ACYCLIC POLYMERIC REISSERT COMPOUNDS - CHEMICALLY REACTIVE POLYAMIDES .2.

Open-chain polymeric Reissert compounds, i.e., poly[alpha-(acylamino)nitrile]s 2, can be prepared by condensation of bis(alpha-aminonitrile)s 1 with adipoyl chloride. When the bis(alpha-aminonitrile) possesses hindered internal secondary amine groups, e.g., 1b and 1c, no high molecular weight polymers could be obtained. From less hindered bis(alpha-aminonitrile)s amorphous polymeric Reissert compounds of intrinsic viscosity 0.15-0.24 dL.g-1 were synthesized. Their stability was found to exceed in most cases 350-degrees-C in nitrogen (5% weight loss). By virtue of the Reissert moiety's acidic proton, chemical modification of such homo- and copolymers, e.g., by alkylation, provides a means of bulk and surface property control.