LACTONE POLYMERIZATION WITH A DICARBOXYLIC ACID-WATER INITIATOR

• US 3,678,069 A
• Filed: 12/04/1968
• Issued: 07/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Busler
• Original Assignee: William R. Busler
• Inventors: Busler, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weinberger, Lorraine A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Killos, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US04/781,264
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 260/484A,484R,468R,473A
• US Class Current: 560/185
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/823 for the preparation of polylactones or polylactides

Abstract

Lactones having the formula: WHEREIN N IS AN INTEGER FROM 4 TO 6 AND THE R'"'"''"'"'s are of the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, and single ring aromatic hydrocarbon radicals are polymerized with an initiator consisting of an organic dicarboxylic acid hydrate or anhydrous dicarboxylic acid and water to produce a product having at least two substantially linear units of the formula: WHEREIN THE VARIABLES N AND R have the aforesaid meanings.

Claims

2. The process of claim 1 wherein 1-2 gram millimoles of said water is employed per millimole of anhydrous dicarboxylic acid.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said lactone is epsilon-caprolactone.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein said initiator is oxalic acid dihydrate.

5. The process of claim 3 wherein said initiator is anhydrous oxalic acid.

6. The product of the process of claim 2.

7. The product of claim 6 wherein said lactone is epsilon-caprolactone.

8. The product of claim 7 wherein said initiator is oxalic acid dihydrate.

9. The product of claim 7 wherein said initiator in anhydrous oxalic acid.