Bis(4-Hydroxyphenyl Sulfonylphenyl) Bisphenyl Disulfones and Useful Resins Based Thereon

The present invention comprises novel monomers generically identified as bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfones of the structural formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, are C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, Cl or Br, and

n.sub.1, n.sub.2, n.sub.3, n.sub.4, n.sub.5 and n.sub.6, which may be the same or different, are 0, 1 or 2,

to a process for their synthesis and to polycarbonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polysulfones and polyethers prepared from these novel monomers.

The bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfones of the present invention have the general structural formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be the same or different, are C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, Cl or Br, and

n.sub.1, n.sub.2, n.sub.3, n.sub.4, n.sub.5 and n.sub.6, which may be the same or different, are 0, 1 or 2.

A route suitable for the synthesis of the generic bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfones is illustrated by the following general reaction scheme for the synthesis of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfone (n.sub.1 -n.sub.6 =0), the preferred monomer of the present invention: ##STR3##

As indicated in the above suitable reaction scheme, the 4,4-bis(4-chlorophenyl sulfonyl) biphenyl precursor (I) of the preferred novel monomer of the invention can be made by two routes;

(1) by the ferric chloride catalyzed condensation of 4,4'-biphenyl disulfonyl dichloride and chlorobenzene (wherein the chlorobenzene is used as both as reactant and a solvent) or

(2) by the ferric chloride catalyzed condensation of biphenyl and 4-chlorobenzene sulfonyl chloride.

The resulting 4,4'-bis(4-chlorophenyl sulfonyl) biphenyl precursor (I) is next reacted with 4-mercaptophenol in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate and dimethylformamide to produce the bis(4-hydroxyphenyl thiophenyl) biphenyl disulfone (II) precursor, which in turn is reacted in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid to produce the preferred bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfone (III) of the present invention.

The generic bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfones of the invention are useful as monomers or one of the comonomers in the synthesis of polycarbonates, polyurethanes, polyesters, polysulfones, polyethers and other polymers.

Such polycarbonates may be produced using the novel monomers of the invention by well known methods, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,964,794; 2,970,131; 2,991,237; 2,999,835; 3,028,365; 3,153,008; 3,187,065; 3,215,668 and 3,248,414, all incorporated herein by reference, and in the monograph H. Schnell, Chemistry and Physics of Polycarbonates, Interscience Publishers, New York, N.Y., 1964.

Such polyurethanes may be produced using the novel monomers of the invention by well-known methods, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,266,777; 2,284,637; 2,284,896; 2,511,544, all incorporated herein by reference and in the text Polyurethanes: Chemistry and Technology, Vol. 1, S. H. Saunders and K. C. Frisch, Interscience Publishers, New York, N.Y., 1964.

Such polyesters may be produced using the novel monomers of the invention by well-known methods, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,980,650; 3,185,668; 3,185,670 and 3,268,482, all incorporated herein by reference, and in the text Polyesters (two parts), edited by Norman G. Gaylord, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1962.

Such polysulfones may be produced using the novel monomers of the invention by well-known methods such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,236,808; 3,236,809; 3,409,599 and 3,742,087, all incorporated herein by reference.

Such polyethers may be produced using the novel monomers of the invention by well-known methods such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,922,459; 2,253,723; 2,991,313 and 3,651,151, all incorporated herein by reference, and in the text Polyethers (three parts) edited by Norman G. Gaylord, Interscience Publishers, New York, 1962.

The invention will be further illustrated, but is not intended to be limited, by the following examples.

Route 1

To a three-necked 12 liter flask fitted with a stirrer, a condenser, a thermometer, nitrogen gas inlet and outlet (the outlet being connected to the bubbler to absorb the evolved hydrogen chloride gas during the reaction) was added 7.8 liters of distilled monochlorobenzene (MCB) and 5 lbs. of 4,4'-biphenyl disulfonyl dichloride (referred to as ALDI, commercially available from Uniroyal, Inc.). This mixture was heated to 70.degree. C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, and the ALDI was completely dissolved in MCB. 65 gms of anhydrous ferric chloride was added, and the reaction mixture heated to 130.degree. C. and held at this temperature until the evolution of hydrogen chloride gas subsided (about 20 hrs.). The tan colored product which separated out from the reaction medium was filtered and air dried to give 5 lbs. (about 84% yield) of crude product. The crude product was crystallized from dimethyl formamide to give white crystals (m.p. 269.degree.-272.degree. C.) which was identified by infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra as 4,4'-bis(4-chlorophenyl sulfonyl) biphenyl.

