ES343028A1 - Anionic Polymerisation Catalyst and its use - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a solution of a metal lactamate in a solvent of formula RCONR 1 R 2 where either R is H or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical, R 1 is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical and R 2 is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon radical or a radical of formula where R 3 is a hydrocarbon radical or any two of R, R 1 and R 2 are joined to form a ring including the N atom and the third radical is as above. The metal may be Na, Mg or Al. The lactam may be epsilon-caprolactam. The metal lactamate may be modified by reaction with a source of halogen, e.g. MgBr. R, R 1 and R 2 may be alkyl radicals of up to 20 carbon atoms, phenyl, naphthyl or cyclohexyl groups. Where R and R 1 are joined to form a ring the ring may contain up to 12 carbon atomswhere R 1 and R 2 are joined 5-7 carbon atoms, e.g. morpholino or piperidino. Solvents specified include N,N-dimethyl formamide, N,N- diethyl formamide, N,N-dimethyl acetamide, N,N-dipropyl propionamide and N-methyl pyrrolidone. The solution is preferably liquid at 40 C. A polyamide may be prepared by adding 0À1-200 millimoles of metal lactamate in solution according to the invention to a lactam (1 mole), e.g. epsilon caprolactam. The mixture may contain a filler, e.g. SiO 2 , optionally together with a coupling agent, e.g. methyl gamma-(trimethyoxysilyl) propionate or 3- aminopropyl, triethoxysilane and a catalyst, e.g. toluene diisocyanate and/or triethylene diamine.