Intramolecular hydrogen bonding and calixarene-like structures in p-cresol/formaldehyde resins

The nature of the strong hydrogen bonds found in p-cresol/formaldehyde (PCF) resins, compared to ordinary phenolic compounds, is studied. The evidence from FTIR spectroscopy indicates that this strong interaction is due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding from “calixarene-like” structures. The formation of this structure in PCF is enabled by its “linear” (all-ortho-linkage) structure, which is not present in branched resins. Additionally, a transition is observed at around 175 to 200°C where the intramolecular hydrogen bonded structure is lost. This structure cannot be recovered upon cooling or annealing due to restrictions on conformational rotations that are coupled to a new pattern of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. However, the structure is reformed by dissolving the resin in solution and casting new films.