Analysis--Calcd. for C.sub.24 H.sub.16 S.sub.2 O.sub.4 Cl.sub.2 (m. wt. 503.4), Theory: % C, 57.26; % H, 3.20; % S, 12.71; % Cl, 14.11, Found: % C, 57.17; % H, 3.18; % S, 12.55; % Cl, 13.90.

Route 2

To a stirred mixture of biphenyl (30.8 g) and 4-chlorobenzene sulfonyl chloride (95.95 g) (1:2.25 molar ratio) at 70.degree. C. was added anhydrous ferric chloride (6 g). The temperature was increased to 140.degree. C. in 1 hr. causing a steady evolution of hydrogen chloride gas. After approximately one hour, the reaction mixture solidified. Heating was continued for another two hours in the solid state. The solid mass was dissolved in dimethyl formamide (DMF) and upon cooling 4,4'-bis(4-chlorophenyl sulfonyl) biphenyl crystallized out. A second purification from DMF led to pale yellow crystalline product (m.p. 269.degree.-272.degree. C.). A 45% conversion was obtained after purification.

Products obtained by Route 1 and Route 2 had identical infrared spectrum, even though formation of isomeric products is possible by Route 1. As the reaction product separated quite readily from the reaction medium, it can be filtered and purified easily. From this point of view as well as higher conversion, Route 1 is the preferred method.

To a three-necked 3 liter flask fitted with a stirrer, nitrogen inlet and outlet, a thermometer, a condenser and addition funnel was added 63 g (0.5 mol) of 4 mercaptophenol (available from Crown Zellerbach), 76 g (0.55 mol) of anhydrous potassium carbonate (granular) and 750 ml of distilled dimethyl formamide. The mixture was heated to 90.degree. C. under nitrogen atmosphere. A bright yellow color, due to formation of thiophenoxy anion was observed around 60.degree.-90.degree. C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 90.degree. C. for 2 hrs. and then 126 g (0.25 mol) of bis(4-chlorophenyl sulfonyl) biphenyl dissolved in 300 ml of warm dimethyl formamide was added in 30 min. The intensity of bright yellow color faded slowly as the nucleophilic displacement of chlorine by the thiophenoxide anion progressed. The reaction mixture was held at 90.degree.-100.degree. C. for 3 hrs. The reaction mixture was filtered while hot to remove potassium salts. The filtrate was diluted with 2 liters of water and then acidified to pH 6. The white precipitate was filtered and dried to yield 165 g (97% yield) of crude product. The crude product, on crystallization from glacial acetic acid, gave white powdery (m.p. 235.degree.-237.degree. C.) and was identified by infrared and NMR spectra as bis(4-hydroxyphenyl thiophenyl) biphenyl disulfone.

Analysis--Calcd. for C.sub.36 H.sub.26 S.sub.4 O.sub.6 (m. wt. 682.57), Theory: % C, 63.34; % H, 3.84; % S, 18.75, Found: % C, 63.23; % H, 3.80; % S, 19.02.

The diacetate of this monomer with m.p. 195.degree. C. was synthesized as an aid to further characterization with the following analysis:

Analysis--Calcd. for C.sub.40 H.sub.30 S.sub.4 O.sub.8 (m. wt. 766.64), Theory: % C, 62.66; % H, 3.94; % S, 16.74, Found: % C, 62.66; % H, 3.54; % S, 16.74.

To a three-necked 500 ml flask fitted with a stirrer, condenser and thermometer was added 16.6 g of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl thiophenyl) biphenyl disulfone (II) and 200 ml of 50% acetic acid. This mixture was heated to 90.degree. C. whereby precursor (II) dissolved. 100 ml of 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution was added. A white precipitate separated within 15 min. after the addition of hydrogen peroxide. The reaction mixture was held at 100.degree. C. for 2 hrs., and the white precipitate was filtered and washed with water. The white powdery material (17.1 g; 86.8% yield) thus obtained after drying under vacuum overnight was crystallized from dimethyl formamide (m.p. >290.degree. C.) and was identified by infrared and NMR spectra as bis(4-hydroxyphenyl sulfonylphenyl) biphenyl disulfone.

Analysis--Calcd. for C.sub.36 H.sub.26 S.sub.4 O.sub.10 (m.wt. 746.64); Theory: % C, 57.91; % H, 3.51; % S, 17.14; Found: % C, 58.08; % H, 3.58; % S, 17.04.

Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be limited by the claims.