Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C43/00—Ethers; Compounds having groups, groups or groups
  • C07C43/02—Ethers
  • C07C43/20—Ethers having an ether-oxygen atom bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C43/23—Ethers having an ether-oxygen atom bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring containing hydroxy or O-metal groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C43/00—Ethers; Compounds having groups, groups or groups
  • C07C43/02—Ethers
  • C07C43/257—Ethers having an ether-oxygen atom bound to carbon atoms both belonging to six-membered aromatic rings
  • C07C43/295—Ethers having an ether-oxygen atom bound to carbon atoms both belonging to six-membered aromatic rings containing hydroxy or O-metal groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C59/00—Compounds having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and containing any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, groups, groups, or groups
  • C07C59/40—Unsaturated compounds
  • C07C59/58—Unsaturated compounds containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups
  • C07C59/64—Unsaturated compounds containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups containing six-membered aromatic rings
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C59/00—Compounds having carboxyl groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and containing any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, groups, groups, or groups
  • C07C59/40—Unsaturated compounds
  • C07C59/58—Unsaturated compounds containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups
  • C07C59/64—Unsaturated compounds containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups containing six-membered aromatic rings
  • C07C59/66—Unsaturated compounds containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups containing six-membered aromatic rings the non-carboxylic part of the ether containing six-membered aromatic rings
  • C07C59/68—Unsaturated compounds containing ether groups, groups, groups, or groups containing six-membered aromatic rings the non-carboxylic part of the ether containing six-membered aromatic rings the oxygen atom of the ether group being bound to a non-condensed six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C59/70—Ethers of hydroxy-acetic acid, e.g. substitutes on the ring
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C69/00—Esters of carboxylic acids; Esters of carbonic or haloformic acids
  • C07C69/66—Esters of carboxylic acids having esterified carboxylic groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and having any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, acyloxy, groups, groups, or in the acid moiety
  • C07C69/67—Esters of carboxylic acids having esterified carboxylic groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms and having any of the groups OH, O—metal, —CHO, keto, ether, acyloxy, groups, groups, or in the acid moiety of saturated acids
  • C07C69/708—Ethers
  • C07C69/712—Ethers the hydroxy group of the ester being etherified with a hydroxy compound having the hydroxy group bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C69/00—Esters of carboxylic acids; Esters of carbonic or haloformic acids
  • C07C69/76—Esters of carboxylic acids having a carboxyl group bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C69/84—Esters of carboxylic acids having a carboxyl group bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring of monocyclic hydroxy carboxylic acids, the hydroxy groups and the carboxyl groups of which are bound to carbon atoms of a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C69/92—Esters of carboxylic acids having a carboxyl group bound to a carbon atom of a six-membered aromatic ring of monocyclic hydroxy carboxylic acids, the hydroxy groups and the carboxyl groups of which are bound to carbon atoms of a six-membered aromatic ring with etherified hydroxyl groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G63/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G63/02—Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids or from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds
  • C08G63/12—Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids or from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds derived from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds
  • C08G63/16—Dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds
  • C08G63/18—Dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds the acids or hydroxy compounds containing carbocyclic rings
  • C08G63/181—Acids containing aromatic rings
  • C08G63/185—Acids containing aromatic rings containing two or more aromatic rings
  • C08G63/187—Acids containing aromatic rings containing two or more aromatic rings containing condensed aromatic rings
  • C08G63/189—Acids containing aromatic rings containing two or more aromatic rings containing condensed aromatic rings containing a naphthalene ring
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G63/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G63/02—Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids or from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds
  • C08G63/12—Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids or from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds derived from polycarboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds
  • C08G63/16—Dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds
  • C08G63/18—Dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds the acids or hydroxy compounds containing carbocyclic rings
  • C08G63/19—Hydroxy compounds containing aromatic rings
  • C08G63/193—Hydroxy compounds containing aromatic rings containing two or more aromatic rings
  • C08G63/197—Hydroxy compounds containing aromatic rings containing two or more aromatic rings containing condensed aromatic rings
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G63/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G63/64—Polyesters containing both carboxylic ester groups and carbonate groups
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G64/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming a carbonic ester link in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G64/16—Aliphatic-aromatic or araliphatic polycarbonates
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08G—MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
  • C08G65/00—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule
  • C08G65/34—Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions forming an ether link in the main chain of the macromolecule from hydroxy compounds or their metallic derivatives
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L67/00—Compositions of polyesters obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic ester link in the main chain; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L69/00—Compositions of polycarbonates; Compositions of derivatives of polycarbonates
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B1/00—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements
  • G02B1/04—Optical elements characterised by the material of which they are made; Optical coatings for optical elements made of organic materials, e.g. plastics
  • G02B1/041—Lenses
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C2602/00—Systems containing two condensed rings
  • C07C2602/02—Systems containing two condensed rings the rings having only two atoms in common
  • C07C2602/14—All rings being cycloaliphatic
  • C07C2602/26—All rings being cycloaliphatic the ring system containing ten carbon atoms

Definitions

• the present invention relates to oligomeric binaphtyl compounds that are suitable as monomers for preparing thermoplastic resins, such as polycarbonate resins, which have beneficial optical and mechanical properties and can be used for producing optical devices.
• Optical devices such as optical lenses made of optical resin instead of optical glass are advantageous in that they can be produced in large numbers by injection molding.
• optical resins in particular, transparent polycarbonate resins, are frequently used for producing camera lenses.
• resins with a higher refractive index are highly desirable, as they allow for reducing the size and weight of final products.
• a lens element of the same refractive power can be achieved with a surface having less curvature, so that the amount of aberration generated on this surface can be reduced.
• US 9,360,593 describes polycarbonate resins having repeating units derived from binaphthyl monomers of the formula (A): where Y is C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl, in particular 1 ,2-ethandiyl. It is said that the polycarbonate resins have beneficial optical properties in terms of a high refractive index, a low Abbe's number, a high degree of transparency, low birefringence, and a glass transition temperature suitable for injection molding.
• Co-Polycarbonates of monomers of the formula (A) with 10,10-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)an- throne monomers and their use for preparing optical lenses are described in US 2016/0319069.
• thermoplastic resins for producing optical materials, where the thermoplastic resins comprise a polymerized compound of formula (B) where
• X is e.g. C 2 -C 4 -alkandiyl
• R and R' are identical or different and selected from optionally substituted mono or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 36 carbon atoms and optionally substituted mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 36 atoms.
• binaphtyl derived monomers such as those of formulae A and B above, despite their multiple advantages, suffer from the disadvantage that they form a significant proportion of undesirable cyclic oligomers when used as monomers in the production of thermoplastic resins such as in the production of polyesters and polycarbonates.
• These cyclic oligo- mes may aggravate the molecular weight build-up and/or worsen the product properties of the resin, such as reduced mechanical strength, lower glass transition temperature and/or optical properties.
• those cyclic components can hardly be removed from the resin in an efficient way. To reduce the formation of such cyclic compounds, it is typically necessary to polymerize the binpathtyl-containing monomers with relatively high amounts of co-monomers.
• a first aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the compound of the formula (I) or a mixture thereof where
• X 1 and X 2 are independently selected from hydrogen, -Alk 1 -OH, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH, -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x , -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x and -C(O)-A 2 -C(O)OR x , where R x is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl, benzyl and C 1 -C 4 -alkyl;
• Y 1 and Y 2 are independently selected from -CH 2 -, -CHAr Y - and -CH(CH 2 Ar Y )-;
• a 1 is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, -CH 2 -, -CHAr A -, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-, -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, a moiety of the formula (A), mono- or polycyclic arylene having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring members and mono- or polycyclic hetarylene having a total of 5 to 26 atoms, which are ring members, where 1 , 2, 3 or 4 of these ring member atoms of hetarylene are selected from nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen, while the remainder of these ring member atoms of hetarylene are carbon atoms, where mono- or polycyclic arylene and mono- or polycyclic hetarylene are unsubstituted or carry 1 , 2, 3 or 4 radicals R Ar , where
• R 5a , R 5b independently of each other are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, CN, R, OR, CH k R’ 3-k , NR 2 , C(O)R and C(O)NH 2 , where k is 0, 1 or 2; and
• a 2 is selected from the group consisting of phenylene, naphthylene and bi- phenylylene; Alk 1 is C 2 -C 4 -alkandiyl; Alk 2 is C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl;
• Ar Y and Ar A are selected from the group consisting of mono- or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring atoms and mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 26 atoms, which are ring members, where 1 , 2, 3 or 4 of these ring member atoms of hetaryl are selected from nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen, while the remainder of these ring member atoms of hetaryl are carbon atoms, where Ar Y and Ar A are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2 or 3 radicals R Ar ;
• R is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenan- threnyl and triphenylenyl, where phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and triphenylenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2, 3 or 4 identical or different radicals R'";
• R' is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and triphenylenyl, where phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and triphenylenyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2, 3 or 4 identical or different radicals R'";
• R" is selected from hydrogen, methyl, phenyl and naphthyl, where phenyl and naphthyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2, 3 or 4 identical or different radicals R"';
• R'" is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, OCH 3 , CH 3 , N(CH 3 ) 2 and C(O)CH 3 ; as a monomer for producing a thermoplastic resin, in particular for producing polyesters and especially for producing polycarbonates.
• the compounds of the formula (I) are novel, except for those compounds of formula (I), where X 1 and X 2 are both hydrogen or -CH 2 CH 2 -OH, Y 1 and Y 2 are both CH 2 , and A 1 is a single bond or CH 2 ; and except for those compounds of formula (I), where n is 1 , X 1 and X 2 are both hydrogen, Y 1 and Y 2 are both CH 2 , m, p, q and r are all 0, and A 1 is 1 ,2-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 1 ,6-pyrenylene, 4,4’-biphenylylene, 2,6-pyridinylene, 4,4”-meta-terphenylylene, 2 , 5-[1 ,3,4]-thiadiazolylene, 2, 5-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazolylene, 2,5-thienediyl-bis(4, 1 -phenylenemethylene), 9,9-diethyl-2,7-9H
• a second aspect relates to compounds of the formula (I) that are novel.
• the second aspect relates to compounds of the formula (I) except for those compounds of formula (I), where the combination of X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 , Y 2 and Ar 1 is as follows:
• X 1 and X 2 are both hydrogen or -CH 2 CH 2 -OH, Y 1 and Y 2 are both CH 2 , and A 1 is a single bond or CH 2 ; and also except for those compounds of formula (I), where the combination of n, m, p, q, r, X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 , Y 2 and Ar 1 is as follows: n is 1 , X 1 and X 2 are both hydrogen, Y 1 and Y 2 are both CH 2 , m, p, q and r are all 0, and A 1 is 1 ,2-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 1 ,6-pyrenylene, 4,4’-biphenylylene, 2,6-pyridi- nylene, 4,4”-meta-terphenylylene, 2,5-[1 ,3,4]-thiadiazolylene, 2,5-[1 ,3,4]-oxadiazol- ylene, 2,5-
• a third aspect relates to a thermoplastic resin comprising a polymerized unit of the compound of formula (I), i.e. a thermoplastic resin comprising a structural unit represented by formula (III) below; where # represents a connection point to a neighboring structural unit; and where X 1a and X 2a , respectively, is derived from X 1 or X 2 in formula (I), if X 1 or X 2 is hydrogen, by replacing hydrogen with a single bond, or, if X 1 or X 2 is not hydrogen, by replacing the -OH or -OR x group of X 1 or X 2 with an oxo (-O-) unit, and where X 1 , X 2 , Y 1 , Y 2 , A 1 , R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , n, m, p, q and r are as defined herein above.
• the invention further relates to an optical device made of a thermoplastic resin as defined above, in particular from a polyester and especially from a polycarbonate.
• the compounds of formula (I) may have axial chirality due to the limited rotation along the bonds between the the naphthalene units and therefore compounds of the formula (I) may exist in the form of one of the at least 2 ⁇ n+1 > stereoisomers or in the form of any mixture of these stereoisomers, where n is the variable given in formula (I). Specific examples of these mixtures are those of the respective two stereoisomers belonging to one of the at least 2 n pairs of enantiomers.
• the present invention relates to the pure stereoisomers of the compounds of formula (I) and the mixtures of any of the stereoisomers, including racemic as well as non-racemic mixtures of the respective two stereoi- somerswhich together constitute an enantiomeric pair.
• C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl group may alternatively also be designated “alkylene group having 1 , 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms” and refers to a bivalent, saturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having 1 , 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms.
• C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl are in particular the methylene group (CH 2 ), linear alkandiyl such as 1 ,2-ethandiyl (CH 2 CH 2 ), 1 ,3-propandiyl (CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 ) and 1 ,4-butdandiyl (CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 ), but also branched alkandiyl such as 1-methyl-1,2-ethandiyl, 1-me- thyl-1 ,2-propandiyl, 2-methyl-1 ,2-propandiyl, 2-methyl-1 ,3-propandiyl and 1 ,3-butandiyl.
• monocyclic aryl refers to a monovalent aromatic monocyclic radical, such as in particular phenyl.
• the term “monocyclic hetaryl” refers to a monovalent heteroaromatic monocyclic radical, i.e. a heteroaromatic monocycle linked by a single covalent bond to the remainder of the molecule, where the ring member atoms are part of a conjugate TT-electron system, where the heteroaromatic monocycle has 5 or 6 ring atoms, which comprise as heterocyclic ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 nitrogen atoms or 1 oxygen atom and 0, 1 , 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or 1 sulphur atom and 0, 1 , 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, where the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms.
• the term “mono- or polycyclic aryl” refers to a monovalent aromatic monocyclic radical as defined herein or to a monovalent aromatic polycyclic radical, i.e. a polycyclic arene linked by a single covalent bond to the remainder of the molecule, where the polycyclic arene is
• an aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon i.e. a completely unsaturated polycyclic hydrocarbon, where each of the carbon atoms is part of a conjugate ⁇ -electron system
• a polycyclic hydrocarbon which bears at least 2 phenyl rings which are linked to each other by a covalent bond or which are fused to each other directly and/or which are fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4 to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring.
• Mono- or polycyclic aryl has from 6 to 26, often from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, e.g. 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 or 24 carbon atoms as ring atoms, in particular from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, especially 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms.
• Polycyclic aryl typically has 10 to 26 carbon atoms as ring atoms, in particular from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, especially 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms.
• polycyclic aryl bearing 2, 3 or 4 phenyl rings which are linked to each other via a single bond include e.g. biphenylyl and terphenylyl.
• Polycyclic aryl bearing 2, 3 or 4 phenyl rings which are directly fused to each other include e.g. naphthyl, an- thracenyl, phenanthrenyl, pyrenyl, triphenylenyl, chrysenyl and benzo[c]phenanthrenyl.
• Polycyclic aryl bearing 2, 3 or 4 phenyl rings which are fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring include e.g.
