Catalytic process for imide-alcohol condensation

Abstract

A catalyzed process for the preparation of monomeric and/or polymeric compounds such as esters, polyesters, ester-amides, and polyester-polyamides which result from the reaction of an imide and an alcohol in the presence of a Group IA, IIA, IIB and/or IIIA metal or metal compound, imide-alcohol condensation catalyst.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A catalyzed imide-alcohol condensation process for the preparation of polymeric compounds of polyester-polyamide comprising: .[.contacting.]. .Iadd.polymerizing .Iaddend.alcohols having one or more hydroxyl groups attached to an aliphatic carbon, and acyl lactams .Iadd.having from 4 to 11 carbon atoms in each lactam ring, .Iaddend.in the presence of at least one of a Group IA, IIA, IIB, and IIIA metal or metal compound .Iadd.to form said polymeric compounds of polyester-polyamide. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the metal compound is comprised of at least one of a lactam salt, a halolactam salt, and an alkoxide. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potasium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, cadium, and aluminum. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyzed imide-alcohol condensation occurs at a temperature of from about -20° C. to about 230° C. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acyl lactam is present in an amount of from 10 to about 200 mole percent of the alcohol. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyzed imide-alcohol condensation occurs in a lactam reaction media and the catalysts are selected from the group consisting of zinc caprolactam, magnesium caprolactam, calcium caprolactam, .[.aluminum bis (bromomethyl),.]. caprolactam aluminum chloride, dicaprolactam aluminum chloride, aluminum tri-caprolactam, and bromomagnesium caprolactam. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acyl lactam is comprised of isophthaloyl bis-caprolactam and the alcohol is comprised of a polymeric polyol. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acyl lactam is comprised of terephthaloyl bis-caprolactam and the alcohol is comprised of a polymeric polyol. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 7 wherein the catalyst is bromomagnesium caprolactam. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 8 wherein the catalyst is bromomagnesium caprolactam. 
     
     
       11. A process according to claim 7 wherein the catalyst is magnesium dicaprolactam. 
     
     
       12. A process according to claim 8 wherein the catalyst is magnesium dicaprolactam. .Iadd. 
     
     
       13.  A process according to claim 6 wherein the imide-alcohol condensation in the lactam reaction media occurs in the absence of any significant polymerization of the lactam reaction media. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A process according to claim 6 wherein the lactam reaction media comprises caprolactam. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A process according to claim 6 wherein the catalyzed condensation occurs at a temperature no greater than about 100° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A process according to claim 6 wherein the imide-alcohol condensation product in the lactam reaction media is further catalyzed with catalysts selected from the group consisting of Grignard and alkali metal lactams to form a polyol/nylon block terpolymer. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A process according to claim 16 wherein the polyol content of the polyol/nylon block terpolymer is between about 30 to about 65 percent. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A process according to claim 16 wherein said further catalysis occurs at temperatures between about 100° C. 
     
     
        to about 180° C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  A process according to claim 16 wherein before said further catalysis the catalyst of the prior condensation process is deactivated. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A process according to claim 1 wherein the acyl lactam is comprised of adipoyl bis-caprolactam and the alcohol is comprised of a polymeric polyol. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A process according to claim 20 wherein the polymeric polyol is selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene glycol and polyoxypropylene triol. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A process according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, ,15, 20, or 21 wherein total polymerization time is from about 0.5 second to about 1 hour. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A process according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22 wherein fillers or fibers are present during the condensation process to reinforce the polymeric compound formed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A process according to claim 1 wherein the condensation occurs by polyol reacting at both the lactam carbonyl and the acyl carbonyl of the acyl lactam. .Iaddend.