Synthesis and properties of new poly(ether-esters containing aliphatic diol based on isosorbide. Effects of the microwave-assisted polycondensation

Microwave irradiation was applied to synthesize to the bulk synthesis of novel poly(ether-ester)s based on diol-ether of isosorbide (1) and adipoyl chloride (2) or terephthaloyl chloride (3). Thus, the poly(ether-ester)s (4 and 5) consist partially of isosorbide. In order to check the influence of microwaves and possible specific non-thermal microwave effects, the reactions were comparatively performed inside a thermostated oil bath under similar conditions. The reaction conditions were varied to optimize both yields and molecular weights of poly(ether-esters. The reaction proceeded roughly five times faster under microwave irradiation, the polycondensation being almost completed (yields upto approximately 95%) within 5 min to afford a series of novel poly(ether-esters based with relatively high average molecular weights (M,, upto approximately 8000). The resulting poly(ether-esters were characterized by NMR (H-1 and C-13), FT-IR spectrometry, SEC measurements and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Thermal properties of the poly(ether-esters (4 and 5) were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.