GB738954A - Improvements in or relating to esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a polymer, or copolymer with a compound containing at least one vinylidene group, of an ester having the formula <FORM:0738954/IV (a)/1> in which R, in both occurences, is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. The polymerization may be carried out in bulk, solution, suspension or aqueous emulsion. Polymerization may be accelerated by the use of heat, ultra-violet light and free radical catalysts. Catalysts specifically mentioned are benzoyl, acetyl, lauroyl, succinyl, stearoyl and capryloyl peroxides, tertiary butyl perbenzoate, ascaridole, cumene hydroperoxide, azoisobutyronitrile and methyl azoisobutyrate compounds which contain at least one vinylidene group, CH2=C<, mentioned are vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, vinylidene chloride and cyanide, aromatic vinyl hydrocarbons such as styrene, divinyl-benzene, vinyltoluene, vinylnaphthalenes and vinylanthracenes, vinyl esters such as the acetate and propionate, allyl esters such as diallyl phthalate and maleate, esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids with monohydric alcohols, e.g. methanol, ethanol, butanols, capryl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol and octadecyl alcohols. Mixtures of the monomers may be copolymerized.ALSO:The invention comprises an ester having the general formula <FORM:0738954/IV (b)/1> in which R in both occurrences is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. The esters form polymers and copolymers with compounds containing at least one vinylidene group (see Group IV (a)). The esters may be prepared by reacting (a) an alkali metal salt of 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane with (b) an acid halide consisting of acrylyl chloride, acrylyl bromide, methacrylyl chloride or methacrylyl bromide in the presence of an organic liquid which is a solvent for said acid halide and a temperature from about 20 DEG C. to about 75 DEG C. Solvents mentioned include aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene or xylene, lower alcohols from methylto butyl-alcohol, dioxane, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. In examples the products are prepared by reacting acrylyl and methacrylyl chlorides with the disodium salt of 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane in the presence of d-b -naphthol. Acrylyl and methacrylyl halides are prepared by the reaction of phosphorus trihalides and the corresponding free acids.