Abstract: | Direct polycondensation of various dicarboxylic acids and diamines was effected under mild conditions by using an enol phosphite, diethyl 1-methyl-3-oxo-1-butenyl phosphite (I), in the presence of imidazole. To check the activity of the enol phosphite and various organic bases in an amidation reaction, the model reaction of acetic acid and aniline was carried out, and the yield of acetanilide was estimated by means of gas chromatography. Among organic bases, imidazole was the best in terms of yield of acetanilide. Polycondensation performed by varying solvents, temperature, and amount of imidazole resulted in high yields of polyamides with inherent viscosities of 0.1-0.25. |