Synthesis and characterization of polycyclic structures and linear polycarbonate copolymers from a bisphenol A dimer

An o,o'-methylene-bridged bisphenol A (BPA) dimer 2 was synthesized by a on e-step reaction between formalin and excess BPA in the presence of a cation exchange resin in a polar aprotic solvent. Novel oligomeric polycyclic str uctures were synthesized by the reaction of reactive difunctional halides, methyl phosphonic dichloride, phenyl phosphonic dichloride, and dimethyl di chlorosilane with the BPA dimer under high-dilution conditions. The yields of the polycyclics were quite high. NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorptio n ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were very usef ul in the characterization of the dimer and its oligomeric polycyclic analo gs. These polycyclics can potentially be used as precursors for advanced th ermosetting materials. A series of polycarbonate copolymers of BPA were syn thesized by solution polycondensation of the methylene bridged dimer of BPA with triphosgene. Alternatively, the co-polycarbonate containing crosslink able moieties was synthesized by in-situ polymerization of BPA and BPA dime r with triphosgene. The copolymers were characterized by GPC. TG/DTA and DS C were used to investigate the thermal properties of the co-polycarbonates. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.