Resorcinol → Phenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A series of phenol aralkylation polymers were prepared as follows. An intial DVB/resorcinol polymer was prepared using resorcinol and divinyl benzene (DVB) at a resorcinol:DVB mole ratio of about 2:1. A commercial DVB source containing a 63 wt. % DVB and 37 wt. % EVB mixture was used. The resorcinol was melted at a temperature from 140° to 170° C. in a 250 ml beaker. Methane sulfonic acid [70% MSA--0.0002 mol per mol or resorcinol] was added to the reactor as the aralkylation catalyst. The DVB then was added over five minutes. Thereafter, the resulting DVB-resorcinol polymer was further reacted with varying levels of para-tert-butylstyrene (p-tBS)(0; 0.5; 1.0; and 1.5 mole per mole of resorcinol), added over five minutes. The reaction was continued for 10 minutes at 180° C. and then the polymer was cast onto aluminum foil.

Provenance & Evidence