SELECTIVITY OF EPOXIDE PHENOL REACTION

A method for determining the relative amount of alcohol side reaction which occurs in reactions of epoxy compounds with active hydrogen compounds has been investigated. It involves determining the ratio of rates of the successive reaction, epoxide‐active hydrogen compound and epoxide‐generated secondary alcohol, in the reaction of epoxide and active hydrogen compound at respectively a 2:1 mole ratio. Rate ratios are reported for the bulk reaction of bisphenol‐A and the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol‐A under different reaction conditions. The data correlated with the properties of high molecular weight polymers. Amines with β‐hydroxyl groups were very selective catalysts. Copyright © 1969 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.