MODIFIED POLY(ETHER SULFONE)/POLY(ETHER ETHER SULFONE) POLYMERS - APPROACHES TO PENDENT CARBOXYL GROUPS

Two approaches to the introduction of pendent carboxylic acid groups into poly(ether sulfone)/poly(ether ether sulfone) polymers have been investigated. The copolymerization of diphenolic acid (4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid) with the usual monomers gave good results in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, using potassium carbonate as base. A second approach via bromination and organopalladium-catalysed introduction of acrylates and allyl alcohols was less clear-cut. Grafting of methyl acrylate onto the chain is successful, but its hydrolysis proved to be difficult. Grafting of allyl alcohol onto methallyl alcohol gave poor yields and complex product mixtures.