RECENT ADVANCES IN THE CHEMISTRY OF AROMATIC CYCLIC OLIGOMERS

Development of an efficient and convenient means for preparation of aromatic cyclic oligomeric carbonates has made these materials available for a wide range of polymerization and processing studies. Building on the workbased on bisphenol A cyclics, recent efforts have concentrated on the preparation of new cyclics which afford polymers with properties substantially different from bisphenol A polycarbonate. Cyclic systems have been developed which lead to polycarbonates with improved solvent resistance, either through cross-linking or via crystallization. Polycarbonates with both high or low glass transition temperatures have also been achieved.