Abstract
New phenolic polymers were prepared by the addition-condensation of p-hydroxycalix [6] arene with paraformaldehyde under acidic or basic conditions. In the reaction, the ortho positions to a phenolic hydroxyl group at the upper rim in p-hydroxycalix [6] arene readily reacted with formaldehyde, in the same manner of phenols. The polymers were characterized by IR and 1H-NMR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polymer contained the cone-like conformation of p-hydroxycalix [6] arene in the chain. In the co-condensation of p-hydroxycalix [6] arene and various phenols (i.e., phenol, hydroquinone, p-cresol, and p-tert-butylphenol), the reactivity of phenolic unit in p-hydroxycalix [6] arene was higher than that of phenols. In addition, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were done for the polymers and it was found that the insoluble polymer in acetone showed a greater thermal stability, due to a high degree of cross-linking.
