Synthesis and thermal characterization of some novel phenol carbonates

A total of 16 carbonates, all but one new compounds, have been synthesized. These include bis-(phenyl carbonate)s of 13 bisphenols and 3 bis(substituted phenyl carbonate)s of 2,2-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl) butane. The present report characterizes them in terms of melting points T_m, elemental analyses, glass transition temperatures T_g, and enthalpies and entropies of fusion and relates the thermal properties to structure on a comparative basis. A number of the carbonates have what seem to be two distinct crystal structures as deduced from differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray patterns. In keeping with data for polycarbonates, these bis(phenyl carbonate)s show abnormally high T_g/T_m relative to most polymers.