Stability of photocurable anhydrides: Methacrylic acid mixed anhydrides of nontoxic diacids

Abstract

Abstract Disproportionation of the liquid mixed anhydride dimethacrylic sebacic anhydride (m‐SA) to methacrylic anhydride and polyanhydride oligomers, as well as vinylic polymerization, can occur on workup and storage at room temperature. Dimethacrylic 1,3‐bis( p ‐carboxyphenoxy) propane, being a solid, can also disproportionate, but the propensity to do so is lower than for m‐SA. These events can be suppressed with free‐radical inhibitors, and the inhibitor 2+3‐ t ‐butyl‐4‐methoxyphenol is a more effective stabilizer than 4‐methoxyphenol at 20 °C. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4189–4195, 2001