• Mono- or polycylic aryl includes, by way of example phenyl, naphthyl, 9H-fluorenyl, phenanthryl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl, chrysenyl, benzo[c]phenanthrenyl, acenaphthenyl, acenaphthylenyl, 2,3-dihydro-1 H-indenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-naphthalenyl, cyclo- pent[fg]acenaphthylenyl, 2,3-dihydrophenalenyl, 9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl, 1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrenyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrophenanthrenyl, fluoranthenyl, benzo[k]fluoranthenyl, biphenylenyl, triphenylenyl,
• the term “mono- or polycyclic hetaryl” refers to a monovalent heteroaromatic monocyclic radical as defined herein or to a monovalent heteroaromatic polycyclic radical, i.e. a polycyclic hetarene linked by a single covalent bond to the remainder of the molecule, where
• the polycyclic hetarene bears a heteroaromatic monocycle as defined above and at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, further aromatic rings selected from phenyl and heteroaromatic monocycles as defined above, where the aromatic rings of the polycyclic hetarene are linked to each other by a covalent bond and/or fused to each other directly and/or fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4 to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring, or
• the polycyclic hetarene bears at least one saturated or partially or fully unsaturated 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered heterocyclic ring bearing 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen as ring atoms, such as 2H-pyran, 4H-pyran, thiopyran, 1 ,4-dihydropyridin, 4H-1 ,4-oxazin, 4H-1 ,4-thiazin, 1 ,4-dioxin, oxepin, thiepin, dioxin, di- thiin, dioxepin, dithiepin, dioxocine, dithiocine and at least one, e.g.
• aromatic rings selected from phenyl and heteroaromatic monocycles as defined above, where at least one of the aromatic rings is directly fused to the saturated or partially unsaturated 5- to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and where the aromatic rings of the polycyclic hetarene are linked to each other by a covalent bond or fused to each other directly and/or fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4 to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring.
• Mono- or polycyclic hetaryl has from 5 to 26, often from 5 to 24 ring atoms, in particular 5 to 20 ring atoms, which comprise 1 , 2, 3 or 4 atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulphur atoms and oxygen atoms, where the remainder of the ring atoms are carbon atoms.
• Polycyclic hetaryl generally has from 9 to 26, often from 9 to 24 ring atoms, in particular 9 to 20 ring atoms, which comprise 1 , 2, 3 or 4 atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulphur atoms and oxygen atoms, where the remainder of the ring atoms are carbon atoms.
• the term “monocyclic arylene” refers to a bivalent aromatic monocyclic radical, such as in particular phenylene.
• the term “monocyclic hetarylene” refers to a bivalent heteroaromatic monocyclic radical, i.e.
• heteroaromatic monocycle linked by two single covalent bonds to the two remaining parts of the molecule, where the ring member atoms are part of a conjugate rr-electron system, where the heteroaromatic monocycle has 5 or 6 ring atoms, which comprise as heterocyclic ring members 1 , 2, 3 or 4 nitrogen atoms or 1 oxygen atom and 0, 1 , 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, or 1 sulphur atom and 0, 1 , 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, where the remaining ring atoms are carbon atoms.
• the term “mono- or polycyclic arylene” refers to a bivalent aromatic monocyclic radical as defined herein or to a bivalent aromatic polycyclic radical, i.e. a polycyclic arene linked by two single covalent bonds to the two remaining parts of the molecule, where the polycyclic arene is
• an aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbon i.e. a completely unsaturated polycyclic hydrocarbon, where each of the carbon atoms is part of a conjugate ⁇ -electron system
• a polycyclic hydrocarbon which bears at least 2 phenyl rings which are linked to each other by a covalent bond or which are fused to each other directly and/or which are fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4 to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring.
• Mono- or polycyclic arylene has from 6 to 26, often from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, e.g. 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 or 24 carbon atoms as ring atoms, in particular from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, especially 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms.
• Polycyclic arylene typically has 10 to 26 carbon atoms as ring atoms, in particular from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, especially 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17 or 18 carbon atoms.
• polycyclic arylene bearing 2, 3 or 4 phenyl rings which are linked to each other via a single bond include e.g. biphenylylene and terphenylylene.
• Polycyclic arylene bearing 2, 3 or 4 phenyl rings which are directly fused to each other include e.g. naphthylene, anthracenylene, phenanthrenylene, pyrenylene, triphenylenylene, chrysenylene and benzo[c]phenanthrenylene.
• Polycyclic arylene bearing 2, 3 or 4 phenyl rings which are fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring include e.g.
• Mono- or polycylic arylene includes, by way of example phenylene, naphthylene, 9H- fluorenylene, phenanthrylene, anthracenylene, pyrenylene, chrysenylene, benzo[c]phe- nanthrenylene, acenaphthenylene, acenaphthylenylene, 2,3-dihydro-IH-indenylene,
• the term “mono- or polycyclic hetarylene” refers to a bivalent heteroaromatic monocyclic radical as defined herein or to a bivalent heteroaromatic polycyclic radical, i.e. a polycyclic hetarene linked by two single covalent bonds to the two remaining parts of the molecule, where
• the polycyclic hetarene bears a heteroaromatic monocycle as defined above and at least one, e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, further aromatic rings selected from phenyl and heteroaromatic monocycles as defined above, where the aromatic rings of the polycyclic hetarene are linked to each other by a covalent bond and/or fused to each other directly and/or fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4 to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring, or
• the polycyclic hetarene bears at least one saturated or partially or fully unsaturated 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-membered heterocyclic ring bearing 1 , 2 or 3 heteroatoms selected from oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen as ring atoms, such as 2H-pyran, 4H-pyran, thiopyran,
• aromatic rings selected from phenyl and heteroaromatic monocycles as defined above, where at least one of the aromatic rings is directly fused to the saturated or partially unsaturated 5- to 8-membered heterocyclic ring and where the aromatic rings of the polycyclic hetarene are linked to each other by a covalent bond or fused to each other directly and/or fused to a saturated or unsaturated 4 to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic hydrocarbon ring.
• Mono- or polycyclic hetarylene has from 5 to 26, often from 5 to 24 ring atoms, in particular 5 to 20 ring atoms, which comprise 1 , 2, 3 or 4 atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulphur atoms and oxygen atoms, where the remainder of the ring atoms are carbon atoms.
• Polycyclic hetaryl generally has from 9 to 26, often from 9 to 24 ring atoms, in particular 9 to 20 ring atoms, which comprise 1 , 2, 3 or 4 atoms selected from nitrogen atoms, sulphur atoms and oxygen atoms, where the remainder of the ring atoms are carbon atoms.
• the suffix “-ylene” means, as customary in the art, that the respective het(arene) moiety is in the form of its diradikal. Accordingly, the suffix “-ylene”, as e.g. in phenylene or 1 ,4-phenylene, is used here synonymously with the suffix “-diyl”, as e.g. in phendiyl or phen-1 ,4-diyl.
• a “structural unit” is a structural element which is present repeatedly in the polymer backbone of the thermoplastic resin. Therefore, the terms “structural unit” and “repeating unit” are used synonymously.
• optical device refers to a device that is transparent for visible light and manipulates light beams, in particular by refraction.
• Optical devices include but are not limited to prisms, lenses, optical films and combinations thereof, especially lenses for cameras and lenses for glasses.
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) that are independently selected from hydrogen, -Alk 1 -OH, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH, -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x and -CH 2 -A 2 - C(O)OR x , and accordingly to those variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) that are independently selected from -Alk 1 -O-, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -O-, -Alk 2 -C(O)O- and -CH 2 -A 2 - C(O)O-, where Alk 1 , -Alk 2 , A 2 and R x have the meanings defined herein, in particular the preferred meanings.
• the variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) are independently selected from -Alk 1 -OH and -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH and accordingly the variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) are independently selected from -Alk 1 -O- and -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -O-, wherein Alk 1 is preferably a linear C 2 -C 4 -alkandiyl, such as 1 ,2- ethandiyl (CH 2 -CH 2 ), 1 ,3-propandiyl or 1,4-butandiyl, and in particular is 1 ,2-ethandiyl, and A 2 is preferably selected from 1 ,4-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 1 ,4- naphthylene, 1 ,5-naphthylene and 4,4’-biphen
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) are selected from 2-hydroxyethyl (i.e. 2-(HO)-ethyl), hydroxyme- thyl-phenyl-methyl (i.e.
• HO-methyl-phenyl-methyl hydroxymethyl-naphthyl-methyl and hydroxymethyl-biphenylyl-methyl, especially from 2-hydroxyethyl, 4-(hydroxyme- thyl)phenyl)methyl, (3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methyl, (4-(hydroxymethyl)-1-naph- thyl)methyl, (5-(hydroxymethyl)-1 -naphthyl)methyl, (6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-naphthyl)me- thyl and 4’-(hydroxymethyl)-1 ,1’-biphenylyl-4-methyl, and specifically from 2-hydroxyethyl, 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methyl and (3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methyl.
• variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) are selected from 2(-O)-ethyl, -O-methyl-phenyl-methyl and -O- methyl-naphthyl-methyl, especially from 2(-O)-ethyl, (4(-O-methyl)phenyl)methyl, (3(-O- methyl)phenyl)methyl, (4(-O-methyl)-1 -naphthyl)methyl, (5(-O-methyl)-1 -naphthyl)me- thyl, (6(-O-methyl)-2-naphthyl)methyl and 4’(-O-methyl)-1 ,1 ’-biphenylyl-4-methyl, and specifically from 2(-O)-ethyl, (4(-O-methyl)phenyl)methyl and (3(-O-methyl)phenyl)me- thyl, (4(-O-O-
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) have identical meanings and, likewise, the variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) have identical meanings, which are selected from the meanings defined in groups (1) and (1.1), of embodiments.
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formulae (I) and (II) are both hydrogen and accordingly the variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) are both a single bond.
• the variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) are independently selected from -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x and -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x and accordingly the variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) are independently selected from -Alk 2 -C(O)O- and -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)O-, wherein Alk 2 is preferably a linear C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl, such as methylene or 1 ,2-ethandiyl (CH 2 -CH 2 ), and in particular is methylene, A 2 is preferably selected from 1 ,4-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 1 ,5-naphthylene and 1 ,4-naph- thylene, and R x is preferably hydrogen or C 1 -C 4
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) are selected from methoxycarbonyl-methyl (i.e. CH 3 O-C(O)-me- thyl), methoxycarbonyl-phenyl-methyl (i.e.
• variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) are selected from -O-C(O)-methyl, -O-C(O)-phenyl-methyl and -O-C(O)-naphthyl- methyl, especially from -O-C(O)-methyl, (4(-O-C(O)-phenyl)methyl, (3(-O-C(O)-phe- nyl)methyl, (4-(-O-C(O)-)-1-naphthyl)methyl, (5-(-O-C(O)-)-1-naphthyl)methyl and (6-(- O-C(O)-)-2-naphthyl)methyl, and specifically from -O-C(O)-methyl, (4(-O-C(O)-phe- nyl)methyl and (3(-O-C(O)-phenyl)methyl.
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) have identical meanings and, likewise, the variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) have identical meanings, which are selected from the meanings defined in groups (3) and (3.1), of embodiments.
• the variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) are selected from hydrogen, 2-hydroxyethyl, methoxycarbonyl-methyl, hydroxymethyl-phenyl-methyl, hy- droxymethyl-naphthyl-methyl, hydroxymethyl-biphenylyl-methyl, methoxycarbonyl-phe- nyl-methyl and methoxycarbonyl-naphthyl-methyl, in particular selected from hydrogen, 2-hydroxyethyl, methoxycarbonyl-methyl, (4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methyl, (3-(hy- droxymethyl)phenyl)methyl, (4-(hydroxymethyl)-1-naphthyl)methyl, (5-(hydroxymethyl)- 1-naphthyl)methyl, (6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-naphthyl)methyl, 4’-(hydroxymethyl)-1 ,1 ’-bi- phenylyl-4-methyl, (4-(me
• variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) are selected from a single bond, 2(-O)-ethyl, -O-C(O)-methyl, -O-methyl-phenyl-methyl, -O- methyl-naphthyl-methyl, -O-C(O)-phenyl-methyl and -O-C(O)-naphthyl-methyl, in particular selected from a single bond, 2(-O)-ethyl, -O-C(O)-methyl, (4(-O-methyl)phe- nyl)methyl, (3(-O-methyl)phenyl)methyl, (4(-O-methyl)-1-naphthyl)methyl, (5(-0-me- thy I)- 1 -naphthyl)methyl, (6(-O-methyl)-2-naphthyl)methyl, (4(-O-C(
• variables X 1 and X 2 in formula (I) have identical meanings and, likewise, the variables X 1a and X 2a in formula (II) have identical meanings, which are selected from the meanings defined in group (4) of embodiments.
• variable A 1 in formulae (I) and (II) that is selected from a single bond, -CH 2 -, -CHAr A -, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-, -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, mono- or polycyclic arylene having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring members and mono- or polycyclic hetarylene having from 5 to 26 atoms as ring members, especially selected from a single bond, -CH 2 -, -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, mono- or polycyclic arylene having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring members and mono- or polycyclic hetarylene having from 5 to 26 atoms as ring members, where the mono- or polycyclic arylene and the mono- or polycyclic hetarylene are unsubstituted or carry 1 , 2, 3 or 4 radicals R Ar ; wherein Ar A , mono- or polycylic arylene
• variable A 1 in formulae (I) and (II) is selected from a single bond, -CH 2 -, -CHAr A -, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )- and -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, preferably from single bond, -CH 2 -, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )- and -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, in particular from -CH 2 - and -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, and specifically is -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, where Ar A has one of the meanings defined herein, especially those mentioned herein as preferred, and is specifically selected from phenyl, naphth-1-yl, naphth-2-yl, fluoren-2-yl, fluoren-9-yl, phenanthren-9- yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-2-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-3-yl,
• variable A 1 in formulae (I) and (II) is -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -, where Ar A is selected from phenyl, naphth-1-yl, naphth-2-yl and phenan- thren-9-yl
• variable A 1 in formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of mono- or polycyclic arylene having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring members and mono- or polycyclic hetarylene having from 5 to 26 atoms as ring members, in particular of mono- or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 22, especially 6 to 18, carbon atoms as ring members and mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 26 atoms as ring members, especially polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 9 to 26 atoms as ring members, where 1, 2, 3 or 4 of these atoms are nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms, and preferably 1 , 2 or 3, such as 1 or 2, of these atoms are oxygen or sulfur atoms, while the remainder of these atoms are carbon atoms, where mono- or polycyclic aryl and mono- or polycyclic hetaryl are unsubstituted or carry 1 , 2, 3 or
• a 1 is selected from phenylene, naphthylene, 1 ,2-dihydroacenaphthylene, biphenylylene, 9H-fluorenylene, 11 H- benzo[a]fluorenylene, 11 H-benzo[b]fluorenylene, 7H-benzo[c]fluorenylene, an- thracylene, phenanthrylene, benzo[c]phenanthrylene, pyrenylene, chrysenylene, picenylene, triphenylenylene, furanylene, benzo[b]furanylene, dibenzo[b,d]furanylene, naphtho[1 ,2-b]furanylene, naphtho[2,3-b]furanylene, naphtho[2,1-b]furanylene, benzo[b]naphtho[1 ,2-d]furanylene, benzo[b]naphtho[1 ,2-d]furanylene
• a 1 is selected from phenylene, naphthylene, thienylene, furanylene, benzo[b]thienylene, benzo[b]furanylene, dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, dibenzo[b, d]furanylene, biphenylylene, 9H-fluorenylene, oxanthrenylene, phenoxathiinylene, thianthrenylene, 9H-xanthylene and 9H-thioxanthylene, where the aforementioned mono- or polycyclic aryl and mono- and polycyclic hetaryl are unsubstituted or carry 1 or 2 radicals R Ar .
• a 1 is selected from phenylene, naphthylene, dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, biphenylylene, 9H-fluorenylene, oxanthrenylene, phenoxathiinylene, thianthrenylene, 9H-xanthylene and 9H-thioxanthylene, and in particular selected from 1 ,4-phenylene, 1 ,2-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 2,3-naph- thylene, 2,7-naphthylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 1 ,4-naphthylene, 1 ,5-naphthylene, 1 ,8- naphthylene, 4,6-dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, 2,8-dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, 3,7- dibenzo[b,d]thienylene
• a preferred subgroup (6’) of the group (6) of embodiments relates to compounds of the formula (I), where the moiety A 1 comprises a phenylene ring, which may bear one or two fused rings selected from fused benzene rings and fused 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic rings.
