A single crystal study of a solid-state polymerization reaction

Halogenoacetates are known to undergo a solid-state elimination reaction to metal halide and poly(hydroxyacetic acid), polyglycolide. Earlier studies have shown that the reaction takes place exclusively in the solid-state wit hout the occurrence of liquid intermediates. Single crystals of sodium chlo roacetate and silver chloroacetate were reacted and studied with X-ray diff ractometry, scanning electron microscopy and thermomicroscopy. The results show that the reaction leads from single crystals to a composite of polygly colide and metal halide. Neither the salt nor the polymer exhibit a preferr ed crystallographic orientation, therefore it must be concluded that the cr ystal lattice is not preserved during the reaction.