CATALYSTS USEFUL FOR PREPARING POLYAMIDES

Abstract: A polyamide is produced by polymerizing at least one of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid and ammonia, an ammonium salt of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile and water, a beta-­ amino propionic acid or alkyl derivative thereof and an alpha, beta unsaturated amide and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst comprising a pentaammine cobalt (III) complex.

Description: CATALYSTS USEFUL FOR PREPARING POLYAMIDES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new catalysts useful for the preparation of polyamides. More particularl this invention relates to the polymerization of at least one of an alpha, beta unsaturated. carboxylic acid and ammonia, an ammonium salt of an alpha, beta unsaturated-carboxylic acid, an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile and water. a beta-amino Pronionic acid or ics EMI1.1 alkyl derivatives and an alpha beta unsaturated amid in the presence of a catalyst comprising a pentaammine cobalt (III) complex.. It is known that polyamides can be prepared from various monomers. For example, U.S. Patent 4,283,524 describes a process wherein poyamides are prepared from the ammonium salts of alpha, beta unsaturated monocarboxylic acids. U.S. Patent 2,691,643 teaches that polyamides can be prepared by the thermal condensation of beta-amino propionic acid. U.S. Patents 3,629,203 and 3,499,879 relate to the preparation of polyamides by the condensation reaction of acrylonitrile. U.S. Patent 2,749,331 teaches that polyamides can be prepared from acrylamide. However, each of these processes is deficient in that the polymide produced has very low molecular weight. It is an object of this invention to provide a novel catalytic process to produce polyamides which have a high degree of polymerization. Moreover, by using catalyst system in the reaction, the rate of the polymerization reaction is remarkably increased and the reaction period is greatly shortened. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0086920 It has now been discovered that a polyamide can be produced by polymerizing' at least one of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid and ammonia, an ammonium saltof an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile and water , beta-amino propionic acid or alkyl derivatives EMI2.1 thereof and an alpha, -beta unsaturated amideain the presence of. a catalyst comprising a pentaammine cobalt (III) complex. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The Polymer The polyamides obtained by the process of this invention are characterized as containing ethylene amido linkages in the polymer backbone. These ethylene amido linkages are generally defined as having repeating units as follows: EMI2.2 wherein each R is a suitable substituent which, in the simplest embodiment of the invention, would all be hydrogen. These ethylene amido linkages comprise the basic structure of a nylon-3 type polyamide. These polyamides may also contain other carbonamide structural units. Tte carbonamide structural unit will vary depending on the particular monomer or monomers used in the polymerization. For example, the carbonamide unit mÅay,zomprise a nylon-6 type unit which has the following formula: EMI2.3 wherein each R is a suitable substituent which, in the simplest embodiment of the invention, would all be hydrogen. Other carbonamide units such as nylon-4 precursors, nylon-ll precursors, nylon-6,6 precursors, nylon-6,10 precursors, nylon-7 precursors, nylon-8 precursors and nylon-12 precursors may be contained in the polyamide of this invention. The properties of the resultant polyamide will depend on the type of monomer or monomers used and the ratio of the various monomers. While this invention is directed principally to polyamides, it also includes within its ambit polyamides the polymer chains of which are formed from the above units together with other units which may be introduced into the chain, for example, by adding suitable copolymerizable monomers to the polymerization mixture. The Process The formation of polyamides from alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid and ammonia, ammonium salt of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile and water, a 1beta-amino propionic acid or ,alkyl deriva EMI3.1 tives thereof and an !alpha, beta unsaturated amidenare all known. Examples of carboxylic acids which are within the scope of this invention include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and crotonic acid. Examples of ammonium salts of alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acids which are included within the scope of this invention are ammonium acrylate, ammonium methacrylate and ammonium crotonate. Examples of alpha, beta unsaturated nitriles which are within the scope of this invention include acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile. ExampLes of beta-amino propionic acid or alkyl derivatives