A new route to carbonate monomers for synthesis of polycarbonates

Abstract

A number of carbonates (RCH2)2CO3 (R=CH3, C2H5, CH2=CH, C3H7, C5H11, C6H5) have been synthesized by the reaction of alkali metal carbonates with corresponding halogen derivatives in the presence of activating agents such as crown ethers, polyglymes, polyamines, and triethylbenzylammonium chloride. The effects of variousparameters (type of the halogen derivative, metal carbonate, activating agent, solvent and reaction time) on the reaction yield have been studied. The carbonates obtained were used as monomers in transesterification with diols and diphenols leading to the formation of polycarbonates. The polycarbonates obtained were characterized by means of IR spectroscopy and their intrinsic viscosity was determined. © 1982 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.