Polymers from carbohydrate-based monomers, 1. Poly(acylhydrazone)s from D-glucarodihydrazide and related compounds

The synthesis of poly(acylhydrazone)s from aldarodihydrazides, principally D‐glucarodihydrazide, was studied. Polymers were produced on reaction of the dihydrazides with dialdehydes and with aliphatic ketoaldehydes and diketones, but not with aromatic ketoaldehydes or aromatic diketones. The polymers, which have only limited solubilities that are not appreciably improved by copolymerization, undergo a tautomeric change on treatment with acid or alkali to give yellow‐coloured polymers. Of the poly(acylhydrazone)s prepared, that from D‐glucarodihydrazide and 2,3‐butanedione had the best overall properties, giving strong, flexible, colourless films on casting from DMSO solution.