Preparation of regularly sequenced polyamides with definite numbers of oxyethylene units and their application as phase transfer catalysts

Polyamides (1–3) having oligo(oxyethylene) segments in the main chain were prepared from α‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐ω‐aminooligo(oxyethylene)s (4) and dicarboxylic acid chlorides (5). Their ability to form complexes with alkali metal ions was examined by the picrate extraction method. The polyamides were found to catalyze the nucleophilic displacement reaction of hexyl bromide by potassium acetate in acetonitrile. An intramolecular co‐operative action of oligo(oxy‐ethylene) segments in complexation of potassium ion is proposed to account for the observed “polymer effect” in the catalytic activity.