| abstract |
Disclosed is a process for preparing a compound of the formula n n nwherein R 1 is an alkyl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, an arylalkyl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, or an alkylaryl group having at least one ethylenic unsaturation, R 2 and R 3 each, independently of the others, are alkylene groups, arylene groups, arylalkylene groups, or alkylarylene groups, and n is an integer representing the number of repeat amide units and is at least 1, said process comprising: (a) reacting a diacid of the formula n nHOOC—R 2 —COOH n nwith a diamine of the formula n nin the absence of a solvent while removing water from the reaction mixture to form an acid-terminated oligoamide intermediate; and (b) reacting the acid-terminated oligoamide intermediate with a monoalcohol of the formula n nR 1 —OH nin the presence of a coupling agent and a catalyst to form the product. |