SYNTHESIS OF POLY(METHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE) AND COPOLYMERS WITH POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)

Poly(methylene terephthalate) (PMT) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were synthesized by triethylamine-mediated reactions of terephthalic acid and dihalomethanes or 1,2-dihaloethanes, respectively. Reactions with chloro compounds required longer reaction times and higher temper-atures than those with bromo. Copolymers were synthesized by using proportionate amounts of dihalomethane/1,2-dihaloethane mixtures. Copolymer compositions were determined by inte-grations of relative areas of methylene and ethylene ¹H NMR peaks. Mn values were determined from ¹H NMR end group signals. Mole fraction feed is linearly related to CH₂/CH₂CH₂ incorporation into copolymer products. Mechanisms are proposed to explain results.