Synthesis and characterization of poly(esters) derived from diacids and diphenols containing silicon and germanium

Poly(esters) containing two heteroatoms, Si or Ge, in the main chain, derived from diphenols bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)dimethyl-germane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-diphenyl-germane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-dimethyl-silane and bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-diphenyl-silane, and the acid dichlorides bis(4-chloroformyl-phenyl)-dimethyl-germane, bis(4-chloroformylphenyl)-diphenyl-germane, bis(4-chloroformyl-phenyl)-dimethyl-silane and bis(4-chloroformyl-phenyl)-diphenyl-silane, were synthesized under phase transfer conditions using two phase transfer catalysts, and characterized by spectroscopic methods. This technique showed low effectivity for the synthesis of these kinds of polymers, showing a low increase of the yields and eta(inh) values in comparison with the interphasial process. In these experimental conditions there were no important differences neither in the studied parameters between the monomers with Si or Ge, nor between the catalysts. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.