• the compounds of group (6’) of embodiments preference is given to those compounds, wherein the groups Y 1 and Y 2 are connected in the parapositions of the phenylene ring of A 1 .
• These compounds are also referred to the paraisomers of group (6’) of embodiments.
• Also preferred are mixtures of the para- isomer with the corresponding meta- or ortho isomer of the compounds of the formula (I) of the group (6’) of embodiments.
• a 1 is selected from 1 ,4-phe- nylene, 1 ,2-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 2,3-naphthylene, 2,7-naphthylene, 2,6-naph- thylene, 1 ,4-naphthylene, 1 ,5-naphthylene, 1 ,8-naphthylene, 4,6- dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, 2,8-dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, 3,3’-biphenylylene, 4,4’-bi- phenylylene, 9,9-9H-fluorenylene, 2,7-9H-fluorenylene, 2,7-thianthrenylene, 2,8-thi- anthrenylene, 1 ,4-thianthrenylene, 2,3-thianthrenylene, 1 ,6-thianthrenylene, 1 ,
• variables Y 1 and Y 2 in formulae (I) and (II) that are selected from -CH 2 -, -CHAr Y - and -CH(CH 2 Ar Y )-, where Ar Y has one of the meanings defined herein, especially those mentioned herein as preferred, and is specifically selected from phenyl, naphth-1-yl, naphth-2-yl, fluoren-2-yl, fluoren-9-yl, phenanthren-9-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-2-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-3-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-4-yl, dibenzo[b,d]furan- 2-yl, dibenzo[b,d]furan-3-yl or dibenzo[b,d]furan-4-yl, thianthren-1 -yl, thianthren-2-yl, oxanthren-1-yl, oxanthren
• variables Y 1 and Y 2 in formulae (I) and (II) are both -CH 2 -.
• the variable A 1 has one of the meanings given in group (6) of embodiments, preferably given in group (6.1) of embodiments, more preferably given in group (6.2) of embodiments, in particular given in group (6.3) of embodiments and especially given in group (6.4) of embodiments.
• variable n in formulae (I) and (II) is 1 or 2.
• variable n in formulae (I) and (II) is 1 .
• R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 in formulae (I) and (II) have one of the meanings defined herein, especially those mentioned herein as preferred. In this context, it is preferred that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , if present, all have the same meaning. It is also preferred here that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 , if present, are attached to the corresponding positions of their respective naphthyl units.
• variables m, p, q and r in formulae (I) and (II) are preferably 0, 1 or 2, more preferably 0 or 1 , and in particular all have the same meaning.
• variables m, p, q and r in formulae (I) and (II) are all 0.
• variables Ar Y , Ar A , Q, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5a , R 5b , R Ar , R, R’, R” and R’” either alone or preferably in combination with each other and with the meanings and preferred meanings of the variables X 1 , X 1 , A 1 , A 2 , n, m, p, q, r, R x , Alk 1 and Alk 2 described above, have the following meanings.
• Ar Y and Ar A are preferably, independently of one another, selected from mono- or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms as ring member atoms and polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 9 to 16 atoms, which are ring member atoms, where 1 or 2 of these ring member atoms of hetaryl are sulfur or oxygen atoms, while the remainder of these ring member atoms of hetaryl are carbon atoms, where mono- or polycyclic aryl and polycyclic hetaryl are unsubstituted or carry 1 or 2 radicals R Ar , where R Ar has one of the meanings defined herein, especially one of the meanings mentioned as preferred.
• Ar Y and Ar A are independently selected from phenyl, naphthyl, such as naphth-1-yl or naphth-2-yl, fluorenyl, such as fluoren-1-yl, fluoren-2-yl, fluoren-3-yl, fluoren-4-yl, fluoren-9-yl, 11 H-benzo[a]fluorenyl, such as 11 H-benzo[a]fluoren-7-yl, 11 H-benzo[b]fluorenyl, such as 11 H-benzo[b]fluoren-1-yl, 7H-benzo[c]fluorenyl, such as 7H-benzo[c]fluoren-5-yl or 7H-benzo[c]fluoren-10-yl, phenanthrenyl, such as phe- nanthren-1-yl, phenanthren-2-yl, fluorenyl, such as fluoren-1-yl, fluoren-2-yl,
• Ar Y and Ar A are independently selected from phenyl, naphthyl, fluorenyl, phenanthrenyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, dibenzo[b, d]thienyl, thianthrenyl, oxanthrenyl, phenoxathiinyl, 9H-xanthyl and 9H-thioxanthyl, such as phenyl, naphth-1-yl, naphth-2-yl, fluoren-2-yl, fluoren-3-yl, fluoren-9-yl, phenanthren-1-yl, phenanthren-2-yl, phenanthren-3-yl, phenanthren-4-yl, phenanthren-9-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-1-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-2-yl, dibenzo[b,d]thien-3-yl, dibenzo[b,d]
• Ar Y and Ar A are independently selected from selected from phenyl, naphth- 1-yl, naphth-2-yl and phenanthren-9-yl,
• Q is preferably selected from a single bond, S, O and SO 2 , in particular from a single bond, S and O, and specifically is a single bond.
• R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are preferably, independently of one another, selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 2 -C 3 -alkynyl, CN, R, OR and CH t R' 3-t , and more preferably from the group of fluorine, CN, R and OR, where t is 1 or 2, especially 2, and the variable R and R’ each have one of the meanings defined herein, especially a preferred one.
• radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are idependently selected from the group consisting of fluorine, CN, methyl, methoxy, phenyl, naphthyl and phenanthrenyl, and specifically from the group consisting of fluorine, phenyl or naphthyl.
• R 5a and R 5b are preferably, independently of one another, selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, CN, R, OR and CHkR' 3-k , and more preferably from the group of hydrogen, fluorine, CN, R and OR, where k is 1 or 2, especially 2, and the variable R and R’ each have one of the meanings defined herein, especially a preferred one.
• the radicals R 5a and R 5b are idependently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, CN, methyl, methoxy, phenyl, naphthyl and phenanthrenyl, and specifically from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, phenyl or naphthyl.
• R Ar is preferably selected from the group consisting of R, OR and CH t R’ 3-t , and more preferably from the group of R and OR, where t is 1 or 2, especially 2, and the variables R and R’ each have one of the meanings defined herein, especially a preferred one.
• the radical R Ar is selected from the group consisting of methyl, methoxy, phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and triphenylenyl, and specifically is phenyl, naphthyl or phenanthrenyl.
• R is preferably selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and triphenylenyl, which are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2 or 3 identical or different radicals R’”, where R’”, independently of each occurrence, has one of the meanings defined herein, in particular a preferred one. More preferably, R is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl and phenanthrenyl, which are unsubstituted.
• R’ is preferably selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthrenyl and triphenylenyl, which are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2 or 3 identical or different radicals R’”, where R’”, independently of each occurrence, has one of the meanings defined herein, in particular a preferred one. More preferably, R’ is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, naphthyl and phenanthrenyl, which are unsubstituted.
• R is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, phenyl and naphthyl, where phenyl and naphthyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2 or 3, especially 1 or 2, identical or different radicals R’”, where R’”, independently of each occurrence, has one of the meanings defined herein, in particular a preferred one. More preferably, R” is unsubstituted phenyl or unsubstituted naphthyl.
• R’ is preferably selected from the group consisting of phenyl, OCH 3 and CH 3 .
• the compound of formula (I) is a compound of the formula (la), where X represents the indentical groups X 1 and X 2 , and where A 1 , X 1 and X 2 have the meanings defined herein, in particular the meanings mentioned as preferred.
• the structural unit of the formula (II) is a structural unit of the formula (Ila), where # represents a connection point to a neighboring structural unit, where X a represents the indentical groups X 1a and X 2a , and where the variables A 1 , X 1a and X 2a have the meanings defined herein, in particular the meanings mentioned as preferred.
• the moieties X in formula (la) as well as the moieties X a in formula (Ila) are defined either as in one of groups (1 ) and (1 .1 ) of the embodiments, in group (2) of the embodiments or in one of groups (3) and (3.1) of the embodiments. More preferably, the moieties X in formula (la) as well as the moieties X a in formula (Ila) are defined either as in group (1 .1) of the embodiments, in group (2) of the embodiments or in group (3.1) of the embodiments.
• the moieties X in formula (la) are here in particular selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-hydroxyethyl (i.e.
• the moieties X a in formula (Ila) are here in particular selected from the group consisting of a single bond, 2(-O)-ethyl, (4(- O-methyl)phenyl)methyl, (3(-O-methyl)phenyl)methyl, (4(-O-methyl)-1 -naphthyl)methyl, (5(-O-methyl)-1 -naphthyl)methyl, (6(-O-methyl)-2-naphthyl)methyl, 4’(-O-methyl)-1 , 1 ’- biphenylyl-4-methyl, -O-C(O)-methyl, (4(-O-C(O)-phenyl)methyl, (3(-O-C(O)- phenyl)methyl, (4-(-O-C(O)-)-1-naphthyl)methyl, (5-(-O-C(O)-)-1-naphthyl)methyl and (6-(-O-C(O)
• the moieties X in formula (la) are here in particular selected from the group consisting of bisphenylmethandiyl, bis(naphth-1 -yl)methandiyl, bis(naphth-2-yl)methandiyl, bis(phenanthren-9-yl)methandiyl, 1 ,4-phenylene, 1 ,2-phenylene, 1 ,3-phenylene, 2,3- naphthylene, 2,7-naphthylene, 2,6-naphthylene, 1 ,4-naphthylene, 1 ,5-naphthylene, 1 ,8- naphthylene, 4,6-dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, 2,8-dibenzo[b,d]thienylene, 3,3’- biphenylylene, 4,4’-biphenylylene, 9,9-9H-fluorenylene, 2,7-9H-fluorenyl
• Examples of the particular subgroup (7a) are the compounds of the formula (la) and the structural units of formula (Ila), in which the combination of the moieties X or moieties X a , respectively, and the variable A 1 is as defined in any one of the lines 1 to 266 in table A below, where X a in each case is derived from X in formula (la), if X is hydrogen, by replacing hydrogen with a single bond, or, if X is not hydrogen, by replacing the -OH or -OR x group of X with an oxo (-O-) unit, where X has one of the meanings defined herein, especially one of those mentioned herein as preferred.
• the structural unit of the formula (II) is a structural unit of the formula (Ilb), where # represents a connection point to a neighboring structural unit, where X a represents the indentical groups X 1a and X 2a , and where the variables X 1a and X 2a have the meanings defined herein, in particular the meanings mentioned as preferred.
• the moieties X in formula (lb) as well as the moieties X a in formula (Ilb) are defined either as in one of groups (1) and (1.1) of the embodiments, in group (2) of the embodiments or in one of groups (3) and (3.1) of the embodiments. More preferably, the moieties X in formula (lb) as well as the moieties X a in formula (Ilb) are defined either as in group (1 .1) of the embodiments, in group (2) of the embodiments or in group (3.1) of the embodiments. In particular, the moieties X in formula (lb) as well as the moieties X a in formula (Ilb) are defined as in group (1 .1) of embodiments.
• the moieties X in formula (la) are here in particular selected from the group consisting of 2- hydroxyethyl (i.e. 2-(HO)-ethyl), 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methyl, (3- (hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methyl, (4-(hydroxymethyl)-1 -naphthyl)methyl, (6- (hydroxymethyl)-2-naphthyl)methyl, 4’-(hydroxymethyl)-1 ,1 ’-biphenylyl-4-methyl, and especially are both 2-hydroxyethyl.
• a compound of formula (4) where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group, in the presence of a base, e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline carbonate like potassium carbonate, to yield the compound (5), which is a compound of the formula (la), where A 1 is a mono- or polycyclic (het)arylene moiety Ar.
• the compounds of the formula (la), where X is hydrogen and A 1 is a moiety -CH(CH 2 Ar A )- or -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 - herein, can, for example, be prepared by analogy to the process shown in the following reaction scheme 2.
• a compound of formula (6) where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group, , and where R a is hydrogen or a group - CH 2 Ar A , in the presence of a base, e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline carbonate like potassium carbonate, to yield the compound of formula (7).
• the obtained compound (7) is a compound of the formula (la), where A 1 a moiety -CH(CH 2 Ar A )- or -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 - and X is hydrogen.
• Suitable solvents for this reaction are polar aprotic organic solvents, such as for example acetone.
• a compound of formula (8) where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group, especially tosylate, and where T is a moiety -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, in the presence of a base, e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline carbonate or an alkaline hydride, especially an alkaline hydride, such as sodium hydride, to yield the compound of formula (9).
• a base e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline carbonate or an alkaline hydride, especially an alkaline hydride, such as sodium hydride, to yield the compound of formula (9).
• the obtained compound (9) is a compound of the formula (la) or (lb), where the groups X are hydrogen and A 1 in (la) is a single bond or a moiety -CH 2 -.
• Suitable solvents for this reaction are polar aprotic organic solvents, such as for example dimethylformamide or else e.g. acetone if an alkali carbonate is used as the base.
• a compound of formulae (5), (7) or (9) is reacted with the a compound of formula (10), where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group and L is -Alk 1 -OH, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH, -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x , in the presence of a base, e.g.
• an oxo base such as an alkaline carbonate to yield the compound (11), wherein V is a moiety -CH 2 -Ar-CH 2 , -CH 2 -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-CH 2 -, -CH 2 -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -CH 2 -, -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, where Ar is as defined in the context of Scheme 1 above.
• the compound (11) is a compound (lb) of the invention, where X has one of the meanings listed above for the group L, or is a compound (la), where the unit -Y 1 -A 1 -Y 2 - has one of the meanings given above for the unit V that are different from -CH 2 - and where the group X has one of the meanings listed above for the group L.
• Suitable solvents for this reaction of scheme 4 are polar aprotic organic solvents, such as for example dimethylformamide.
• the conversion shown in scheme 4 above is preferably conducted using 2-chloro-ethanol, or alternatively, ethylene carbonate or ethylene oxide, in particular ethylene carbonate, instead of the compound of formula (10).
• a base e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline carbonate like potassium carbonate.
• step a) of the process only one of the two hydroxyl groups of 1 ,1 ’-bi-2-naphthol of formula (3) is protected by introducing a protecting group, which is preferably an arylmethyl group, such as in particular a benzyl group.
• Arylmethyl groups, particularly a benzyl group can be introduced by procedures well established in the art, e.g. by reacting 1 ,1 ’-bi-2-naphthol (3) with usually 0.5 to 1.5 molar equivalents of benzyl bromide or benzyl chloride in the presence of a suitable base, such as for instance an alkaline metal carbonate, e.g. potassium carbonate, or an alkaline metal hydride, e.g.
• step b) the monoprotected 1 ,1 ’-bi-2-naphthol derivative (12) is reacted with a compound of formula (13), where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group, and where V’ is a moiety -CH 2 -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-CH 2 -, -CH 2 -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -CH 2 -, -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, in the presence of a base, for instance an oxo base, such as an alkaline metal carbonate, e.g.
• a base for instance an oxo base, such as an alkaline metal carbonate, e.g.
• the obtained diol (15) is a compound of the formulae (la) or (lb), where X is hydrogen, and the moiety A 1 in formula (la) is a single bond, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-, -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 - or -CH 2 -.
