SYNTHESIS OF A NITRO-SUBSTITUTED EPOXY-RESIN FROM DISTYRYLDINITROBENZENE DERIVATIVES

A nitro-substituted epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether of 4, 6-dinitro-l, 3-bis(p-hydroxystyryl)benzene, has been synthesized and shown to be curable with an amine or an anhydride. The synthesis started with the condensation reaction of a dinitroxylene with a p-alkoxybenzaldehyde. The reaction proceeded readily on both methyl groups when the symmetrical 4, 6-dinitro-m-xylene was used. The cleavage of the benzyl ether produced from the condensation with p-benzyloxybenzaldehyde was feasible, whereas the cleavage of the corresponding methyl ether was impractical. The bisphenol obtained appeared to be stable to oxidation. The products are probably of trans.trans configuration. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.