Bisphenol polymer structural units and method of making the same

1. A bisphenol for use as a polymer structural unit comprising formula (I):

wherein R1 is an isosorbide unit and R2-R9 are independently selected from the group consisting of a halogen, an arylalkyl, an ethoxy, and an alkyl ester.

2. A method of making a bisphenol for use as a polymer structural unit, wherein the bisphenol comprises formula (I):

wherein R1 is an isosorbide unit and R2-R9 are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a halogen, an arylalkyl, a C1-C6 alkyl, and an alkyl ester,

comprising subjecting a first reaction mixture of a first reactant, a second reactant, and a melt transesterification catalyst to melt transesterification conditions, wherein the first reactant is an isosorbide and the second reactant is

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a methyl, a C1-C6 alkyl, and an aromatic, and wherein the second reactant reacts with the isosorbide to form the bisphenol of formula (I).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first reaction mixture is formed by the following steps, in any order:

(a) melting an isosorbide reactant;

(b) adding and mixing a second reactant to the melted isosorbide reactant; and

(c) adding a melt transesterification catalyst to (b) to form the reaction mixture.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the reaction mixture further comprises a solvent.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbon, xylene, hexane, benzene, cyclohexane, toluene, 1,2-dichloroethane, ethyl acetate, ortho-dichlorobenzene, chlorobenzene, and a mixture thereof.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein R is a methyl.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein R is a hydrogen.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the melt transesterification conditions comprise increasing the temperature of the reaction mixture to between 180° C. and 250° C.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the melt transesterification conditions further comprise cooling the reaction mixture of claim 8 to between 60° C. and 120° C.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the melt transesterification catalyst is selected from the group consisting of titanium isopropoxide, a hydroxide of an alkali metal, a hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal, an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, a quaternary ammonium salt of boron hydride, a quaternary ammonium salt of aluminum hydride, a hydride of an alkali metal, a hydride of an alkaline earth metal, an aryloxide of an alkali metal, an aryloxide of an alkaline earth metal, an organic salt of an alkali metal, an organic salt of an alkaline earth metal, a boron compound, a silicon compound, a germanium compound, a tin compound, an organotin compound, a lead compound, an onium compound, an antimony compound, a manganese compound, a titanium compound, and a zirconium compound.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adding additional melt transesterification catalyst to the cooled reaction mixture to form a second reaction mixture.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second reaction mixture is heated to between 220° C. and 250° C.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the melt transesterification catalyst is selected from the group consisting of titanium isopropoxide, a hydroxide of an alkali metal, a hydroxide of an alkaline earth metal, an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, a quaternary ammonium salt of boron hydride, a quaternary ammonium salt of aluminum hydride, a hydride of an alkali metal, a hydride of an alkaline earth metal, an aryloxide of an alkali metal, an aryloxide of an alkaline earth metal, an organic salt of an alkali metal, an organic salt of an alkaline earth metal, a boron compound, a silicon compound, a germanium compound, a tin compound, an organotin compound, a lead compound, an onium compound, an antimony compound, a manganese compound, a titanium compound, and a zirconium compound.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the melt transesterification catalyst of the second reaction mixture is different from the melt transesterification catalyst of the first reaction mixture.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the melt transesterification catalyst of the second reaction mixture is the same as the melt transesterification catalyst of the first reaction mixture.