Abstract

Polyesters (PEs) containing two heteroatoms (Si and/or Ge) in the main chain, derived from the acid dichlorides bis(4-chloroformylphenyl) ethylmethylsilane, bis(4-chloroformylphenyl) diethylsilane, bis(4-chloroformyl- phenyl) diethylgermane, and bis(4-chloroformylphenyl) di-nbutylgermane and from the diphenols bis(4-hydro-xyphenyl) ethylmethylsilane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) diethyl-silane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) diethylgermane, and bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) di-nbutylgermane, were synthesized under phase-transfer conditions with three quaternary ammonium salts as phase-transfer catalysts and three NaOH concentrations in the aqueous phase. PEs were characterized with IR and NMR spectroscopy, including 29Si-NMR. In general, the yields and intrinsic viscosities were low, and in some cases, an increase in these parameters was shown as a result of the catalyst effect. An increase in the NaOH concentration caused a decrease in the yields because of a hydrolytic process. PEs with Si were thermally more stable than those with Ge. The glass-transition temperatures decreased when the side chains bonded to the heteroatoms were longer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.