic polyesters. Butylhexanoate was synthesized in order to optimize the reaction conditions. The reactions were carried out in methylene chloride at room temperature. It was shown that nearly complete conversion is achieved if 4-(dimethylamino)pyridinium 4-toluenesulfonate (DPTS) is used as the catalyst. DPTS is a complex formed from 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). The polyesters based on 1,10-octanedicarboxylic acid and 1,4-butanediol, synthesized in this way, had degrees of polymerization up to 67.