• step d) the diol (15) is converted to a corresponding compound of formula (15’), which is also a compound of formulae (la) or (lb), where, however, X, instead of hydrogen, is Alk 1 -OH, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH, -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x , and particularly is -Alk 1 -OH or -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x .
• a diol (15) into compound (15’) can be accomplished for example in analogy of the procedures described in connection with scheme 4 above, by reacting the diol (15) with a compound of formula (10’), where Z has the same meanings as described for the compound (10), and L’ is -Alk 1 -OH, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH, -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x , especially -Alk 1 -OH or -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x .
• This reaction sequence is particularly useful for generating compounds of formulae (la) and (lb), where X is hydrogen, -Alk 1 -OH or -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x and the moiety A 1 in formula (la) is a single bond, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-, -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 - or -CH 2 -.
• step a) of the process 1 ,1 ’-bi-2-naphthol of formula (3) is reacted with usually 0.5 to 1.5 molar equivalents of a compound of the formula (10”), where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group and L” is -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x , in the presence of a base, e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline metal carbonate, e.g. potassium carbonate, to yield the compound (16).
• a base e.g. an oxo base, such as an alkaline metal carbonate, e.g. potassium carbonate
• a suitable solvent for this reaction step is preferably selected from polar aprotic organic solvents, such as for example dimethylformamide.
• step b) the compound (16) is reacted with a compound of formula (13’), where Z is a suitable leaving group, such as a chloride, bromide, iodide, tosylate or mesitylate group, and where V” is a moiety -CH 2 -Ar-CH 2 -, -CH 2 -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-CH 2 -, -CH 2 -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -CH 2 -, -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, especially a moiety -CH 2 -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-CH 2 -, -CH 2 -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 -CH 2 -, -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 CH
• the compound of formula (17) obtained by this reaction is the desired compound of formula (la) or (lb) particularly characterized in that X is a moiety -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x .
• This reaction sequence is particularly useful for generating compounds of formulae (la) and (lb), where X is -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x , and where in formula (la) the moiety A 1 is a single bond, -CH(CH 2 Ar A )-, -C(CH 2 Ar A ) 2 - or -CH 2 -.
• step a) of the process 1 ,1 ’-bi-2-naphthol of formula (3) is mono-protected by introducing a suitable protecting group PG’, which is selected from hydroxyl protecting groups established in the art, such as for example 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, diphenylmethyl, trityl, allyl, propargyl or tert butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), yielding a compound of formula (18).
• PG is selected from hydroxyl protecting groups established in the art, such as for example 2-tetrahydropyranyl, benzyl, diphenylmethyl, trityl, allyl, propargyl or tert butyloxycarbonyl (Boc), yielding a compound of formula (18).
• PG’ group should be chosen to be compatible with the subsequent reactions.
• step d) the variable A 1 in the compound of formula (20) is a moiety Ar, which is as defined in the context of Scheme 1 above, PG’ should be preferably be different from benzyl.
• the introduction of the protecting group PG’ in step a) as well as its removal in step c), which affords an alcohol of the formula (19), can be conducted in analogy to respective procedures established in the art (see e.g. EP 0 915 073 B1 ; T. Song et al., Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 2014, 356(8), 1708-1718; C. Dong et al., Catalysis Science & Technology 2015, 5(10), 4755-4759; L.
• the intermediate step b) of the process for introducing a group L’ which is -Alk 1 -OH, -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -OH, -Alk 2 -C(O)OR x or -CH 2 -A 2 -C(O)OR x , can be conducted e.g. in analogy to the reaction of scheme 4 above.
• reaction mixtures obtained in the individual steps of the syntheses for preparing the compounds described in reaction schemes 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 above are usually worked up in a conventional way, e.g. by mixing with water, separating the phases and, where appropriate, purifying the crude products by washing, chromatography or crystallization.
• the intermediates in some cases result in the form of colourless or pale brownish, viscous oils, which are freed of volatiles or purified under reduced pressure and at moderately elevated temperature. If the intermediates are obtained as solids, the purification can be achieved by recrystallization or washing procedures, such as slurry washing.
• the compounds of the present invention can be obtained in high purity, which means that a product is obtained, which does not contain significant amounts of organic impurities different from the compound of formula (I), except for volatiles.
• the purity of compounds of formula (I) is at least 95%, in particular at least 98% and especially at least 99%, based on the non-volatile organic matter, i.e. the product contains at most 5%, in particular at most 2% and especially at most 1 % of non-volatile impurities different from the compound of formula (I).
• volatiles refers to organic compounds, which have a boiling point of less than 200°C at standard pressure (10 5 Pa). Consequently, non-volatile organic matter is understood to mean compounds having a boiling point, which exceeds 200°C at standard pressure.
• the compounds of formula (I) and likewise their solvates can often be obtained in crystalline form.
• the compound of formula (I) may be present in pure form or in the form of a solvate with water or an organic solvent. Therefore, a particular aspect of the invention relates to the compounds of formula (I), which are essentially present in crystalline form.
• the invention relates to crystalline forms, where the compound of formula (I) is present without solvent and to the crystalline solvates of the compounds of formula (I), where the crystals contain a solvent incorporated.
• Suitable organic solvents for crystallizing the compounds of the formula (I) or their solvates include but are not limited to aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene or xylene, aliphatic ketones in particular ketones having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone or diethyl ketone, aliphatic and alicyclic ethers, such as diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, methyl isobutyl ether, methyl tert-butyl ether, ethyl tert-bu- tyl ether, dioxane or tetrahydrofuran, aliphatic-aromatic ethers, such as ani
• impurities especially color forming impurities, that may be present in a crude preparation of a compound of formula (I) can be removed at any stage of the purification process, e.g. before a filtration step or a crystallization step, by standard procedures, such as treatment with an adsorbent, e.g. activated charcoal.
• an adsorbent e.g. activated charcoal.
• the compounds of the formula (I) and likewise their solvates can be obtained in purified form by employing other simple and efficient methods for purifying the raw products of these compounds, such as in particular slurry washing the raw solids obtained directly after the conversion to prepare the compounds of formula (I). Slurry washing is typically conducted at ambient temperature or elevated temperatures of usually about 30 to 90°C, in particular 40 to 80°C.
• Suitable organic solvents here are in principle the same as those listed above as being suitable for crystallizing the compounds of formula (I), such as in particular the mentioned aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic ketones and aliphatic ethers, e.g. toluene, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl tertbutyl ether.
• the compounds of formula (I) used for the preparation of the thermoplastic polymers, in particular the polycarbonates, as defined herein, can be easily prepared and obtained in high yield and high purity.
• compounds of formula (I) can be obtained in crystalline form, which allows for an efficient purification to the degree required in the preparation of optical resins.
• these compounds can be obtained in a purity which provides for high refractive indices and also low haze, which is particularly important for the use in the preparation of optical resins of which the optical devise is made of.
• the compounds of formula (I) are particularly useful as monomers in the preparation of the optical resins.
• formula (I) of the monomer used corresponds to the formula (II) of the structural unit comprised in the thermoplastic resin.
• formulae (la) and (lb), respectively, of the monomer used corresponds to the formulae (Ila), (llb), respectively, of the structural unit comprised in the thermoplastic resin.
• thermoplastic resin may have structural units different therefrom.
• these further structural units are derived from aromatic monomers of the formula (IV) resulting in structural units of the formula (V):
• # represents a connection point to a neighboring structural unit
• a 3 is a polycyclic radical bearing at least 2 benzene rings, wherein the benzene rings may be connected by W and/or directly fused to each other and/or fused by a non-benzene carbocycle and/or fused by two non-benzene carbocycles that are linked via a linker L, where A 3 is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2 or 3 radicals R aa , which are selected from the group consisting of halogen, C 1 -C 6 -alkyl, C 5 -C 6 -cycloalkyl, phenyl, naphthyl, 1 ,2-dihydroacenaphthylenyl, phenanthrenyl, pyrenyl, triphenylenyl, benzo[b]furanyl, dibenzo[b,d]furanyl, benzo[b]thienyl, dibenzo[b,d]thienyl and thianthrenyl;
• R 7a , R 7b independently of each other are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, CN, R, OR, CH v R’ 3-v , NR 2 , C(O)R and C(O)NH 2 , where R and R’ are as defined in claim 1 and v is 0, 1 or 2; and
• L is selected from a single bond, C 1 -C 4 -alkylene, C 4 -C 7 -cycloalkylene, C 4 -C 7 -cyclo- alkylenedimethylene, phenylenedimethylene, where L is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 radicals R L , which are selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 4 - alkyl, halogen, C 1 -C 4 -haloalkyl, C 4 -C 7 -cycloalkyl and phenyl,
• Ar is selected from the group consisting of mono- or polycyclic aryl having from 6 to 26 carbon atoms as ring atoms and mono- or polycyclic hetaryl having a total of 5 to 26 atoms, which are ring members, where 1 , 2, 3 or 4 of these ring member atoms of hetaryl are selected from nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen, while the remainder of these ring member atoms of hetaryl are carbon atoms, where Ar is unsubstituted or substituted by 1 , 2 or 3 radicals R ab , which are selected from the group consisting of halogen, phenyl and C 1 -C 4 -alkyl;
• R z is a single bond, Alk 3 , O-Alk 4 -, O-Alk 4 -[O-Alk 4 -] w - or O-Alk 5 -C(O)- where O is bound to A 3 , and where w is an integer from 1 to 10; Alk 3 is C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl; Alk 4 is C 2 -C 4 -alkandiyl; and Alk 5 is C 1 -C 4 -alkandiyl.
• R z in formula (IV) is O-Alk 5 -C(O)
• the esters, in particular the C 1 -C 4 -alkyl esters, of the monomers of formula (IV) may be used instead.
• a 3 is in particular either a polycyclic radical bearing 2 benzene or naphthaline rings, wherein the benzene rings are connected by W or fused by two non-benzene carbocycles that are linked via a linker L, where W is in particular selected from the group consisting of a single bond, S, S(O), SO 2 , C(CH 3 ) 2 , and a radical A' and where L is a single bond or C 1 -C 4 -alkylene.
• R z is in particular O-Alk 4 -, where Alk 4 is in particular linear alkandiyl having 2 to 4 carbon atoms and especially O-CH 2 CH 2 .
• monomers of formula (IV) preference is given to monomers of the general formulae (IV-1) to (IV-8) where a and b are 0, 1 , 2 or 3, in particular 0 or 1 ; a’ and b’ are 0, 1 , 2 or 3, in particular 0 or 1 ; c and d are 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, in particular 0 or 1 ; e and f are 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, in particular 0 or 1 ;
• W’ is S, S(O), SO 2 , O, single bond, CH 2 , CH(CH 3 ), C(CH 3 ) 2 , in particular S, S(O), SO 2 or C(CH 3 ) 2 ; and where R z , R aa , R ab , R 7a , R 7b and L are as defined for formula (IV) and where R z is in particular selected from a single bond, CH 2 and OCH 2 CH 2 ,
• Examples of compounds of the formulae (I V-11 ) to (IV-22) are 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy- phenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-iso- propylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-tert.-butylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4- hydroxy-3-cyclohexylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-phenylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9- bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)fluorene (BPEF), 9,9-bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3- methylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3-isopropylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9- bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)
• structural units of formula (V) that may be comprised in the thermoplastic resin preference is given to structural units of the general formulae (V-1) to (V-8), where a and b are 0, 1 , 2 or 3, in particular 0 or 1 ; a’ and b’ are 0, 1 , 2 or 3, in particular 0 or 1 ; c and d are 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, in particular 0 or 1 ; e and f are 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5, in particular 0 or 1 ;
• W’ is S, S(O), SO 2 , O, single bond, CH 2 , CH(CH 3 ), C(CH 3 ) 2 , in particular s, S(O), SO 2 or C(CH 3 ) 2 ; and where R z , R aa , R ab , R 7a , R 7b and L are as defined for formula (V) and where R z is in particular selected from a single bond, CH 2 and OCH 2 CH 2 .
• R z and R aa are as defined herein and where R z is in particular selected from a single bond, CH 2 and O-CH 2 CH 2 , and especially is O-CH 2 CH 2 :
• the thermoplastic resin of the present invention comprises at least one structural unit of the formulae (Ila) or (Ilb) and at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of structural units of the formula (V-11 ), structural units of the formula (V-12), structural units of the formula (V-13), structural units of the formula (V-14), structural units of the formula (V-15), structural units of the formula (V-21) and structural units of the formula (V-22).
• those thermoplastic resins are preferred, where in the structural units of the formulae (V-11), (V-12), (V-13), (V-14), (V-15), (V-21) and (V-22) the radicals R z are O-CH 2 CH 2 .
• the total molar ratio of the structural units of the formulae (Ila) or (Ilb) is in the range from 1 to 99 mol-%, preferably in the range from 5 to 98 mol-%, further preferably in the range from 10 to 97 mol-%, and even further preferably in the range from 20 to 95 mol-% of the total amount of structural units of the formulae (II) and (V).
• the compounds of the formula (IV-8) can be prepared by various synthesis methods, as disclosed e.g. in JP Publication No. 2014-227387, JP Publication No. 2014-227388, JP Publication No. 2015-168658, and JP Publication No. 2015-187098.
• 1 ,1 ’-binaphthols may be reacted with ethylene glycol monotosylates; alternatively, 1 ,1’-binaphthols may be reacted with alkylene oxides, halogenoalkanols, or alkylene carbonates; and alternatively, 1 ,1’-binaphthols may be reacted with ethylene carbonates.
• R z -OH is O-Alk 2 - or O-Alk 2 -[O-Alk 2 -] p -.
• the compounds of the formula (IV-2) can be prepared by various synthesis methods, as disclosed e.g. in JP Patent Publication No. 5442800, and JP Publication No. 2014-028806. Examples include:
• compounds of the formula (IV-2) can be obtained, where R z is a single bond.
• the compounds of formulae (IV), where R z is O-Alk 2 - or O-Alk 2 -[O-Alk 2 -] p - can be prepared from compounds of formulae (IV), where R z is a single bond, by reaction with alkylene oxides or haloalkanols.
• 9,9-bis(hydroxynaphthyl)-fluo- renes of the formula (IV-2) where R z is a single bond with alkylene oxides or haloalkanols results in the compounds of the formula (IV-2) where R z is O-Alk 2 - or O-Alk 2 -[O- Alk 2 -] p -.
• 9,9-bis[6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)naphthyl] fluorene can be prepared by reacting 9,9-bis[6-(2-hydroxynaphthyl] fluorene with 2-chloroethanol under alkaline conditions.
• the total amount of such impurity compounds is preferably 5000 ppm or lower, more preferably 3000 ppm or lower, still more preferably 2000 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 1000 ppm or lower.
• the total content of the impurities in the monomers used for preparing the thermoplastic resin is preferably 4000 ppm or lower in particular 1500 ppm or lower, and more preferably 1000 ppm or lower.
• the total amount of dihydroxy compounds in which a carbon number of at least one of the radicals X 1 or X 2 differs from the formula (I) is preferably 3000 ppm or lower, more preferably 1500 ppm or lower, still more preferably 1000 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 500 ppm or lower; in the monomer(s) of which the main component is the dihydroxy compound(s) represented by the formula (I).
• the total content of the dihydroxy compounds in which a carbon number of at least one of the radicals X 1 or X 2 differs from the formula (I) is further preferably 1000 ppm or lower, and more preferably 500 ppm or lower.
• the amount of impurities in the co-monomers of formula (IV) will be in the range given for the monomers of formula (I).
• Suitable thermoplastic resins for the preparation of optical devices, such as lenses are in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters.
