| Abstract: | Thermal decompositions and pyrolyses of p-tert-butylphenol, 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol (BPA), and their acetate and pivalate esters as model compounds for the polyarylate synthesis have been performed. Acetate esters decompose chiefly into phenols and ketene. Pivalate esters, unable to form ketene, are more stable. Acetates and pivalates undergo homolytic cleavage both at ester and alkyl groups. Styrene derivatives stabilize acetate esters, considerably reducing the amount of phenol formed during the decomposition. No intensely colored aromatic compounds were found, although this result is probably an artifact of the methods used. From this study we conclude that ketene is one source of colored materials during polyarylate synthesis. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
