Synthesis of hydroxyl‐containing polyamides by ring‐opening polyaddition of 3,3′‐disubstituted bis‐β‐propiolactone with diamines

A new bis‐β‐lactone monomer, 3,3′‐p‐phenylenebis(2,2‐dichloro‐β‐propiolactone), was synthesized by the cycloaddition of dichloroketene with terephthalaldehyde. Hydroxyl‐containing polyamides with inherent viscosities as high as 1.1 were prepared by the ring‐opening polyaddition of the bis‐β‐lactone with various diamines in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. They were readily soluble in a wide range of solvents, which included tetrahydrofuran and acetone. The polymers melted and decomposed at temperatures around 200°C.