| Abstract: | A kinetic study of the polyesterification reaction of γ-phenyl- γ-p-methoxyphenyl-, and γ-p-chlorophenylitaconic acids (1 mole) with ethylene glycol in the presence or in absence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst has been carried out in order to show the effect of substituents on the rate and degree of polymerization. The reaction of 1 mole of the acid and an excess of ethylene glycol has also been studied. In all cases the reaction is found to follow the second-order rate equation. The mechanism of polyesterification has been discussed. In catalyzed polyesterification electron-withdrawing groups (CI) decrease the velocity of the reaction. The low values of ρ in both the auto-catalyzed and catalyzed reaction indicate that this polyesterification is slightly sensitive to the polar nature of the substituent. |
