Synthesis of acetylene-terminated compounds

A process for preparing a phenolic compound containing propargyl ether groups which comprises reacting propargyl bromide with a polyhydric phenol selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone and 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, the reaction being conducted in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at a temperature ranging from about 70.degree. C. to reflux temperature of the sodium hydroxide solution for a period of about 1 to 3 hours.

A process for preparing a phenolic material containing propargyl groups which comprises reacting propargyl bromide with a polynuclear, polyhydric phenol having the following formula:

• ##STR7## wherein Z is --0--, --S--, ##STR8## the reaction being conducted in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at a temperature ranging from about 70.degree. C. to reflux temperature of the sodium hydroxide solution for a period of about 1 to 3 hours, the mole ratio of propargyl bromide to polyhydric phenol ranging from 2:1 to 2.5:1, and the mole ratio of sodium hydroxide to propargyl bromide being about 1:1.

A process for preparing a phenolic material containing propargyl groups which comprises reacting propargyl bromide with a phenolic material selected from the group consisting of resorcinol, hydroquinol, 2,3-dicyanohydroquinone, 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylsulfone, 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol, a phenol novolac resin having the following formula:

• ##STR9## a resorcinol novolac resin having the following formula:
• ##STR10## wherein n in each formula is an integer ranging from about 2 to 100, the reaction being conducted in an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at a temperature ranging from about 70.degree. C. to reflux temperature of the sodium hydroxide solution for a period of about 1 to 3 hours, the amount of propargyl bromide being about equivalent to the hydroxyl content of the phenolic material, and the mole ratio of sodium hydroxide to propargyl bromide being about 1:1.