Composition and process for the production of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates)
AssigneeEastman Chemical Company
InventorsJohn C. Hubbs, Marti N. Harrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a novel process for the production of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) through the condensation polymerization of esters of 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids at a temperature of about 90.degree. to 200.degree. C. in the presence of a titanium catalyst. Also is disclosed a novel composition that is a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) containing predominantly carboxylic ester end groups.
Claims20
A process for the production of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) comprising reacting, in the presence of a titanium catalyst, at a temperature of about 90.degree. to 200.degree. C., a hydroxyalkanoate ester of the formula:
- ##STR6## to produce a poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) of the formula:
- ##STR7## wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
- R2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
- and n is greater than 10.
A composition comprising the poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) of the formula:
- ##STR8## wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
- R2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
- and n is greater than 10;
- and wherein the composition contains predominantly carboxylic ester end groups.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.