Investigation of the epoxide–carboxylic acid reaction in model compound and polymerization reactions

The reaction of epoxide and acid has been studied in the model reaction of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether and acetic acid with several base catalysts at 60, 95, and 115°C. The results suggest that no greater than 5% side reactions occur. A series of polyhydroxylester polymers were prepared from bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether and adipic acid. The polymers gel rapidly upon heating at 200°C. Terpolymers of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol-A, and azelaic acid were prepared. These also gel at 200°C when 50 mole-% of the active hydrogen reactant is azelaic acid.