• Preferred thermoplastic resins for the preparation of optical devices, such as lenses are in particular polycarbonates.
• Said polycarbonates are structurally characterized by having structural units of at least one of the formulae (II), (Ila) and (Ilb), respectively, optionally structural units derived from diol monomers, which are different from the monomer compound of the formula (I), e.g. structural units of the formula (V),
• #, R z and A 3 are as defined herein above; and a structural unit of formula (111-1) stemming from the carbonate forming component: where each # represents a connection point to a neighboring structural unit, i.e. to O at the connection point of the structural unit of the formula (II) and, if present, to O at the connection point of the structural unit of the formula (V).
• Said polyesters are structurally characterized by having structural units of at least one of the formulae (II), (Ila) and (Ilb), respectively, optionally structural units derived from diol monomers which are different from the monomer compound of the formula (I), e.g. structural units of the formula V. If X 1a and X 2a in formulae (II), (Ila) and (Ilb) are selected from a single bond, -Alk 1 -O- and -CH 2 -A 2 -CH 2 -O-, the polyesters may have structural units derived from one or more dicarboxylic acids, e.g.
• each variable # represents a connection point to a neighboring structural unit, i.e. to O of the connection point of the structural unit of the formula (II) and, if present, to O of the connection point of the structural unit of the formula (V).
• Said polyestercarbonates are structurally characterized by having structural units of at least one of the formulae (II), (Ila) and (llb), respectively, optionally structural units derived from diol monomers which are different from the monomer compound of the formula (I), e.g. structural units of the formula (V), a structural unit of formula (IIl-1) stemming from the carbonate forming component and structural units derived from dicarboxylic acid, e.g.
• thermoplastic copolymer resins in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters, which have both structural units of formula (II) and one or more structural units of formula (V), i.e. resins, in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters, which are obtainable by reacting at least one monomer of formula (I) with one or more monomers of formula (IV).
• the molar ratio of monomers of formula (I) to monomers of formula (IV) and likewise the molar ratio of the structural units of formula (II) to structural units of formula (V) are in the range from 1 :99 to 99:1 , in particular in the range from 20:80 to 98:2 and especially in the range from 30:70 to 97:3 or in the range from 10:90 to 99:1 , in particular in the range from 15:85 to 98:2, 15:85 to 90:10, 15:85 to 80:20 or 15:85 to 70:30, more preferably in the range from 20:80 to 97:3 or 20:80 to 85:15, or in the range from 25:75 to 97:3, 25:75 to 85:15 or 25:75 to 80:20, especially in the range from 27:73 to 75:25, 27:73 to 80:20, 27:73 to 97:3 or in the range from 27:73 to 99:1 , even more preferably in the range from 27:73 to 90:
• the molar ratio of the structural units of the formula (II) is usually from 1 to 99 mol-% in particular from 20 to 98 mol-%, more preferably in the range from 30 to 97 mol-% or in the range from 10 to 99 mol-%, especially in the range from 20 to 97 mol-% or in the range from 27 to 97 mol-%, even more preferably in the range from 27 to 90 mol-% and specifically in range from 30 to 80 mol-% or in the range from 35 to 70 mol-%, based on the total molar amount of structural units of the formulae (II) and (V).
• the molar ratio of the structural units of the formula (V) is usually from 1 to 99 mol-%, in particular from 2 to 80 mol-%, more preferably in the range from 3 to 70 mol-% or in the range from 1 to 90 mol-%, especially in the range from 2 to 85 mol-% or in the range from 3 to 80 mol-%, even more preferably in the range of 10 to 73 mol-% and specifically in range from 20 to 70 mol-% or in the range from 30 to 65 mol-%, based on the total molar amount of structural units of the formulae (II) and (V).
• the above-mentioned molar ratios can be applied to the molar ratio of the structural units of formula (II) to the total structural units of the thermoplastic copolymer resins.
• thermoplastic copolymer resins in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters, which have both structural units of formula (II) and one or more structural units of formulae (V-14) or (V-15), i.e. resins, in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters, which are obtainable by reacting at least one monomer of formula (I) with one or more monomers of formulae (IV-14) or (IV-15).
• the molar ratio of monomers of formula (I) to monomers of formulae (IV-14) and (IV-15) and likewise the molar ratio of the structural units of formula (II) to structural units of formulae (V-14) and (V-15) are in the range from 50:50 to 99:1 , in particular in the range from 70:30 to 98:2 and especially in the range from 80:20 to 97:3.
• the above-mentioned molar ratios can be applied to the molar ratio of the structural units of formula (II) to the total structural units of the thermoplastic copolymer resins.
• thermoplastic copolymer resins in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters, which have both structural units of formula (II) and one or more structural units of formulae (V-11), (V-12), (V- 13), (V-21) or (V-22), i.e. resins, in particular polycarbonates, polyestercarbonates and polyesters, which are obtainable by reacting at least one monomer of formula (I) with one or more monomers of formulae (IV-11), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV-21) or (IV-22).
• the molar ratio of monomers of formula (I) to monomers of formulae (I V- 11 ), (IV- 12), (IV-13), (IV-21) and (I-22) and likewise the molar ratio of the structural units of formula (II) to structural units of formulae (V-11), (V-12), (V-13), (V-21) and (V-22) are in the range from 10:90 to 90:10, 15:85 to 80:20, 20:80 to 70:30, 25:75 to 80:20, 30:70 to 90:10 or 30:70 to 80:20, in particular in the range from 35:65 to 75:25, 35:65 to 70:30, 40:60 to 85:15 or 40:60 to 80:20, and especially in the range from 50:50 to 80:20.
• the above-mentioned molar ratios can be applied to the molar ratio of the structural units of formula (II) to the total structural units of the thermoplastic copolymer resins.
• thermoplastic copolymer resins of the present invention such as a polycarbonate resin may include either one of a random copolymer structure, a block copolymer structure, and an alternating copolymer structure.
• the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention does not need to include all of structural units (II) and one or more different structural units (V) in one, same polymer molecule.
• the thermoplastic copolymer resin according to the present invention may be a blend resin as long as the above-described structures are each included in any of a plurality of polymer molecules.
• thermoplastic resin including all of structural units (II) and structural units (V) described above may be a copolymer including all of structural units (II) and structural units (V), it may be a mixture of a homopolymer or a copolymer including at least one structural unit (II) and a homopolymer or a copolymer including at least one structural unit (V) or it may be a blend resin of a copolymer including at least one structural unit (II) and a first structural unit (V) and a copolymer including at least one structural unit (II) and at least one other structural unit (V) different from the first structural units (V); etc.
• thermoplastic polycarbonates are obtainable by polycondensation of a diol component and a carbonate forming component.
• thermoplastic polyesters and polyestercarbonates are obtainable by polycondensation of a diol component and a dicarboxylic acid, or an ester forming derivative thereof, and optionally a carbonate forming component.
• thermoplastic resins polycarbonate resins
• polycarbonate resins can be prepared by the following methods.
• a method for preparing the thermoplastic resin of the present invention includes a process of melt polycondensation of a dihydroxy component corresponding to the above-mentioned structural units and a diester carbonate.
• the dihydroxy compound comprises at least one dihydroxy compound represented by the formula (I), in particular by the formulae (la) or (lb), respectively, as defined herein.
• the dihydroxy compound may also comprise one or more dihydroxy compounds represented by the formula (IV), preferably by the formulae (IV-1 ) to (IV-8), in particular by the formulae (IV-11) to (IV-22), and especially by the formulae (IV-11 ), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV- 14), (IV-15), (IV-21) or (IV-22).
• the polycarbonate resin can be formed by reacting a dihydroxy component with a carbonate precursor, such as a diester carbonate, where the dihydroxy component comprises at least one compound represented by the formulae (I), (la) and (lb), respectively, or a combination of at least one compound represented by the formulae (I), (la) and (lb), respectively, and at least one compound represented by the formulae (IV), (IV-1), (IV-2), (IV-3), (IV-4), (IV-5), (IV-6), (IV-7), (IV-8), (IV-11), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV-14), (IV-15), (IV-16), (IV-17), (IV-18), (IV-19), (IV-20), (IV-21) or (IV- 22).
• a carbonate precursor such as a diester carbonate
• a polycarbonate resin can be formed by a melt polycondensation process in which the compound represented by the formulae (I), (la) and (lb), respectively, or a combination thereof with at least one compound of the formulae (IV), (IV-1 ), (IV-2), (IV-3), (IV-4), (IV-5), (IV-6), (IV-7), (IV-8), (IV-11), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV-14), (IV- 15), (IV-16), (IV-17), (IV-18), (IV-19), (IV-20), (IV-21) or (IV-22) and a carbonate precursor, such as a diester carbonate, are reacted in the presence of a basic compound catalyst, a transesterification catalyst, or a mixed catalyst thereof, or in the absence of a catalyst.
• a carbonate precursor such as a diester carbonate
• thermoplastic resin (or a polymer) other than a polycarbonate resin such as polyestercarbonates and polyesters is obtained by using the dihydroxy compound represented by the formulae (I), (la) and (lb), respectively, or a combination thereof with at least one compound represented by the formulae (IV), (IV-1), (IV-2), (IV-3), (IV-4-), (IV- 5), (IV-6), (IV-7), (IV-8), (IV-11), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV-14), (IV-15), (IV-16), (IV-17), (IV- 18), (IV-19), (IV-20), (IV-21) or (IV-22) as a material (or a monomer).
• the monomers of formula (I) and likewise the co-monomers of formula (IV) used for producing the thermoplastic resin may contain impurities resulting from their preparation.
• the monomers of the formulae (IV-1) and (IV-2), where R z is O-Alk 2 - or O-Alk 2 -[O-Alk 2 -] p - may include a dihydroxy compound in which both R z are a single bond, or a dihydroxy compound in which one of R z is a single bond, instead of O-Alk 2 - or O-Alk 2 -[O-Alk 2 -] p -.
• the total amount of such dihydroxy compounds of the formulae (IV-1) or (IV-2) in which at least one of R z differs from O-Alk 4 - or O-Alk 4 -[O-Alk 4 -] w -, is preferably 3000 ppm or lower, more preferably 1500 ppm or lower, still more preferably 1000 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 500 ppm or lower; in the monomer(s) of which main component is the dihydroxy compound(s) represented by the formulae (IV-1) or (IV-2).
• the total content of the dihydroxy compounds in which at least one of the values of a and b or c and d differs from the formula (IV-1) or (IV-2) is still preferably 300 ppm or lower, and more preferably 200 ppm or lower.
• the polycarbonate resins can be obtained by reacting the monomer compounds of the formula (I) or by reacting combination of at least one monomer compound of the formula (I), in particular at least one monomer (I) mentioned herein as preferred, and one or more monomer compounds of the formula (IV), and in particular of the formulae (IV- 11), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV-14), (IV-15), IV-21) or (IV-22), and the like, as dihydroxy components; with carbonate precursors, such as diester carbonates.
• the thermoplastic resin of the present invention may also contain minor amount of impurities, for example, as extra contents of thermoplastic resin composition or a part of the polymer skeleton of the thermoplastic resin.
• impurities include phenols formed by a process for forming the thermoplastic resin, unreacted diester carbonates and monomers.
• the total amount of impurities in the thermoplastic resin may be 5000 ppm or lower, or 2000 ppm or lower.
• the total amount of impurities in the thermoplastic resin is preferably 1000 ppm or lower, more preferably 500 ppm or lower, still more preferably 200 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 100 ppm or lower.
• the total amount of phenols as impurities in the thermoplastic resin may be 3000 ppm or lower, or 2000 ppm or lower.
• the total amount of phenols as impurities is preferably 1000 ppm or lower, more preferably 800 ppm or lower, still more preferably 500 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 300 ppm or lower.
• the total amount of diester carbonates as impurities in the thermoplastic resin is preferably 1000 ppm or lower, more preferably 500 ppm or lower, still more preferably 100 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 50 ppm or lower.
• the total amount of unreacted monomers as impurities in the thermoplastic resin is preferably 3000 ppm or lower, more preferably 2000 ppm or lower, still more preferably 1000 ppm or lower, and especially preferably 500 ppm or lower.
• the lower limit of the total amount of these impurities is not important, but may be 0.1 ppm, or 1.0 ppm.
• the total amount of residual heavy metals, e.g. palladium, as impurity in the thermoplastic resin is preferably 50 ppm or lower, more preferably 10 ppm or lower.
• the amount of residual palladium can be reduced by standard procedures like treatment with an adsorbent, e.g. active charcoal.
• Resins having targeted characteristics can be formed by adjusting the amounts of phenols and diester carbonates.
• the amounts of phenols, diester carbonates, and monomers can be suitably adjusted by arranging the conditions for polycondensation, the working conditions of devices used for polymerization, or the conditions for extrusion molding after the polycondensation process.
• the weight-average molecular weight (Mw), as determined by GPC (gel permeation chromatography), of the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention is preferably in the range from 5000 to 100000 Dalton, more preferably 10000 to 80000 Dalton or 20000 to 65000 Dalton, especially in the range of 10000 to 50000 Dalton or 20000 to 40000 Dalton.
• the GPC measurments may be calibrated by using polystyrene standards.
• the Mw of a thermoplastic resin of the present invention determined this way is also denoted herein as “polystyrene conversion weight-average molecular weight”.
• the number-average molecular weight (Mn) of the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention is preferably in the range of 3000 to 30000, more preferably 5000 to 25000, and especially in the range of 7000 to 20000.
• the viscosity-average molecular weight (Mv) of the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention is preferably in the range from 8000 to 28000, more preferably 9000 to 22000, and still more preferably 10000 to 18000.
• the value of the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention is preferably 1 .5 to 9.0, more preferably 1 .8 to 7.0, and still more preferably 2.0 to 4.0.
• thermoplastic resin has the value of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) within the above-mentioned suitable range, a molded article made from the thermoplastic resin has high strength.
• thermoplastic resin with the suitable Mw value is advantageous for molding because of its excellent fluidity.
• the thermoplastic resin comprises 9% by weight or less, in particular 7% by weight or less and especially 5% by weight or less, e. g. 0.1 to 9% by weight, in particular 0.1 to 7% by weight and especially 0.1 to 5% by weight, of low molecular weight compounds having molecular weight of less than 1000, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic resin. If such low molecular weight compounds are present in the thermoplastic resin in an amount within the above ranges, the mechanical strength of a molded body made from such a thermoplastic resin is commonly increased, especially compared to a molded body made from a thermoplastic resin with a higher amount of the low molecular weight compounds.
• thermoplastic resin according to this embodiment comprising 9% by weight or less, in particular 7% by weight or less and especially 5% by weight of low molecular weight compounds with molecular weights of less than 1000, is not or only slightly prone to precipitation of the low molecular weight compounds, which is also known as bleed-out during a molding process, such as an injection molding process.
• molding of a thermoplastic resin with a higher amount of the low molecular weight compounds may be accompanied by bleed-out to a greater extent.
• the thermoplastic resin comprises 0.1 % by weight or more, in particular 0.3% by weight or more or 0.5% by weight or more, and especially 1 .0% by weight or more, e. g. 0.5 to 9% by weight, in particular 1 to 9% by weight or 1 to 7% by weight and especially 1 to 5% by weight, of low molecular weight compounds with molecular weights of less than 1000, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic resin.
• thermoplastic resin of the present invention such as especially the above-mentioned polycarbonate resin, has a high refractive index (n D or nd) and thus is suitable to an optical lens.
• the values of the refractive index as referred herein are values of a film having a thickness of 0.1 mm may be measured by use of an Abbe refractive index meter by a method of JIS-K-7142.
