Vulcanisable linear unsaturated polyesters - prepd. by polymerisation of unsaturated lactones

摘要

Polyesters have formula =(CH-R-COO-R1-CH)= where R and R1 consist of -(CH2)m-gps. where m = 1-13. Either or both or R and R1 can be alkyl and/or aryl substd. and can opt. contain additional olefinic double bonds. R and R1 together should comprise 3-14C aroms. The polyesters are useful as elastomers, rubbers, foams, thermosetting resin and in glass-reinforced polyesters compsns. They can be prepd. from monomeric unsatd. lactones by ring opening at the double bond, which can be carried out at so low a temp. that thermal decomposition or crosslinking can ve avoided. In an example, 1.84 mmol. 16-hydroxy-hexadecenoic-(6)-lactone (Ambrettolide) were polymerised at 90 degrees C for 3hr in the presence of 0.037 mmol. WCl6 and 0.185 mmol (CH3)4Sn to give the required polymer in 81% yield.