GB692235A - Diester of diglycollic acid - Google Patents

Abstract

The Specification comprises as a new product the beta-phenoxy ethanol di-ester of diglycollic acid. The compound may be prepared by the direct esterification of diglycollic acid with an excess of the ether-alcohol followed by crystallization from the excess ether-alcohol or the latter may be removed by distillation and the diester allowed to crystallize from the melt or from a solvent. The diester may be further purified by recrystallization from a solvent such as benzene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone or ethyl acetate. Other methods of forming the diester may be employed, thus one mol. of diglycollyl chloride may be reacted with two mols. of the ether alcohol in the presence of an inert solvent and an acid acceptor such as pyridine or the diester of ethylene chlorhydrin and diglycollic acid may be prepared and the product condensed with two molar proportions of phenol in the presence of alkali. An example is given in which the direct esterification method is employed. It is stated that the product may be used as a plasticizer for nitrocellulose films and plastics, either alone or in conjunction with other plasticizers. It is also stated that the compound has a plasticizing effect on other cellulose esters and ethers but cannot be used as sole plasticizer for such derivatives on account of its tendency to crystallize from films and castings.