• the refractive index of the thermoplastic resin of the present invention is, in case the resin includes the structural unit (II), frequently 1.630 or higher, preferably 1.640 or higher, more preferably 1.650 or higher, still more preferably 1 .660 or higher, in particular 1 .665 or higher, 1 .670 or higher, 1.675 or higher, or 1.680 or higher, and specifically 1.685 or higher.
• the structural unit (II) frequently 1.630 or higher, preferably 1.640 or higher, more preferably 1.650 or higher, still more preferably 1 .660 or higher, in particular 1 .665 or higher, 1 .670 or higher, 1.675 or higher, or 1.680 or higher, and specifically 1.685 or higher.
• the refractive index of the copolycarbonate resin including the structural unit (II) and a structural unit (V) according to the present invention is preferably 1.640 to 1.730, preferably 1.650 to 1.730, still more preferably 1.660 to 1.730.
• the Abbe number (v or vd) of the thermoplastic resin of the present invention is preferably 24 or lower, or 23 or lower, more preferably 22 or lower, or 21 or lower, and still more preferably 20 or lower, or 19 or lower.
• the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the thermoplastic resin of the present invention is, in consideration of that the polycarbonate is usable for injection molding, frequently in the range of 90 to 185°C, preferably in the range of 90 to 180°C, more preferably in the range of 100 to 170°C or 110 to 170°C, and especially in the range of 110 to 160°C, 120 to 165°C or 130 to 160°C.
• the lower limit of Tg is preferably 130°C and more preferably 135°C
• the upper limit of Tg is preferably 180°C and more preferably 170°C.
• a glass transition temperature (Tg) in the above given ranges provides a significant range of usable temperature and avoids the risk that the melting temperature of the resin may be too high, and thus the resin may be undesirably decomposed or colored. What is more, it allows for preparing molds having have a high surface accuracy.
• the values given for the glass transition temperature refer to the values measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using a 10°C/minute heating program according to the protocol of JIS K7121-1987.
• the absolute value of the orientation birefringence of the thermoplastic resin is preferably in the range of 0 to 1x10 - 2 , more preferable in the range of 0 to 5x10 -3 , even more preferable in the range of 0 to 2x10 -3 , in particular in the range of 0 to 1x10 -3 , and specifically in the range of 0 to 0.4x10 -3 .
• An optical molded body such as an optical element produced by using a polycarbonate resin of the present invention has a total light transmittance of preferably 85% or higher, more preferably 87% or higher, and especially preferably 88% or higher.
• a total light transmittance of preferably 85% or higher is as good as that provided by bisphenol A type polycarbonate resin or the like.
• the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention has high moisture and heat resistance.
• the moisture and heat resistance may be evaluated by performing a "PCT test” (pressure cooker test) on a molded body such as an optical element produced by use of the thermoplastic resin and then measuring the total light transmittance of the molded body after the PCT test.
• PCT test pressure cooker test
• an injection molded body having a diameter of 50 mm and a thickness of 3 mm is kept for 20 hours with PC305S III made by HIRAYAMA Corporation under the conditions of 120°C, 0.2 MPa, 100%RH for 20 hours.
• the sample of the injection molded body is removed from the device and the total light transmittance is measured using the SE2000 type spectroscopic parallax measuring instrument made by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd in accordance with the method of JIS-K-7361-1 .
• the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention has a post-PCT test total light transmittance of 60% or higher, preferably 70% or higher, more preferably 75% or higher, still more preferably 80% or higher, and especially preferably 85% or higher. As long as the total light transmittance is 60% or higher, the thermoplastic resin is considered to have a higher moisture and heat resistance than that of the conventional thermoplastic resin.
• the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention has a b value, which represents the hue, of preferably 5 or lower. As the b value is smaller, the color is less yellowish, which is good as a hue.
• the diol component which is used in the preparation of the polycarbonates or polyesters, may additionally comprise one or more diol monomers, which are different from the monomer compound of the formula (I), such as one or more monomers of the formula (IV).
• Suitable diol monomers which are different from the monomer compound of the formula (I), are those, which are conventionally used in the preparation of polycarbonates, e.g. aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, propanediol, butanediol, pentanediol and hexanediol; alicyclic diols such as tricyclo[5.2.1 ,02,6]decane dimethanol, cyclohexane-1 ,4-di- methanol, decalin-2, 6-dimethanol, norbornane dimethanol, pentacyclopentadecane dimethanol, cyclopentane-1 ,3-dimethanol, spiroglycol, 1 ,4:3,6-dianhydro-D- sorbitol, 1 ,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol and 1 ,4:3,6-dianhydro-L-iditol are also included in examples of the di
• the diol component comprises at least one monomer of the formula (IV) in addition to the monomer of formula (I).
• the total amount of monomers of formulae (I) and (IV) contribute to the diol component by at least 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the diol component or by at least 90 mol-%, based on the total molar amount of the diol monomers of the diol component.
• the diol component comprises at least one monomer selected from the monomers of formulae (IV-11) to (IV-22) in addition to the monomer of formula (I).
• the diol component comprises at least one monomer selected from the monomers of formulae (IV-11), (IV-12), (IV-13), (IV-14), (IV-15), (IV-21) and (IV-22) in addition to the monomer of formula (I).
• the diol component comprises at least one monomer selected from 2,2'-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)-1 , 1 ’-binaphtyl, 2,2'-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)-6,6’-diphenyl- 1 , 1 '-binaphtyl, 9,9-bis(6-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-2-naphthyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-(2-hydroxy- ethoxy)phenyl)fluorene, 2-[4-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-3,5-di(thianthrene-1-yl)phenyl]sul- fonyl-2,6-di(thianthrene-1-yl)phen
• the relative amount of monomer compound of formula (I), based on the total weight of the diol component is at least 1 % by weight, preferably at least 10% or at least 30% by weight, in particular at least 15% by weight or at least 20% by weight and especially at least 25% by weight or at least 30% by weight, preferably in the range of 1 to 99% by weight or in the range of 10 to 98% by weight, in particular in the range of 20 to 98% by weight or in the range of 25 to 98% by weight or in the range of 30 to 98% by weight or in the range 30 to 97% by weight, especially in the range of of 15 to 96% by weight or in the range of 20 to 95% by weight or in the range 30 to 95% by weight or in the range of 30 to 93% by weight, but may also be as high as 100% by weight.
• the relative molar amount of monomer compound of formula (I), based on the total molar amount of the diol component is at least 1 mol-%, preferably at least 10 mol-% or at least 30 mol-%, in particular at least 15 mol-% or at least 20 mol-% and especially at least 25 mol-% or at least 30 mol-%, preferably in the range of 1 to 99 mol-% or in the range of 10 to 98 mol-% or in the range of 20 to 98 mol-% or in the range of 25 to 98 mol-%, in particular in the range of 15 to 96 mol-% or in the range of 20 to 95 mol-% or in the range of 30 to 95 mol-% or in the range of 30 to 93 mol-%, especially in the range of 20 to 90 mol-% or in the range of 25 to 90 mol-% or in the range of 30 to 90 mol-% or in the range of 32 to 90 mol-% or in the range of 35
• the relative molar amount of monomer compound of formula (IV), based on the total molar amount of the diol component, will not exceed 99 mol-% or 90 mol-% or 70 mol-%, in particular not exceed 85 mol-% or 80 mol-% and especially not exceed 75 mol-% or 70 mol-%, and is preferably in the range of 1 to 99 mol-% or in the range of 2 to 90 mol-% or in the range of 2 to 80 mol-% or in the range of 2 to 75 mol-%, in particular in the range of 4 to 85 mol-% or in the range of 5 to 80 mol-% or in the range of 5 to 70 mol-% or in the range of 7 to 70 mol-% , especially in the range of 10 to 80 mol-% or in the range of 10 to 75 mol-% or in the range of 10 to 70 mol-% or in the range of 10 to 68 mol-% or in the range of 10 to 65 mol-%, but may also be
• the total molar amount of monomers of formula (I) and monomers of formula (IV) is at least 80 mol-%, in particular at least 90 mol-%, especially at least 95 mol-% or up to 100 mol-%, based on the total molar amount of the diol monomers in the diol component.
• Examples of further preferred aromatic dihydroxy compound which can be used in addition to the monomers of formula (I) and optionally monomers of formula (IV) include, but are not limited to bisphenol A, bisphenol AP, bisphenol AF, bisphenol B, bisphenol BP, bisphenol C, bisphenol E, bisphenol F, bisphenol G, bisphenol M, bisphenol S, bisphenol P, bisphenol PH, bisphenol TMC, bisphenol Z and the like.
• the monomers forming the thermoplastic polymer may also include a monofunctional compound, in case of polycarbonates a monofunctional alcohol and in case of polyesters a monofunctional alcohol or a monofunctional carboxylic acid.
• Suitable monoalcohols are butanol, hexanol and octanol.
• Suitable monocarboxylic acids include e.g. benzoic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid.
• the monomers forming the thermoplastic polymer may also include a polyfunctional compound, in case of polycarbonates a polyfunctional alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups and in case of polyesters a polyfunctional alcohol having three or more hydroxyl groups or a polyfunctional carboxylic acid having three or more carboxyl groups.
• Suitable polyfunctional alcohols are e.g. glycerine, trimethylol propane, pentae- rythrit and 1 , 3, 5-tri hydroxy pentane.
• Suitable polyfunctional carboxylic acids having three or more carboxyl groups are e.g. trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid. The total amount of these compounds, will frequently not exceed 10 mol-%, based on the molar amount of the diol component.
• Suitable carbonate forming monomers are those, which are conventionally used as carbonate forming monomers in the preparation of polycarbonates, include, but are not limited to phosgene, diphosgene and diester carbonates such as diethyl carbonate, diphenyl carbonate, di-p-tolyl carbonate, phenyl-p-tolyl carbonate, di-p-chlorophenyl carbonate and dinaphthyl carbonate. Out of these, diphenyl carbonate is particularly preferred.
• the carbonate forming monomer is frequently used at a ratio of 0.97 to 1.20 mol, and more preferably 0.98 to 1.10 mol, with respect to 1 mol of the dihydroxy compound(s) in total.
• Suitable dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid; alicyclic dicarboxylic acids such as tricyclo[5.2.1 ,02,6]decane dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane-1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid, decalin-2, 6-dicarboxylic acid, and norbornandi- carboxylic acid; and aromatic dicarboxylic acids, such as benzene dicarboxylic acids, specifically phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2-methylterephthalic acid or terephthalic acid, and naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, specifically naphthalene-1 ,3-dicarboxylic acid, naphthalene-1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid, naphthalene
• Suitable ester forming derivatives of dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to the dialkyl esters, the diphenyl esters and the ditolyl esters.
• the ester forming monomer is frequently used at a ratio of 0.97 to 1.20 mol, and more preferably 0.98 to 1.10 mol, with respect to 1 mol of the dihydroxy compound(s) in total.
• the polycarbonates of the present invention can be prepared by reacting a diol component comprising a monomer of formula (I) and optionally a further diol monomer such as a monomer of the formula (IV) and a carbonate forming monomer by analogy to the well known preparation of polycarbonates as described e.g. in US 9,360,593, US 2016/0319069 and US 2017/0276837, to which full reference is made.
• the polyesters of the present invention can be prepared by reacting a diol component comprising a monomer of formula (I) and optionally a further diol monomer such as a monomer of the formula (IV) and a dicarboxylic acid or its ester forming derivative by analogy to the well known preparation of polyesters as described e.g. in
• the polyestercarbonates of the present invention can be prepared by reacting a diol component comprising a monomer of formula (I) and optionally a further diol monomer such as a monomer of the formula (IV), a carbonate forming monomer and a dicarboxylic acid or its ester forming derivative by analogy to the well known preparation of polyestercarbonates as described in the art.
• the polycarbonates, polyesters and polyestercarbonates are usually prepared by reacting the monomers of the diol component with the carbonate forming monomers and/or the ester forming monomers, i.e. the dicarboxylic acids or the ester forming derivatives thereof, in the presence of an esterification catalyst, in particular a transesterification catalyst, in case a carbonate forming monomer or an ester forming derivative of a polycarboxylic acid is used.
• Suitable transesterification catalysts are basic compounds, which specifically include but are not limited to alkaline metal compounds, alkaline earth metal compound, nitrogen-containing compounds, and the like.
• suitable transesterification catalysts are acidic compounds, which specifically include but are not limited to Lewis acid compounds of polyvalent metals, including compounds such as zinc, tin, titanium, zirconium, lead, and the like.
• alkaline metal compound examples include alkaline metal salts of an organic acid such as acetic acid, stearic acid, benzoic acid, or phenylphorsphoric acid, alkaline metal phenolates, alkaline metal oxides, alkaline metal carbonates, alkaline metal borohydrides, alkaline metal hydrogen carbonates, alkaline metal phosphate, alkaline metal hydrogenphosphate, alkaline metal hydroxides, alkaline metal hydrides, alkaline metal alkoxides, and the like.
• organic acid such as acetic acid, stearic acid, benzoic acid, or phenylphorsphoric acid
• alkaline metal phenolates alkaline metal oxides, alkaline metal carbonates, alkaline metal borohydrides, alkaline metal hydrogen carbonates, alkaline metal phosphate, alkaline metal hydrogenphosphate, alkaline metal hydroxides, alkaline metal hydrides, alkaline metal alkoxides, and the like.
• Specific examples thereof include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, cesium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, cesium carbonate, lithium carbonate, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, cesium acetate, lithium acetate, sodium stearate, potassium stearate, cesium stearate, lithium stearate, sodium borohydride, sodium borophenoxide, sodium benzoate, potassium benzoate, cesium benzoate, lithium benzoate, disodium hydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, dilithium hydrogen phosphate, and disodium phenylphosphate; and also include disodium salt, dipotassium salt, dicesium salt, dilithium salt of bisphenol A, sodium salt, potassium salt, cesium salt and lithium salt of phenol; and the like.
• alkaline earth metal compound examples include alkaline earth metal salts of an organic acid such as acetic acid, stearic acid, benzoic acid, or phenylphorsphoric acid, alkaline earth metal phenolates, alkaline earth metal earth oxides, alkaline earth metal carbonates, alkaline metal borohydrides, alkaline earth metal hydrogen carbonates, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydrides, alkaline earth metal alkoxides, and the like.
• organic acid such as acetic acid, stearic acid, benzoic acid, or phenylphorsphoric acid
• alkaline earth metal phenolates alkaline earth metal earth oxides
• alkaline earth metal carbonates alkaline metal borohydrides
• alkaline earth metal hydrogen carbonates alkaline earth metal hydroxides
• alkaline earth metal hydrides alkaline earth metal alkoxides, and the like.
• nitrogen-containing compound examples include quaternary ammoniumhydroxide, salt thereof, amines, and the like. Specific examples thereof include quaternary ammoniumhydroxides including an alkyl group, an aryl group or the like, such as tetramethylammoniumhydroxide, tetraethylammoniumhydroxide, tetrapropylammoniumhydroxide, tetrabutylammoniumhydroxide, trimethylbenzylammoniumhydroxide, and the like; tertiary amines such as triphenylamine, dimethylbenzylamine, triphenylamine, and the like; secondary amines such as diethylamine, dibutylamine, and the like; primary amines such as propylamine, butylamine, and the like; imidazoles such as 2-methylim- idazole, 2-phenylimidazole, benzoimidazole, and the like; bases or basic salts such as ammonia
• transesterification catalyst examples include salts of polyvalent metals such as zinc, tin, titanium, zirconium, lead, and the like, in particular the chlorides, alkoxyides, alkanoates, benzoates, acetylacetonates and the like. They may be used independently or in a combination of two or more.
