| Abstract: | Two model epoxy resin precursors based on the N-glycidyl derivatives of 4.4'-diaminodiphenylene methane (DDM) were prepared: N,N bis-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-N′,N″-dimethyl-4.4'-diaminodiphenylene methane (G2A); N.N′ bis-(2,3-epoxypropyl)-N,N′-dimethyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylene methane (G2S). To prepare these, aniline or N-methyl aniline was reacted with epichlorohydrin, using acetic acid as catalyst. The products were coupled via acid-catalysed condensations in the presence of formaldehyde or with N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl alcohol. The coupled chlorohydrins formed were then dehydrochlorinated to form the desired product. All reactions were monitored and purifications of the crude products were effected by high pressure liquid chromatographic techniques. The products were characterised by proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and mass spectroscopy, elemental and titrametric analysis. Results were compared with those obtained for tetra-N-glycidyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylene methane (TGDDM). All the data confirmed the structures of the model resins. These, together with TGDDM. will be used to prepare epoxy resin networks of controlled crosslink density and chemical homogeneity. |
