Hydroquinone → Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate

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Reaction Steps

bis(4-Hydroxyphenyl)terephthalate (Structure IV) is synthesized by the reaction of hydroquinone with terephthaloyl chloride through the addition of NAOH. The hydroquinone (162.7 grams, 1.48 moles) and terephthaloyl chloride (150.0 grams, 0.74 moles) are first dissolved in 750 ml of tetrahydrofuran in a two liter round bottom flask which is stirred. The NaOH (59.1 grams, 1.48 moles) in 300 ml of deionized water is next added dropwise using an addition funnel over a one hour period and the mixture is then allowed to stir an additional two hours at ambient temperature (pH=6). The precipitate obtained is collected by vacuum filtration and then added to 500 ml of deionized water and 1000 ml of methanol. This solution is stirred for one hour at 40°-55° C. and then filtered. The solids collected here are added to 1100 ml of anhydrous methanol and stirred at 40°-55° C. for one hour followed by a third filtration. The resultant solids are then dried in a 80° C. vacuum oven. This final product (111.9 grams, yield=43.3%) exhibited a sharp melting endotherm by DSC at 415° C. ##STR12##

Provenance & Evidence