Linear polyesters derived from vanillic acid

Vanillic acid, which is potentially available from lignin, was converted to dibasic acids by etherifying the phenolic hydroxyl group with alkylene dihalides. The dibasic acids were esterified with ethylene glycol and condensed to linear polyesters. The polyesters were converted to fibers by melt spinning. The fibers could be stretched, preferably in a warm water bath, to give fibers with good tenacity and increased crystallinity as shown by birefringence measurements. The polyester obtained from ethylenedivanillic acid melted at 210°C. but softened and shrank at 80°C.