• transesterification catalyst examples include zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc 2-ethylhexanoate, tin chloride (II), tin chloride (IV), tin acetate (II), tin acetate (IV), dibutyltinlaurate, dibutyltinoxide, dibutyltinmethoxide, zirconiumacetylacetonate, zirconium oxyacetate, zirco- niumtetrabutoxide, lead acetate (II), lead acetate (IV), and the like.
• the transesterification catalyst are frequently used at a ratio of 10 - 9 to 10 - 3 mol, preferably 10 - 7 to 10 - 4 mol, with respect to 1 mol of the dihydroxy compound(s) in total.
• the polycarbonates, polyesters and polyestercarbonates are prepared by a melt polycondensation method.
• the monomers are reacted in the absence of an additional inert solvent. While the reaction is performed any byproduct formed in the transesterification reaction is removed by heating the reaction mixture at ambient pressure or reduced pressure.
• the melt polycondensation reaction preferably comprises charging the monomers and catalyst into a reactor and subjecting the reaction mixture to conditions, where the reaction between the monomers and the formation of the byproduct takes place. It has been found advantageous, if the byproduct resides for at least a while in the polycondensation reaction. However, in order to drive the polycondensation reaction to the product side, it is beneficial to remove at least a portion of the formed byproduct during or preferably at the end of the polycondensation reaction. In order to allow the byproduct in the reaction mixture, the pressure may be controlled by closing the reactor, or by increasing or decreasing the pressure.
• the reaction time for this step is 20 minutes or longer and 240 minutes or shorter, preferably 40 minutes or longer and 180 minutes or shorter, and especially preferably 60 minutes or longer and 150 minutes or shorter.
• the finally obtained thermoplastic resin has a low content of high molecular-weight resin molecules.
• the finally obtained thermoplastic resin has a high content of high molecular-weight resin molecules.
• the melt polycondensation reaction may be performed in a continuous system or in a batch system.
• the reactor usable for the reaction may be of a vertical type including an anchor-type stirring blade, a Maxblend® stirring blade, a helical ribbon-type stirring blade or the like; of a horizontal type including a paddle blade, a lattice blade, an eye glass-type blade or the like; or an extruder type including a screw.
• a reactor including a combination of such reactors is preferably usable in consideration of the viscosity of the polymerization product.
• the catalyst may be removed or deactivated in order to maintain the thermal stability and the hydrolysis stability.
• a preferred method for deactivating the catalyst is the addition of an acidic substance.
• deactivators are frequently used at 0.01 to 50 mol, preferably 0.3 to 20 mol, with respect to the catalyst.
• the distillation is preferably performed at reduced pressure, e.g. at a pressure of 0.1 to 1 mm Hg at a temperature of 200 to 350°C.
• a horizontal device including a stirring blade having a high surface renewal capability such as a paddle blade, a lattice blade, an eye glass-type blade or the like, or a thin film evaporator is preferably used.
• the thermoplastic resin such as a polycarbonate resin has a very small amount of foreign objects. Therefore, the molten product is preferably filtered to remove any solids from the melt.
• the mesh of the filter is preferably 5 ⁇ m or less, and more preferably 1 ⁇ m or less. It is preferred that the generated polymer is filtrated by a polymer filter.
• the mesh of the polymer filter is preferably 100 ⁇ m or less, and more preferably 30 ⁇ m or less.
• a step of sampling a resin pellet needs to be performed in a low dust environment, needless to say.
• the dust environment is preferably of class 6 or lower, and more preferably of class 5 or lower.
• thermoplastic resin may be molded by any conventional molding procedure for producing optical elements. Suitable molding procedures include but are not limited to injection molding, compression molding, casting, roll processing, extrusion molding, extension and the like.
• thermoplastic resin of the invention While it is possible to mold the thermoplastic resin of the invention as such, it is also possible to mold a resin composition, which contains at least one thermoplastic resin of the invention and which further contains at least one additive and/or further resin.
• Suitable additives include antioxidants, processing stabilizers, photostabilizers, polymerization metal deactivators, flame retardants, lubricants, antistatic agents, surfactants, antibacterial agents, releasing agents, ultraviolet absorbers, plasticizers, compatibilizers, and the like.
• Suitable further resins are e.g. another polycarbonate resin, polyester carbonate resin, polyester resin, polyamide, polyacetal and the like, which does not contain repeating units of the formula (I).
• antioxidants examples include but are not limited to triethyleneglycol-bis[3-(3-tert- butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate], 1 ,6-hexanediol-bis[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4- hydroxyphenyljpropionate], pentaerythritol-tetrakis[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy- phenyl)propionate], octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 3,9-bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro[5.5]un- decane, 5,7-Di-tert-butyl-3-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)benzofuran-2(3H)-one
• thermoplastic resin is preferably 0.001 to 0.3 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin.
• processing stabilizer examples include but are not limited to phosphorus-based processing stabilizers, sulfur-based processing stabilizers, and the like.
• phosphorus-based processing stabilizer examples include phosphorous acid, phosphoric acid, phosphonous acid, phosphonic acid, esters thereof, and the like.
• triphenylphosphite tris(nonylphenyl)phosphite, tris(2,4-di-tert-bu- tylphenyl)phosphite, tris(2,6-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite, tridecylphosphite, trioctylphosphite, trioctadecylphosphite, didecylmonophenylphosphite, dioctylmonophenylphosphite, diisopropylmonophenylphosphite, monobutyldiphenylphosphite, monodecyldiphenylphosphite, monooctyldiphenylphosphite, bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4- methylphenyl)pentaerythritoldiphosphite, 2,2-m
• sulfur-based processing stabilizer examples include but are not limited to pen- taerythritol-tetrakis(3-laurylthiopropionate), pentaerythritol-tetrakis(3-myristylthiopropio- nate), pentaerythritol-tetrakis(3-stearylthiopropionate), dilauryl-3,3'-thiodipropionate, dimyristyl-3,3'-thiodipropionate, distearyl-3,3'-thiodipropionate, and the like.
• the content of the sulfur-based processing stabilizer in the thermoplastic resin compositon is preferably 0.001 to 0.2 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin.
• Preferred releasing agents contain at least 90% by weight of an ester of an alcohol and a fatty acid.
• Specific examples of the ester of an alcohol and a fatty acid include an ester of a monovalent alcohol and a fatty acid, and a partial ester or a total ester of a polyvalent alcohol and a fatty acid.
• Preferred examples of the above-described ester of an alcohol and a fatty acid include the esters of a monovalent alcohol having a carbon number of 1 to 20 and a saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 10 to 30.
• Preferred examples of partial or total esters of a polyvalent alcohol and a fatty acid include the partial or total ester of a polyvalent alcohol having a carbon number of 2 to 25 and a saturated fatty acid having a carbon number of 10 to 30.
• Specific examples of the ester of a monovalent alcohol and a fatty acid include stearyl stearate, palmityl palmitate, butyl stearate, methyl laurate, isopropyl palmitate, and the like.
• the partial or total ester of a polyvalent alcohol and a fatty acid include monoglyceride stearate, monoglyceride stearate, diglyceride stearate, triglyceride stearate, monosorbi- tate stearate, monoglyceride behenate, monoglyceride caprylate, monoglyceride laurate, pentaerythritol monostearate, pentaerythritol tetrastearate, pentaerythritol tetrapelargonate, propyleneglycol monostearate, biphenyl biphenate, sorbitan monostearate, 2-ethylhexylstearate, total or partial esters of dipentaerythritol such as dipentaerythritol hexastearate and the like, etc.
• the content of the releasing agent in the resin composition is preferably 0.005 to 2.0 parts by weight, more preferably 0.
• Preferred ultraviolet absorbers are selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole- based ultraviolet absorbers, benzophenone-based ultraviolet absorbers, triazine-based ultraviolet absorbers, cyclic iminoester-based ultraviolet absorbers, and cyanoacrylate- based ultraviolet absorbers. Namely, the following ultraviolet absorbers may be used independently or in a combination of two or more.
• benzotriazole-based ultraviolet absorbers examples include 2-(2-hydroxy-5- methylphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(2-hydroxy-5-tert-octylphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(2-hy- droxy-3,5-dicumylphenyl)phenylbenzotriazole, 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5- methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2,2'-methylenebis[4-(1 ,1 ,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-6- (2N-benzotriazole-2-yl)phenol)], 2-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert- amylphenyl)benzotriazole, 2-(2-hydroxy-5-
• benzophenone-based ultraviolet absorbers examples include 2,4-dihydroxybenzo- phenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-octoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-benzyloxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-sulfoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid hydrate, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy- benzophenone, 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxyben- zophenone, 2,2’-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxy-5-sodiumsulfoxybenzophenone, bis(5-ben- zoyl-4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)methane, 2-hydroxy-4-n-dodecyloxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2'-carboxybenzophenone
• triazine-based ultraviolet absorbers examples include 2-(4,6-diphenyl-1 ,3,5-triazine- 2-yl)-5-([(hexyl)oxy]-phenol, 2-(4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1 ,3,5-triazine-2-yl)-5-([(oc- tyl)oxy]-phenol, and the like.
• cyclic iminoester-based ultraviolet absorbers examples include 2,2'-bis(3,1-benzoxa- zine-4-one), 2,2'-p-phenylenebis(3,1-benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-m-phenylenebis(3,1- benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-(4,4'diphenylene)bis(3,1-benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-(2,6-naph- thalene)bis(3,1-benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-(1 ,5-naphthalene)bis(3,1-benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-(2-methyl-p-phenylene)bis(3, 1 -benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-(2-nitro-p-phe- nylene)bis(3, 1 -benzoxazine-4-one), 2,2'-(2-chloro-p-pheny
• cyanoacrylate-based ultraviolet absorbers examples include 1 ,3-bis-[(2'-cyano-3',3'- diphenylacryloyl)oxy]-2,2-bis(((2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy)methyl)propane, 1 ,3-bis-[(2-cyano-3,3-diphenylacryloyl)oxy]benzene, and the like.
• the content of the ultraviolet absorber in the resin composition is preferably 0.01 to 3.0 parts by weight, more preferably 0.02 to 1 .0 parts by weight, and still more preferably 0.05 to 0.8 parts by weight, with respect to 100 parts by weight of the thermoplastic resin.
• the ultraviolet absorber contained in such a range of content in accordance with the use may provide a sufficient climate resistance to the thermoplastic resin.
• thermoplastic polymer resins in particular the polycarbonate resins, comprising repeating units of formulae (II), (Ila) and (Ilb), respectively, as described herein, provide high transparency and high refractive index to thermoplastic resins, which therefore are suitable for preparing optical devices, where high transparency and high refractive index is required.
• thermoplastic polycarbonates having structural units of formulae (II), (Ila) and (Ilb), respectively are characterized by having a high refractive index, which is preferably at least 1 .640, more preferably at least 1.660, in particular at least 1.670.
• thermoplastic resin in particular a polycarbonate resin
• the refractive index of a thermoplastic resin can be calculated from the refractive indices of the monomers used for preparing the thermoplastic resin, either from the refractive index of the monomers or ab initio, e.g. by using the computer software ACD/ChemSketch 2012 (Advanced Chemistry Development, Inc.).
• the refractive index of the thermoplastic resin in particular a polycarbonate resin
• the refractive index of the homopolymers of the respective monomers, which form the copolymer resin can be calculated from the refractive indices of the homopolymers of the respective monomers, which form the copolymer resin, by the following so called “Fox equation”:
• n D is the refractive index of the copolymer
• x 1 , x 2 x n are the mass fractions of the monomers 1 , 2 n in the copolymer
• n D1 , n D2 , .... n Dn are the refractive indices of the homopolymers synthesized from only one of the monomers 1 , 2 n at a time.
• x n are the mass fractions of the OH monomers 1 , 2 n, based on the total amount of OH monomer. It is apparent that a higher refractive index of a homopolymer will result in a higher refractive index of the copolymer.
• the refractive indices of the thermoplastic resins can be determined directly or indirectly.
• the refractive indices n D of the thermoplastic resins are measured at wavelength of 589 nm in accordance with the protocol JIS-K-7142 using an Abbe refractometer and applying a 0.1 mm film of the thermoplastic resin.
• the refractive indices of the homopolycarbonates of the compounds of formula (I) can also be determined indirectly.
• a co-polycarbonate of the respective monomer of formula (I) with 9,9-bis(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl)fluorene and diphenyl carbonate is prepared according to the protocol of example 1 in column 48 of US 9,360,593 and the refractive indices n D of the co-polycarbonate is measured at wavelength of 589 nm in accordance with the protocol JIS-K-7142 using an Abbe refractometer and applying a 0.1 mm film of the co-polycarbonate.
• the compounds of formula (I) can be obtained in a purity, which provides for a low yellowness index Y.I., as determined in accordance with ASTM E313, which may also be important for the use in the preparation of optical resins.
• the yellowness index Y.L as determined in accordance with ASTM E313, of the compounds of formula (I) preferably does not exceed 100, more preferably 50, even more preferably 20, in particular 10 or 5.
• the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention has a high refractive index and a low Abbe number.
• the thermoplastic resin of the present invention can be used for producing a transparent conductive substrate usable for a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a solar cell and the like.
• the thermoplastic resin of the present invention can be used as a structural material for optical parts, such as, optical disks, liquid crystal panels, optical cards, optical sheets, optical fibers, connectors, evaporated plastic reflecting mirrors, displays, and the like; or used as optical devices suitable for functional material purpose.
• optical devices can be formed using the thermoplastic resins of the present invention.
• the optical devices include optical lenses, and optical films.
• the specific examples of the optical devices include lenses, films, mirrors, filters, prisms, and so on. These optical devices can be formed by arbitrary production process, for example, by injection molding, compression molding, injection compression molding, extrusion molding, or solution casting.
• thermoplastic resins of the present invention are very suitable for production of optical lenses which requires injection molding.
• the thermoplastic resins of the present invention such as the polycarbonate resin
• the thermoplastic resins of the present invention can be used with other thermoplastic resins, for example, different polycarbonate resin, polyestercarbonate resin, polyester resin, and other resins, as a mixture.
• thermoplastic resins of the present invention can be mixed with additives for forming the optical devices.
• additives for forming the optical devices above-mentioned ones can be used.
• the additives may include antioxidants, processing stabilizers, photostabilizers, polymerization metal deactivators, flame retardants, lubricants, antistatic agents, surfactants, antibacterial agents, releasing agents, ultraviolet absorbers, plasticizers, compatibilizers, and the like.
• thermoplastic resin as defined above, where the thermoplastic resin comprising a structural unit represented by the formula (II) and optionally of formula (V).
• the thermoplastic resin comprising a structural unit represented by the formula (II) and optionally of formula (V).
• An optical device made of an optical resin comprising the repeating units of the formula (II) and optionally repeating units of the formula (V) as defined herein are usually optical molded articles such as optical lenses, for example car head lamp lenses, Fresnel lenses, f0 lenses for laser printers, camera lenses, lenses for glasses and projection lenses for rear projection TV's, CD-ROM pick-up lenses, but also optical disks, optical elements for image display media, optical films, film substrates, optical filters or prisms, liquid crystal panels, optical cards, optical sheets, optical fibers, optical connectors, eposition plastic reflective mirrors, and the like.
