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

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