Synthesis of hydroxyl-containing polyamides by ring-opening polyaddition of 4,4′-disubstituted bis(4-butanolide) with aliphatic diamines

Hydroxyl-containing polyamides have been prepared by the ring-opening polyaddition of 4,4′-oxydi-p-phenylenebis(4-butanolide) with aliphatic diamines in alcoholic solvents at 65–80°C. These polymers having inherent viscosities ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 were soluble in a variety of solvents including dimethylformamide, formic acid, and m-cresol. Transparent and flexible films cast from these solutions were highly hygroscopic. All the polymers had low softing temperatures in the range of 115–130°C, and began to decompose at around 250°C, both in air and under nitrogen.