Thermal degradation of ethylene bis(N‐phenylcarbamate)

The pyrolysis of ethylene bis(N‐phenolcarbamate) was studied as the simplest model of a polyurethane. The degradation occurs by a double process of decomposition involving the simultaneous formation of 3‐phenyl‐2‐oxazolidone, carbon dioxide, and aniline and a partial dissociation into monocarbamate and phenyl isocyanate. Further reaction produces ethylene oxide, N,N′‐diphenylethylenediamine, N,N′‐diphenyl‐2‐imidazolidone, and N,N′‐diphenylurea.