thereof which are within the scope of this invention include beta-alanine and alpha-methylbeta-alanine. Examples of alpha, beta unsaturated amides that are within the scope of this invention include acrylamide and methacrylamide. Each of these reactions is well known in the art. This polymerization can be conducted under a broad range of process conditions which are generally known in the prior art. In the preferred practice of the invention a monomer or monomers are maintained at a temperature above their melting points but below the decomposition temperature of the products. It is generally preferred to conduct the process at a temperature between 100" andl300 C, and conducting tne process between 135 and 2000C is most preferred. The temperature and amount of time required for polymerization are interrelated. At low temperatures it will take longer for a polymer to form than at high temperatures. In general, the reaction is conducted in less than 48 hours, with times ranging from 2 to 20 hours normally being adequate to produce the polyamide. Although this polymerization can take place in an open container in contact with the atmosphere, it is preferred to carry out the polymerization in the absence of oxygen. This can be achieved by blanketing the reaction mixture with either an inert gas such as nitrogen or with a gaseous monomer, e.g. ammonia. This reaction can proceed at atmospheric, superatmospheric or subatmospheric pressure. Normally, sufficient pressure is required to maintain the volatile ingredients in the liquid state under the polymerization conditions and to control the concentration of gaseous ingredients. Thus, the polymerization normally takes place under superatmospheric pressure. After the polymerization has proceeded for a suitable time, the pressure can'be lowered to pull off water and other volatiles. Another important factor in the conduct of the polymer ization is the extent'two which the reactants are able to physically contact each other so that the desired reaction can occur. Various solvents and liquid dispersions are helpful in improving the contacting. It has also been found that ammonia and/or water can be added to improve the conversion of the monomers to high molecular weight polymer. This polymerization process can proceed by any of the generally known modeslof polymerization including bulk, slurry, suspension or solucion polymerization by batch, continuous or intermittant addition of the monomers and other components. The polyamides produced have a wide variety of applications. Generally, they may be used in any application calling for a nylon type polymer. For example, these polyamides can be used as fibers, plastics, films and molding resins. The Catalyst The catalyst useful in the inventive process comprises a pentaammine cobalt (III) complex. This catalyst can be represented by the following formula: l(NH3)5CoX]Y wherein X and Y are suitable ligands. Ligands which can replace X in the above structure include carbanato, aquo acetato, thiocyhato, maleato, fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, pyridine, imidazoleo, dimethyl formamide, acetoxyaceto, cyclopropanecarooxylato, oxydiaaetato, acetylene carboxylato, pyridine carboxylato, o-aminobenzoato and formato. Ligands which can replace Y in the above structure include NO3, C104 and C1. These complexes and methods for preparing them are well known in the art. The catalyst described above can be used in any amount which will catalyze the reaction. Preferably, catalyst concentrations between 0.01 to 5.0 mole percent, based on the amount of monomer in the reaction a can be used. It is especially preferred to use between 0.05 and 1.0 mole percent catalyst. - SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention, the following working examples are presented. Comparative Examples A Ammonium methacrylate was added to a 25 ml closed glass ampoule. The ampoule was evacuated and repressurized three times and them sealed with a flame. The ampoule was then placed in an oven at 175"C for 16 hours, cooled and opened carefully. The crude polymer obtained was dissolved in 20 ml of formic acid and then precipitated out in 800 ml of acetone. The precipitant was leached with 400 ml-of boiling water to get rid of any catalyst residue. The polymer was identified by NMR spectroscopy. The results are shown in Table I. Examples 1 thru 9 The procedure outlined in Comparative Example A was followed except that various molar amounts of catalyst (based on the moles of ammonium methacrylate) were added to the reaction system. The results are also shown in Table I. TABLE I Monomer: Ammonium Methacrylate Temp. : 1750C Time : 16 hours EMI7.1 <tb> <SEP> Cat <SEP> Intrin. <tb> <SEP> Mole <SEP> Product <SEP> Viscosity <tb> Exam <SEP> Catalyst <SEP> % <SEP> Composit. <SEP> (dlig)(l) <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> None <SEP> -- <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.11 <tb> <SEP> 1 <SEP> [(NH3)5CoC03]N03 