Hoechst Celanese Corporation

Other

Dung Q Tran

Donna L Keene

Bakulesh N Shah

A method for producing 4-acetoxystyrene by heating 4-acetoxyphenylmethylcarbinol, with an acid catalyst, at a temperature of from about 85.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. under a pressure of from about 0.1 mm HgA to about 760 mm HgA for from about 0.2 minutes to about 10 minutes. The process also provides for the solventless (neat) hydrogenation of 4-acetoxyacetophenone to produce 4-acetoxyphenylmethylcarbinol. The reaction proceeds by heating at 54.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. with an excess of hydrogen in the presence of a Pd/C or activated nickel such as Raney Nickel catalyst in the absence of a solvent. The 4-acetoxyphenylmethylcarbinol may then be dehydrated to 4-acetoxystyrene. The later may be polymerized to poly(4-acetoxystyrene) and hydrolyzed to poly(4-hydroxystyrene).

Process for the preparation of 4-acetoxyphenylmethyl carbinol

Process for the production of poly(4-acetoxystyrene)

Process for the production of poly(4-hydroxystyrene)

Process for the production of 4-acetoxystyrene, its polymers and

Polymers of 4-acetoxystyrene in finely divided particulate form are suspended in water, and while in suspension are hydrolyzed to polymers of 4-hydroxystyrene using aqueous nitrogen bases. Such polymers are useful in photoresists, as protective coatings for metal, in the manufacture of epoxy resins and epoxy resin curing agents.

Hydrolysis of poly(acetoxystyrene) in aqueous suspension

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Dung Q Tran