SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OPTICALLY-ACTIVE POLYESTERS FROM CHIRAL 1,3-DIOLS AND AROMATIC DICARBOXYLIC-ACID CHLORIDES

Optically active polyesters were synthesized from chiral (2R,4R)-penta ne-2,4-diol or its analogues and various aromatic diacid chlorides in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of pyridine. The resultin g polyesters had inherent viscosities of 0.22-0.57 dl g-1, and specifi c rotation from +4-degrees to -421-degrees. The glass transition tempe ratures of the polymers were in the range from 66-degrees-C to 147-deg rees-C and their initial decomposition temperatures were around 280-de grees-C. No remarkable difference in thermal behavior was observed bet ween the optically active polyesters and optically inactive polymers d erived from the corresponding racemic diols.