Synthesis of polyamides by a new direct polycondensation reaction using triphenyl phosphite and lithium chloride

Metal salts such as lithium chloride were found to facilitate significantly the reaction of carboxylic acids and amines promoted by triphenyl phosphite, and the reaction was applied successfully to the direct polycondensation reaction of dicarboxylic acids and diamines and of p‐aminobenzoic acid. Among metal salts tested, lithium chloride was most effective to the reaction; the chloride was involved catalytically in the reaction, its addition of about twice equivalent to triphenyl phosphite giving the most favorable results. Triphenyl phosphite was most effective, whereas diphenyl phosphite was less effective, and alkyl esters gave no polymers. The reaction was also markedly affected by solvents, the most favorable results being given in N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Various polyamides of high molecular weight were obtained in quantitative yield.