Study of bulk chain coupling reactions. I. Reaction between bisoxazolones and amine-terminated polyamide 12

2,2′-Bis(4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)-oxazolone) ( B3 ) and 2,2′-(1,2-ethylene)-bis(4,4-dimethyl-5(4H)oxazolone) ( B4 ) have been reacted in the bulk with α, ω-diamino polyamide-12 ( PA12 ) of M?_n = 1000. The reactions have been studied by SEC, and ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and resulting polymers characterized by DSC and TGA. The chain coupling reaction is fast and gives high molar mass polymers within 10 min at 200°C with B4 while some side reactions occur with B3 leading to polymers of lower molar mass. The crystallinity of resulting polymers is lower than that of starting oligomer. However, the thermal stability is higher. Model reactions using B3 or B4 and hexamethylene diamine or 1-dodecanamine have been carried out and studied. An intramolecular cyclodehydration giving 2-imidazolin-5-ones takes place during the reactions. Higher cyclization extent is found in the presence of amino group excess. 2-Imidazolin-5-one heterocyclic structures are also observed in the chains of the polymers obtained from PA12 and B3 or B4 . © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.