Direct polyesterification promoted by a complex of phosphorus oxychloride with LiCl monohydrate

The reaction of benzoic acid and p‐chlorophenol with phosphorus oxychloride (POC) was significantly affected by the presence of metal salt hydrates or a mixture of metal salts and water sufficiently aged. Among metal salts examined, LiCl was most effective for the reaction to give quantitative yield of the benzoate. The reaction was assumed to proceed via a complexation of POC with LiCl monohydrate followed by selective hydrolysis of POC by water bound to LiCl. The reaction promoted by a complex derived from POC and LiCl monohydrate in pyridine was successfully used as a new condensing agent for the synthesis of aromatic polyesters by the direct polycondensation or aromatic dicarboxylic acids and bisphenols. Under favorable conditions for aging of POC with LiCl monohydrate and for addition of bisphenols, polymers of moderate to high molecular weights were obtained in quantitative yield. The reaction was applied with limited success to the preparation of a copolymer of high molecular weight from hydroxybenzoic acids.