Synthesis of polyesters from terephthalaldehyde and isophthalaldehyde through tishchenko reaction catalyzed by the ethylmagnesium bromide-(-)-sparteine complex and aluminum alkoxides

Abstract

Tercphthalaldehyde (TPA) and isophthalaldchydc (IPA) were polymerized with the ethylmagncsium bromide (-)-sparteine (EtMgBr Sp) complex and aluminum alkoxides as catalysts to obtain polyesters through the Tishchenko reaction. The polyester prepared from TPA with the EtMgBr Sp complex was characterized by 1R, FD mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and was found to be a random copolymer composed of oxycarbonyl-l,4-phenylenemethylene and terephthaloyloxymethylene-l,4-phenylenemethyleneoxy units. The polyesters possessed terminal formyl groups and were further polymerized with the EtMgBr Sp complex. On the basis of the results, a possible mechanism for the polymerization is discussed.