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.46 <tb> <SEP> 2 <SEP> [(NH3)sCoC03]N03 <SEP> 0.5 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.49 <tb> <SEP> 3 <SEP> [(NH3)5CoH2O)(N03)3 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.53 <tb> <SEP> 4 <SEP> [(NH3)5CoH2o](No3)3 <SEP> 0.5 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.52 <tb> <SEP> Q <tb> <SEP> 5 <SEP> [(NH3)sCo-O-C-CH3](NO3)2 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.58 <tb> <SEP> 0 <tb> <SEP> 6 <SEP> [(NH3)5Co-0--CH=CH)(NO3)2 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.68 <tb> <SEP> t02H <tb> <SEP> 0 <tb> <SEP> 7 <SEP> [(NH3)5Co-0--CH3](NO3)2 <SEP> 0.5 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.42 <tb> <SEP> 8 <SEP> [(NH3)5CoF1(CLO4)2 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.58 <tb> <SEP> 9 <SEP> [(NH3)5CoCO3]CL: <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> Polyamide <SEP> 0.62 <tb> (l)Determined in 90% formic acid solution at 250C. Comparative Example B The. experimental procedure in Comparative Example A was followed except that ammonium acrylate was used instead of ammonium methacrylate. The results are shown in Table II. Example 10 The procedure described in Comparative Example B was followed except that a catalyst was added. The results are also shown in Table II. TABLE II Monomer: Ammonium Acrylate Temp. : 1750C Time : 16 hours Cat Intrin. Mole Product Viscosity Exam Catalyst % Composit. (dl/g)(1) B None -- Polyamide 0.15 10 [(NH3)5CoC03]N03 0.1 Polyamide 0.31 (l)Determined in 90% formic acid at 250C. Comparative Example C The procedure described in Comparative Example A was followed except that the reaction time was 24 hours and the reactants were acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and water. The polymer was dried in a vacuum oven at 60 C for 16 hours and then water extracted overnight. The water insoluble polymer was dried in a vacuum oven overnight also. Example 11 The procedure described in Comparative Example C was followed except that a catalyst was added. The results are shown in Table III. TABLE III Reactants: Acrylonitrile/Methacrylonitrile/Water Temp. : 1750C Time : 24 hours Cat Water Mole Product Conv. Insolubility Exam Catalyst x Composit. (oL)(l) (%)(2) C None -- Copolyamide O 0 11 ((NH3)5CoC03]N03 1 Copolyamide 52 8.0 (1) Conversion=Reactants (Rms) Converted to Products Total Reactants (gms) (2) Water Insolubility'Insoluble Polyamide (gms) Total Polyamide (gms.) Examples 12 and 13 The procedure described in Comparative Example A was followed except that the monomers comprise ammonium methacrylate and caprolactam. The results are shown in Table IV. TABLE IV Reactants: Ammonium Methacrylate/Caprolactam Temp. : 1750C Time : 16 hours Cat Intrin. Mole Product Viscosity Exam Catalyst 7o Composit. (dl/g)(l) 12 [(NH3)5CoC03]N03 1.0 Copolyamide 0.32 13 [(NH3)5CoC031N03 0.1 Copolyamide 0.77 (l)Determined in 90% formic acid at 250C. Although only a few embodiments of this invention have been specifically described above, it should be appreciated that many additions and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. These and all other modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention, which is to be limited only by the following claims.

Claims: 1. A process for preparing a polyamide comprising polymerizing at least one of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid and ammonia, an ammonium salt of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid, an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile and water a beta-amino propionic acid or alkyl derivatives EMI10.1 thereof and an -alpha, beta unsaturated amidez in the presence of a catalyst comprising a pentaammine cobalt (III) complex. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst- has the following formula: l(NH3)5CoX]Y wherein X and Y are ligands. 3. The process of claim 2 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of: EMI10.2 -F. 4. The process of claim 2 wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of -NO3 and -CL. 5. The process of claim 1 wherein an alpha, beta unsacurated-carboRylic acid and ammonia is polymerized. 6. The process of claim 1 wherein an ammonium salt of an alpha, beta unsaturated carboxylic acid is polymerized. 7. The process of claim 1 wherein an alpha, beta unsaturated nitrile and water is polymerized. 8. The process of claim 1 wherein an alpha, beta EMI11.1 unsaturated amidehis polymerized. 9. The process of claim 1 wherein á.beta-amino propionic acid or alkyl derivative thereof is polymerized. 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the polyamide contains ethylene amido linkages of the following structure: EMI11.2 wherein R is an alkyl group. 11. The process of claim 10 wherein R is methyl.

Inventors: BALL, LAWRENCE ERNEST, COFFEY, GERALD PAUL, WU, MUYEN MICHAEL
Applicants: THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY
Application year: 1982
Main classification: C08G69
IPC codes: C08G69