• optical lenses and optical films are usually optical molded articles such as optical lenses, for example car head lamp lenses, Fresnel lenses, f0 lenses for laser printers, camera lenses, lenses for glasses and projection lenses for rear projection TV's, CD-ROM pick-up lenses, but also optical disks, optical elements for image display media, optical films, film substrates, optical filters or prisms, liquid crystal panels, optical cards, optical sheets,
• Optical resins comprising repeating units of the formula (II) and optionally repeating units of the formula (V) are also useful for producing a transparent conductive substrate usable for an optical device suitable as a structural member or a functional member of a transparent conductive substrate for a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a solar cell and the like.
• the optical lens produced from the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention has a high refractive index, a low Abbe number and a low degree of birefringence, and is highly moisture and heat resistant. Therefore, the optical lens can be used in the field in which a costly glass lens having a high refractive index is conventionally used, such as for a telescope, binoculars, a TV projector and the like. It is preferred that the optical lens is used in the form of an aspherical lens. Merely one aspherical lens may make the spherical aberration substantially zero. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a plurality of spherical lenses to remove the spherical aberration.
• An aspherical lens is useful especially as a camera lens among various types of optical lenses.
• the present invention easily provides an aspherical lens having a high refractive index and a low level of birefringence, which is technologically difficult to produce by processing glass.
• An optical lens of the present invention may be formed, for example, by injection molding, compression molding, injection compression molding or casting the resin the repeating units of the formula (II) and optionally repeating units of the formula (V) as defined herein.
• the optical lens of the present invention is characterized by a small optical distortion.
• An optical lens comprising a conventional optical resin has a large optical distortion. Although it is not impossible to reduce the value of an optical distortion by molding conditions, the condition widths are very small, thereby making molding extremely difficult. Since the resin having repeating units of the formula (II) and optionally repeating units of the formula (V) as defined herein has an extremely small optical distortion caused by the orientation of the resin and a small molding distortion, an excellent optical element can be obtained without setting molding conditions strictly.
• the lens should be molded at a cylinder temperature of 260°C to 320°C and a mold temperature of 100°C to 140°C.
• the optical lens of the present invention is advantageously used as an aspherical lens as required. Since spherical aberration can be substantially nullified with a single aspherical lens, spherical aberration does not need to be removed with a combination of spherical lenses, thereby making it possible to reduce the weight and the production cost. Therefore, out of optical lenses, the aspherical lens is particularly useful as a camera lens.
• resins having repeating units of the formula (II) and optionally repeating units of the formula (V) as defined herein have a high moldability, they are particularly useful as the material of an optical lens, which is thin and small in size and has a complex shape.
• the thickness of the center part of the lens is 0.05 to 3.0 mm, preferably 0.05 to 2.0 mm, more preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm.
• the diameter of the lens is 1 .0 to 20.0 mm, preferably 1.0 to 10.0 mm, more preferably 3.0 to 10.0 mm. It is preferably a meniscus lens, which is convex on one side and concave on the other side.
• the surface of the optical lens of the present invention may have a coating layer such as an anti reflection layer or a hard coat layer as required.
• the antireflection layer may be a single layer or a multi-layer and composed of an organic material or inorganic material but preferably an inorganic material.
• the inorganic material include oxides and fluorides such as silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, cerium oxide, magnesium oxide and magnesium fluoride.
• the optical lens of the present invention may be formed by an arbitrary method such as metal molding, cutting, polishing, laser machining, discharge machining or edging. Metal molding is preferred.
• An optical film produced by the use of the thermoplastic resin according to the present invention is high in transparency and heat resistance, and therefore is preferably usable for a liquid crystal substrate film, an optical memory card or the like.
• the molding needs to be performed in a low dust environment, needless to say.
• the dust environment is preferably of class 6 or lower, and more preferably of class 5 or lower.
• Example 1a 2',2"-[1 ,4-phenylenebis(methyleneoxy)]di([1 , 1 ’-binaphthalen]-2-ol)
• the reaction was quenched by addition of water (1.00 kg) and the acetone removed under reduced pressure.
• the phases were separated and the organic phase was washed subsequently with water (200 g), then with saturated aqueous NaCI solution (200 g), dried over Na 2 SO 4 and the solvent completely removed under reduced pressure.
• Example 1 b 2',2"-[1 ,4-phenylenebis(methyleneoxy)]di([1 , 1 '-binaphthalen]-2-ol)
• the suspension was diluted with toluene (300 g), the formed crystals were filtered off and washed with pentane to give the crude product as a slightly yellow solid.
• the reaction was cooled to 70 °C, then water (10 g) was added and the mixture stirred for 30 min.
• the aqueous phase was removed, then an 10% aqueous citric acid solution (10 g) added.
• the mixture was stirred again for 30 min, the aqueous phase removed and 15% aqueous NaOH (10 g) added.
• the mixture was stirred again for 1 hour, the aqueous phase removed.
• Water (10 g) was added, the mixture stirred once more for 30 min, the phases separated.
• the organic phase was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and the solvent completely removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a slightly yellow solid (5.1 g, 6.7 mmol, yield: 90%, chemical purity: 93.1 %).
• the compound can be further purified by repeated crystallization from toluene or isobutanol to give the product as a white solid with a chemical purity of >95%.
• the compound can be further purified by repeated crystallization from toluene to give the product with a chemical purity of >95%.
• 1 H NMR (80 MHz, CDCI 3 ): ⁇ 8.07-7.71 (m, 8H), 7.55-6.89 (m, 22H), 5.26-4.89 (m, 6H) ppm.
• Example 5a 2-[2-Hydroxy-(1 ,1'-binaphthalene)-2‘-oxy]-ethan-1-ol (building block 1)
• the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, then toluene (1000 ml) and water (400 ml) were added.
• the mixture was acidified with aqueous HCI.
• the phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with toluene.
• the combined cor- ganic phases were washed with water and brine.
• the organic phase was concentrated under reduced pressure (150 mbar) until all MEK was removed by distillation.
• the mixture was cooled to room temperature.
• the formed crystals were filtered off to give the title compound as a white solid (80.0 g, 242 mmol, yield: 35%, chemical purity: 83.75%). Repeated slurry wash in THF gave the desired product with a chemical purity of >99%.
• Example 5b 1 ,4-Di(bromomethyl)naphthaline (building block 2)
• Example 5b.1 1 ,4-Naphthalene-dimethanol
• Example 5b.2 1 ,4-Di(bromomethyl)naphthalene
• the reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to remove most of the acetone. Then, water (500 g) and ethyl acetate (1000 g) were added and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The water phase was separated and extracted with ethyl acetate (250 g). The combined organic phases were washed with brine (500 g), dried over Na 2 SO 4 and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure to give the crude product. n-Pentane was added and the slurry was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The formed crystals were filtered off to give the desired product as an off-white solid in quantitative yield.
• Example 8b 2,2'-[1 ,4-phenylenebis(methyleneoxy[1 , 1 ’-binaphthalene]-2’,2- diyloxy)]di(acetic acid)
• table B lists refractive indices of some monomers of formula (I) that were calculated using the software ACD/ChemSketch 2012 (Advanced Chemistry Development, Inc.).
• the individual monomers are identified in table B by their names and their entry numbers in table A.
• it has been verified by quantum chemical calculations for all monomers included in table B that they do not, or only to a negligible extent, absorb in the visible light range and are therefore basically colorless.
• thermoplastic resins from monomers of formula (I)
• the refractive index was measured using a disk shaped test piece with a thickness of 3 mm made by polycarbonate resin as a test piece according to JIS B 7071-2:2018. The measurement was conducted at 23°C using the refractive index measurement device below.
• Abbe number (v) A disk shaped test piece with a thickness of 3 mm which is same as the test piece used in the refractive index measurement was used. The refractive index values were measured using the refractive index measurement device below at 23°C and at wavelengths of 486 nm, 589 nm and 656 nm. Then, the Abbe number was calculated using the below-described formula.
• the glass transition temperature was measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using a 10°C/minute heating program according to JIS K7121-1987.
• the molecular weight distribution of the resin molecules in particular the values of the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the resins were measured by the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method and calculated by the standard polystyrene conversion aproach. The following devices, columns and measurement conditions were used:
• GPC device HLC-8420GPC (from Tosoh Corporation);
• TSKgel SuperHM-M from Tosoh Corporation
• one guard column SuperHM-M from Tosoh Corporation
• one TSKgel SuperH-RC from Tosoh Corporation
• Standard polystyrene PstQuick C as standard polystyrene kit (from Tosoh Corporation);
• Mn number average molecular weight
• the polystyrene converted weight average molecular weights (Mw) and number average molecular weights (Mn) were calculated using a previously prepared standard curve of polystyrene. Specifically, the standard curve was prepared using a standard polystyrene for which the molecular weight was known (“PStQuick C” from Tosoh Corporation). Further, a calibration curve was obtained by plotting the elution time and molecular weight value of each of the peaks based on the measured data of the standard polystyrene, and conducting three-dimensional approximation. The values for Mw and Mn were calculated based on the following calculation formulae:
• “i” represents the “i”th dividing point
• “Wi” represents the molecular weight (g) of the polymer at the “i”th dividing point
• “Ni” represents the number of the molecules of the polymer at the “i”th dividing point
• “Mi” represents the molecular mass at the “i”th dividing point.
• the molecular mass (M) represents the value of the molecular mass of polystyrene at the corresponding elution time in the calibration curve.
• contents of low molecular weight compounds represent area ratios of compounds with the Mw values lower than 1 .000 on GPC analysis. Therefore, contents of low molecular weight compounds were determined according to the following formula:
• the GPC analysis of the low molecular weight compounds is carried out as described above for measuring the molecular weight of the thermoplastic resins.
• ⁇ n birefringence
• thermoplastic resins examples include acrylic resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene resins, polystyrene-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co-co
• the reactor was immersed in an oil bath that had been heated to 200 °C and then the ester exchange reaction started. Stirring of the reaction mixture started 5 minutes after the start time of the reaction. 20 minutes later, the pressure of the reaction mixture was reduced from 101.3 kPa to 26.66 kPa over 10 minutes. While the pressure was reducing, the reaction mixture was heated to 210 °C. It was then, further heated to 220 °C at the time of 60 minutes after the start time of the reaction. From the time of 80 minutes after the start time of the reaction, the pressure of the reaction mixture was reduced to 20.00 kPa and the reaction mixture was heated to 240 °C in 10 minutes. The pressure of the reaction mixture was then reduced to 0 kPa and maintained at this level for 30 minutes.
• the obtained polycarbonate resin had a refractive index of 1 .647, an Abbe number of 22.31 , and a Tg of 144°C; and the polystyrene conversion weight-average molecular weight was 34,459.
• the molar ratios of the diol monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• the polycarbonate resin was generated according to the same method as used in Example 9 with the only difference that 10.4972 g of DBHBNABHP (0.0138 mol), 14.0818 g of BPEF (0.0321 mol), 10.0725 g of DPC (0.047 mol), and 0.7707* 10 - 4 g of NaHCO 3 (0.9175*10 -6 mol) were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• the polycarbonate resin was generated according to the same method as used in Example 9 with the only difference that 16.7174 g of DBHBNABHP (0.0219 mol), 6.4222 g of BPEF (0.0146 mol), 7.9897 g of DPC (0.0373 mol), and 0.6143*10 -4 g of NaHCO 3 (0.7312*10 -6 mol) were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• polycarbonate resins of these examples were generated according to the same method as used in Example 9 with the only differences that the amounts and types of the monomers and the catalysts given in Tables C1-C4 were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used in each Example are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resins are summarized in Table E.
• the reactor was immersed in an oil bath that had been heated to 200 °C and then the ester exchange reaction started. Stirring of the reaction mixture started 5 minutes after the start time of the reaction. 20 minutes later, the pressure of the reaction mixture was reduced from 101 .3 kPa to 93.33 kPa over 10 minutes. From the time of 10 minutes after the pressure reduction was completed, the reaction mixture was heated to 240°C for 40 minutes. Then, the pressure of the reaction mixture was further reduced to 40.00 kPa over 20 minutes.
• Nitrogen gas was introduced into the reactor and the pressure of the reaction mixture was recovered to the normal pressure. Then, the trap was replaced with new one and the reaction conditions were set as 240°C and 300 Torr. The reaction mixture was heated to 250°C and the the pressure of the reaction mixture was then reduced to 0 kPa in 60 minutes, and maintained at this level for 30 minutes.
• Nitrogen gas was introduced into the reactor and, the pressure of the reaction mixture was recovered to 101 .3 kPa to finally obtain the polyester carbonate resin.
• the obtained polyester carbonate resin had a refractive index of 1 .690, an Abbe number of 17.80 and a Tg of 160°C; and the polystyrene conversion weight-average molecular weight was 36,654.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• the polyester carbonate resin was generated according to the same method as used in Example 21 with the only difference that the amounts and types of the monomers and the catalysts given in Tables C1-C4 were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• the reactor was immersed in an oil bath that had been heated to 100°C and then the ester exchange reaction started. Stirring of the reaction mixture started 5 minutes after the start time of the reaction. By the time of 120 minutes after the start time of the reaction, the reaction mixture was heated to 230°C and maintained at this level for 290 minutes.
• Nitrogen gas was introduced into the reactor and the pressure of the reaction mixture was recovered to 101 .3 kPa to obtain polyester resin.
• the obtained polyester resin had a refractive index of 1 .690, an Abbe number of 17.60 and a Tg of 148°C; and the polystyrene conversion weight-average molecular weight was 34,544.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• the polycarbonate resin was generated according to the same method as used in Example 9 with the only difference that 10.2444 g of BNEF (0,019 mol), 19.4593 g of BPEF (0.0444 mol), 13.9877 g of DPC (0.0653 mol), and 0.3838x10 -4 g of NaHCO 3 (0.4568x10 - 6 mol) were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• the polycarbonate resin was generated according to the same method as used in Example 9 with the only difference that 15.2611 g of BNE (0.0408 mol), 11 .9149 g of BPEF (0.0272 mol), 14.9882 g of DPC (0.07 mol), and 0.4981 x10 -4 g of NaHCO 3 (0.593x10 -6 mol) were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• Comparative Example 3 The polycarbonate resin was generated according to the same method as used in Example 9 with the only difference that 16.2901 g of BNE (0.0435 mol), 4.7694 g of BPEF (0.0109 mol), 11.8826 g of DPC (0.0555 mol), and 0.4568* 10 -4 g of NaHCO 3 (0.5438*10 -6 mol) were used.
• the molar ratios of the monomers used are listed in Table D and the characteristics of the obtained resin are summarized in Table E.
• Table C1 Amounts of monomers used in Examples 9 to 33 and CE1 to CE3 (gram base)
• Table C2 Amounts of monomers used in Examples 9 to 33 and CE1 to CE3 (mol base)
• Table C3 Amounts of catalysts used in Examples 9 to 33 and CE1 to CE3 (gram base)
• Table C4 Amounts of catalysts used in Examples 9 to 33 and CE1 to CE3 (mol base)
• Table D Molar ratios of monomers used in Examples 9 to 33 and CE1 to CE3

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Heterocyclic Carbon Compounds Containing A Hetero Ring Having Oxygen Or Sulfur (AREA)
• Hydrogenated Pyridines (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Polyesters Or Polycarbonates (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=88518943

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Citations (3)

• 2023
  • 2023-04-24 US US18/858,517 patent/US20250263363A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-04-24 CN CN202380036217.5A patent/CN119137185A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-04-24 TW TW112115136A patent/TW202411294A/zh unknown
  • 2023-04-24 EP EP23796565.2A patent/EP4514880A4/en active Pending
  • 2023-04-24 JP JP2025509652A patent/JP2025515401A/ja active Pending
  • 2023-04-24 WO PCT/JP2023/016993 patent/WO2023210833A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-04-24 KR KR1020247032796A patent/KR20250005088A/ko active Pending

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events